Z170 Extreme 4: DP1.2 and TB at the same time?
Printed From: ASRock.com
Category: Technical Support
Forum Name: Intel Motherboards
Forum Description: Question about ASRock Intel Motherboards
URL: https://forum.asrock.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=4332
Printed Date: 22 Jul 2025 at 8:23pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.04 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Z170 Extreme 4: DP1.2 and TB at the same time?
Posted By: EvilDragon
Subject: Z170 Extreme 4: DP1.2 and TB at the same time?
Date Posted: 31 Jan 2017 at 9:00pm
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" rel="nofollow - Hello! So I have my Z170 Extreme4 running nicely, I also got the Thunderbolt AIC card, which I am using to connect my RME UFX+ audio interface - everything works splendidly! Now, I'd like to know, in case I decide to do this one day, how would I connect a DisplayPort 1.2 monitor while retaining the Thunderbolt connectivity? I read in TB AIC specs that it supports DP Multi-Stream Transport, which I assume means it allows daisy-chaining multiple DisplayPort peripherials. So, my question would be: how would I daisy-chain this? Would I need a sort of a splitter from motherboard's DisplayPort BEFORE it hits the AIC card, or would I need some sort of a splitter/converter from TB to DP? Links to relevant cables/hardware would be very nice! Thanks! |
Replies:
Posted By: wardog
Date Posted: 31 Jan 2017 at 10:00pm
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" rel="nofollow - You lost me there. TB can transport PCIe data, or a DisplayPort signal, yet not both at the same time. Why daisy chain a monitor into a storage chain? A storage chain consists of full width/both channels of PCIe data going both ways. To introduced a DP signal would render one TB channel useless for storage, thus negating the FULL benefit of the TB channel being used for storage. Both the motherboard/CPU and most all new graphics card worth a pinch of salt will have DP to connect your monitor to. |
Posted By: wardog
Date Posted: 31 Jan 2017 at 10:15pm
Allow me to clarify. A single TB channel can transmit PCIe data, or a DisplayPort signal, yet not both at the same time. |
wardog wrote:Posted By: parsec
Date Posted: 31 Jan 2017 at 10:44pm
Connecting multiple devices to a Thunderbolt card depends upon the connections the other devices have, and if they provide the daisy chaining ability themselves. Otherwise, as the ASRock Thunderbolt 2 AIC card page shows, you'll need a Thunderbolt dock (sorry for the text link, some URLs don't work with the forum editor's link tool): http://www.asrock.com/mb/spec/card.asp?Model=Thunderbolt%202%20AIC While that page calls them "hubs", Thunderbolt hubs apparently don't exist yet. What does exist are Thunderbolt docks, which are powered, active devices. Hubs imply passive, or simple dumb devices. Examples of Thunderbolt docks with more information: http://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-thunderbolt-dock/" rel="nofollow - http://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-thunderbolt-dock/ Cables depend upon the required interfaces of each device, and the dock itself. I don't own any Thunderbolt hardware, so I don't have personal experience with it. ------------- http://valid.x86.fr/48rujh" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: EvilDragon
Date Posted: 01 Feb 2017 at 2:02am
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@wardog: I don't WANT to have a graphics card since my CPU is already doing it well and supports 4K as well. It just adds noise, and I'm not a gamer, I do music production, so the more silent the computer case, the better. Also, I'm not daisy-chaining into a storage chain. My audio interface is connected through TB. But, for this to work, I need to sacrifice DisplayPort on my motherboard, which AIC card converts to TB. My question still stands. I don't need a TB dock. I need to use DisplayPort on my motherboard BOTH for the 4K monitor I might get one day (which only supports max resolution at 60 Hz using DP 1.2, not HDMI or anything else), and I need to keep my audio interface connected to TB. Hence my query here :) |
Posted By: EvilDragon
Date Posted: 01 Feb 2017 at 2:33am
| Ehhh, looks like this won't work, because the monitor I was eyeing (Dell P4317Q) doesn't support DP daisy-chaining. Shucks... |
Posted By: wardog
Date Posted: 01 Feb 2017 at 6:35am
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" rel="nofollow - Conundrum vs Rock and a hard place. You don't req a "serious" $$$ graphics card then, right? I can say, from my Sig below, that the 1050ti runs silent. Heck, the fans don't spin most times. And is more that capable for what your needs seem. Which I can say of the 1070 there too, but thats back to $$$. 1050ti's can be had here in the US for around $160 Just a thought and maybe some idea |
Posted By: parsec
Date Posted: 01 Feb 2017 at 11:49am
As I said in my previous post, the ability to daisy chain devices with Thunderbolt depends on the devices being used. Devices specifically designed for use with Thunderbolt may have the extra IO connection(s), but that should always be checked. Since those devices are not common (yet), we have Thunderbolt docks or hubs. Most monitors IMO never even have enough inputs, the chances of most of them having a Thunderbolt output is close to zero. Apple would be the main source of that type of monitor. ------------- http://valid.x86.fr/48rujh" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: EvilDragon
Date Posted: 01 Feb 2017 at 6:30pm
" rel="nofollow - Yeah, I'm not crazy about paying the big bucks to Apple... That Dell monitor actually DOES have a fair amount of inputs (its main feature being able to show 4 DIFFERENT signals at the same time at 1080p!)... just no DP daisy chaining... Is this possibly because 4K at 3840x2160 and 60 Hz takes up a lot of DP bandwidth, so there's no bandwidth to leave for other possible DP devices in the chain? Seems that way.
Yeah, I don't need it for my current purposes (i7-6700K graphics working very nicely with 1920x1200@60 Hz dual monitor setup here), but if I want to upgrade to a single 4K monitor at a later date, it looks like I'm going to need a QUIET, passively cooled GPU (because that's how I like my GPUs, no fans) that can run 4K@60Hz over DP 1.2 then, that doesn't cost an arm and a leg... If such a thing even exists. Thanks for ideas, guys. |
Posted By: Xaltar
Date Posted: 01 Feb 2017 at 9:51pm
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The GTX 1050ti will do exactly what you need as Wardog mentioned. Even the non ti version would be more than adequate. I couldn't find a passive cooled version available but that isn't a concern anyway, all you would need to do is get one with a beefy cooling solution, without gaming loads the fans will never come on. My GTX 960's fans only come on after 20mins of gaming and never under non gaming loads, including watching 4k video (down-sampled which takes more resources on the GPU). ------------- 
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Posted By: EvilDragon
Date Posted: 02 Feb 2017 at 2:28am
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Concern or no concern, if I ever spring for a separate GPU, I want it passively cooled, or no deal. It's just how I'm wired. :) |
Posted By: Xaltar
Date Posted: 07 Feb 2017 at 9:01pm
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Check this out http://www.tomshardware.com/news/geforce-gtx-1050-ti-kalmx-passive-cooling,33585.html" rel="nofollow - http://www.tomshardware.com/news/geforce-gtx-1050-ti-kalmx-passive-cooling,33585.html -------------
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Posted By: parsec
Date Posted: 07 Feb 2017 at 10:59pm
Active or passively cooled, a GPU will still create heat that must be removed. The heat from a passively cooled GPU will remain inside the PC case unless there are fans pushing or pulling it out of the case. My EVGA GTX 960 remained in fan less mode (both fans off) while driving three monitors, including one 4K monitor. That is not while gaming of course. But I was not happy to find the 960 at ~45C in this configuration, with an M.2 SSD in close proximity. Even with three 140mm fans pushing air into the case, and over the video card. So I installed EVGA's PrecisionX 16, and turned the 960's fans on. At ~1,000 RPM they are barely audible, and the 960 is at 30C now. While that PC is not silent, it is quiet, and I do appreciate and understand what quiet really is. ------------- http://valid.x86.fr/48rujh" rel="nofollow">
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