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PCI TB for PC's. Will it get to MAC as an upgrade?

Nope. No GPIO header, and the motherboard still needs to be Thunderbolt ready, which the Mac Pro mobo is not.
 
Why do you need TB in an existing Mac Pro? I would think that anything you can use TB for, you can install in a slot or drive bay for less.
 
Really doubt it, the Intel chipsets that most Mac Pros are based on are not Thunderbolt Compatible, otherwise they most likely would have included Thunderbolt. You'll probably need an i Series processor, making it an "upgrade" programme for Desktops running Sandy/Ivy Bridge and Haswell.
 
The upgrade path to get Thunderbolt onto a Mac Pro is to sell it and buy a new Mac Pro.
 
Just checking
It was interesting that first cards for PC are showing up and you need is an Video card internal or external and 2x open pci slot
so its interesting why it wouldn't work
SI think soon we will see one
 
MattDSLR said:
Just checking
It was interesting that first cards for PC are showing up and you need is an Video card internal or external and 2x open pci slot
so its interesting why it wouldn't work
SI think soon we will see one
Click to expand...

In order to address devices correctly, the PCI controller needs to know about the Thunderbolt controller. There is no way for the current Mac Pro's PCI controller to do so.

This is why this card still requires motherboards to support it.
 
As others have mentioned, there is a hardware compatibility issue and there is no chance going forward that Apple will issue a solution.

That said, Thunderbolt is excellent but not strictly necessary for most people. If you're not already using it, then you don't *need* it.
 
MattDSLR said:
http://blogs.intel.com/technology/2...herboards-desktops-and-workstation-computers/
Will this make it to mac? would be great to upgrade current 5.1 and bellow
Click to expand...

This isn't going to necessarily work for more mainstream Windows PCs. These certifications are only on systems that were designed with Thunderbolt from the outset. This is an "afterthought" Thunderbolt solution.

There are a subset of Windows PCs with GPIO headers and upgradable firmware that could be theoretically be brought into compliance and pass certification, but it is extremely marginal return on effort for the system vendors. For the most part this is going to be applied to new logic boards going forward. It isn't a tweak the 2007 model systems solution.

Apple has already pushed past the notion of Thunderbolt being 'optional' in their system designs.

Having PCI-e slots or "slots" in general is not a panacea solution. There are issues they don't solve.
 
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