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August 2nd, 2020 13:00

XPS 8940, Thunderbolt PCI card

I move a lot of GB every day on my computer and I was wondering of there is PCI card for my  XPS 8940 for Thunderbolt or USB 3.1 G2 (or 3.2?? 4??).

9 Legend

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47K Posts

August 3rd, 2020 04:00

No PCI cards exist.  You either have thunderbolt controller onboard or not.

Any card in slot acts as a mounting bracket.

There is GPIO cable to board and display port wrap thru required as well if it exists for this model.

USB 3.1 is not thunderbolt3

THERE IS NO STANDARD For cards so there is no expansion card to add this.  its either there or not and bios will have options greyed out if its not.

Systems that have optional Thunderbolt 3 capability will have a USB/Thunderbolt configuration option listed in the BIOS regardless of having a Thunderbolt 3 option installed.

If the system DOES NOT have Thunderbolt 3 capability, the thunderbolt options will be grayed out and cannot be selected in the BIOS.

NO THUNDERBOLT 3NO THUNDERBOLT 3

Some Systems with USB Type-C Port Lack a Thunderbolt 3 Controller

https://www.dell.com/support/article/en-us/sln305150/some-systems-with-usb-type-c-port-lack-a-thunderbolt-3-controller?lang=en.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_CnQJY4NoY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-W6n3OEIHjE

 

 

 

 

9 Legend

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47K Posts

September 15th, 2020 09:00

555-beox and beoz is thundebolt 2  

Dell  PCI-E 4X Express to USB 3.1 USB-C Type C Dual Port Expansion Card 029MVR is NOT thunderbolt 3.

DELL 8DTHW DPWC500 is a USB-C card not TB3.

29MVR29MVR

 

 

https://www.dell.com/support/article/en-us/sln305150/some-systems-with-usb-type-c-port-lack-a-thunderbolt-3-controller?lang=en

 

 

USB C ONLY NO TB3USB C ONLY NO TB3

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Thunderbolt 3 card  is compatible with the following systems when they have OPTIONAL thunderbolt header and controller.

 

  • Precision Workstation T3620 MT
  • XPS 8930 Tower
  • Precision Workstation 3630XL Tower
  • Alienware Aurora R7
  • Precision Workstation R3930
  • Precision Workstation R3930 XL
  • Alienware Aurora R8
  • OptiPlex 7070 MFF
  • OptiPlex 7070 MT
  • OptiPlex 7070 SFF
  • Alienware Aurora R9

9 Legend

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47K Posts

September 15th, 2020 10:00

The other way to say it is the HEADER on the 7910 motherboard is for THUNDERBOLT TWO not THREE.

Dell Precision Tower
5810/7810/7910/1700MT/1700SFF/3620MT
and Rack 7910

PCIe x4 Card 2 Thunderbolt 3 Ports 1 DP in`
Interfaces
•2 x Thunderbolt 3
•1 x DisplayPort input
Compatibility Information
Designed ONLY For boards with OPTIONAL Thunderbolt Three header.  USB-C connectors and Display port DO NOT guarantee Thunderbolt 3. 
Even if you have the correct card and system it WILL NOT WORK if you do NOT HAVE the Thunderbolt Header Internal GPIO cable.


•Alienware Aurora R8
•Dell Precision 3630 Tower, 3930 Rack

https://www.dell.com/support/article/en-us/sln305150/some-systems-with-usb-type-c-port-lack-a-thunderbolt-3-controller?lang=en

 

 

9 Legend

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47K Posts

March 22nd, 2021 04:00

If your board does not have a thunderbolt header and controller it will not get thunderbolt by adding a card.

https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-us/000130984

A GPIO cable is required to go from motherboard to a thunderbolt card.

External display port cable DOES NOT make thunderbolt.

@DELL-Chris M  might have more information.

If the system DOES NOT have Thunderbolt 3 capability, the thunderbolt options will be grayed out and cannot be selected in the BIOS.

No thunderbolt controller on motherboardNo thunderbolt controller on motherboard

I believe the card you got is mislabeled by marketing implying adding it gives thunderbolt 3.

In essence it does no such thing.

The same is true for thunderbolt 2 add in cards.

Requires GPIO cable and controller on motherboard.

CANNOT BE added later. There is no standard so Intel threw in the towel.  Thunderbolt 3 is now USB4 and isnt on the 8940.

usb4.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_CnQJY4NoY

Moderator

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25.4K Posts

August 2nd, 2020 14:00

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10 Posts

September 15th, 2020 09:00

Hi @speedstep , thank you for your reply, I actually have a T7910 with a TBT header on the motherboard, I bought a Dell TBT3 PCIe card (555-beox) specifically to add TBT3 to my T7910 workstation, the card was added on slot 3 (as per Dell's official video on youtube) and the header cable connected. TBT is enabled in the Bios, I'm connecting the TBT cable to a TBT3 docking station, the display works (2x 2.5k resolution) but no usb connection...the ports get powered but no data get transfered (no mouse, no keyboard).

I know my dock is working fine because I use it with my XPS13 laptop without issues and all ports (USB & Ethernet) are working. I also have another small dock (Dell DA300) and the same issue arrize, no problem to output video and use the usb port when connectig it to my laptop USB-C port, but only video works when connecting it to the TBT add-on card on my T7910...

I ckecked the bios, TBT is enabled, no security (SL0), the dock is recognised and approved in the TBT app on windows, I've looked online and on Dell community threads but was unsuccesfull in trouble shooting my issue.

I've spend an hours with Dell Support today explaning the situation but they could not come up with a solution...

Sorry for hijacking the thread, I'm  bit new to message boards, I'll create another thread as well.

Thanks a lot for an suggestions.

January 13th, 2021 19:00

Please I have a problem and please help. I bought the pc dell xps 8940 and bought a Dell Thunderbolt 3 PCIe card - 2 Type C Ports, 1 and installed the part on the motherboard and followed the instructions I found on the site but it did not work and it does not appear on the bios, I connected the piece With a disply port cable, but it didn't work, and there is no internal cable from the motherboard to the pcei What is the solution to operate that?

March 22nd, 2021 01:00

Any update on this? I'm looking to also add Thunderbolt 3 connectivity to my new XPS 8940 desktop...

1 Message

May 5th, 2021 16:00

We still don't have an answer to this - and this guy just keeps posting the SAME POST over and over.  We GET IT.

8 Posts

October 3rd, 2021 20:00

I have an Optiplex 7070 SFF.  I have the 555-beox, which has the full height bracket.  I am in the process of exchanging it for the 555-beoz with the correct low profile bracket.  In the meantime, I tested it by temporarily removing the bracket, and placing the 555-beox in my 7070 and it worked beautifully.  Soon as it booted up it went to the Windows store (I am running Windows 11 build 22000.194 on this box) and installed the Thunderbolt Control Center.  I connected an Akitio Thunder 3 Duo Pro and it connected without any problem.  No gpio cable in sight.

8 Wizard

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17K Posts

October 3rd, 2021 21:00


@AZ-Jim wrote:

I have an Optiplex 7070 SFF.  I have the 555-beox, which has the full height bracket.  I am in the process of exchanging it for the 555-beoz with the correct low profile bracket.  In the meantime, I tested it by temporarily removing the bracket, and placing the 555-beox in my 7070 and it worked beautifully.  Soon as it booted up it went to the Windows store (I am running Windows 11 build 22000.194 on this box) and installed the Thunderbolt Control Center.  I connected an Akitio Thunder 3 Duo Pro and it connected without any problem.  No gpio cable in sight.


Interesting, and thanks for the report.

https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/thunderbolt-3-pcie-card-2-type-c-ports-1-dp-in/apd/555-beox/networking

I do notice your machine is listed.

Alienware Aurora R7
Alienware Aurora R8
Alienware Aurora R9
OptiPlex 7070 MT
OptiPlex 7070 SFF
Precision Workstation 3630 Tower
Precision Workstation 3630XL Tower
Precision Workstation 5820 Tower
Precision Workstation 7820 Tower
Precision Workstation 7920 Tower
Precision Workstation R3930
Precision Workstation R3930 XL
Precision Workstation T3620 MT
Precision Workstation T5820XL Tower
Precision Workstation T7820XL Tower
Precision Workstation T7920XL Tower
XPS 8930 Tower

I can't really explain your success. Many people have major-trouble adding TB-3 ports to Dell desktops, and AFAIK, it's always worked as @speedstep has been posting.
My guess it that:

a. Newer Intel-based chipsets/Dell-motherboards work differently than the old ones
b. It's really just running the ports as USB-3.1 (not TB-3).

$200 is pricey for something I don't really need (I have a Synology-NAS via ethernet). I might have tried anyway if my Aurora-R6 wasn't excluded. What's the big difference between Aurora R6 and R7 you ask? ... virtually nothing AFAIK.

9 Legend

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47K Posts

October 4th, 2021 07:00

@Tesla1856 

The OP using Akito storage is getting USB 3.1 storage and bandwidth not Thunderbolt 3 bandwidth.

https://www.akitio.com/desktop-storage/thunder3-duo-pro


External Thunderbolt™ 3 & USB 3.1 Gen 1 Storage Solution

I have an actual Dell Thunderbolt 3 model and use an EGPU and it works fine.

Thats the difference between USB3 card and Thunderbolt card with Display port and GPIO cables.

EVERY  vendor uses GPIO cable, HP, ASUS, DELL etc. just not in a standard way.

Its very easy to set thunderbolt security off and use secure boot off and a Gigabyte game box to prove or disprove thunderbolt 3 capability as I do.

Gigabyte Game Box  GV-N3080IXEB-10GD

I don't know what the part numbers are for the cables but I do know they are NOT optional for Thunderbolt 3  40 Gbps from ANY vendor.

@DELL-Chris M  might have more information.

Note HP Documentation for thunderbolt 3 card.

http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c06162348

HP HEADER.png

 

 

 

 

 

 

Note documentation for ASUS Thunderbolt 3 card.

https://www.asus.com/support/FAQ/1043485#

HEADER.png

8 Wizard

 • 

17K Posts

October 4th, 2021 10:00


@speedstep wrote:

@Tesla1856 

1. The OP using Akito storage is getting USB 3.1 storage and bandwidth not Thunderbolt 3 bandwidth.

https://www.akitio.com/desktop-storage/thunder3-duo-pro


External Thunderbolt™ 3 & USB 3.1 Gen 1 Storage Solution

2. I have an actual Dell Thunderbolt 3 model and use an EGPU and it works fine. Its very easy to set thunderbolt security off and use secure boot off and a Gigabyte Game Box to prove or disprove thunderbolt 3 capability as I do.

3. EVERY  vendor uses GPIO cable, HP, ASUS, DELL etc. just not in a standard way.

 


1. Probably so. Even "falling-back" It would still work fine. Still, very fast (like 75% faster than even USB-3) . 

2. Nice. This is a good device for testing because it appears to need true full-bandwidth TB-3 port(s) to work properly or fully. I have Macs and Windows Ultra-Books with TB-3/USB-C but not many true TB-3 "end-point" devices.

3. Ok sir. We will stick with that. I have no reason to doubt you. Mystery explained I guess.

 

8 Posts

October 12th, 2021 11:00

Just to let you know, the 555-BEOZ with no GPIO when connected to the Akitio TB3 box and then daisy-chained from there to a CalDigit hub works fine.  I do not think a USB connection to the Akitio would be aware of the daisy-chained CalDigit hub. 

9 Legend

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47K Posts

October 12th, 2021 21:00

@AZ-Jim 

@Tesla1856 

Please press the blue Accept as Solution button below if this post answers your question.

USB-C allows for a CalDigit USB-C hub to be daisy chained.  Again There is NO THUNDERBOLT without the external GPIO and Display port Wrap thru cables from ANY vendor.

The assertion that Thunderbolt 40 gig connections work without GPIO cable and Display port wrap thru cable is wishful thinking at best.

Thunderbolt AIC INTEL JHL6540-Controller ASROCK

https://thunderbolttechnology.net/egfx

Aorus rtx 3080ti gaming box

 

Thunderbolt 3 AIC.png

 

 

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