Having a real port and an actual header are not the same thing.
It's not, I agree, but the header gives users an expansion option on cheaper boards.
A header isn't the same thing as an actual thunderbolt 4 port, and where do you put the AIC with a 3+ slot GPU, especially if you want to use the one remaining PCIe slot for something else like a sound card?
That's another matter that has nothing to do with Thunderbolt, but with the size of GPU and AIC choices. On different boards, different compromises need to be made.
but when paying upwards of $500, which is the point i was making, it should already be there in port form, not a header. Paying nearly $500 for a board isn't exactly "low end", the point of the post was that there is absurd price inflation and no real features have been added that justify the cost. And its not just the absence of TB4.
I agree with this. All complaints to Intel for expensive TB4 chips, and to some motherboard makers for being stingy on I/O on boards. Also, TB4 is not used that much in many PC circles, or at least this is what MB vendors want us to believe.
Have 3 Asus boards, and none of them have TB4 ports. The Z790 Stix, the Z690 Wifi DDR Strix, and a W680, the later which cost nearly $500.
Asus is specific and a bit stubborn on this issue. They have TB ports on Pro Art Line and Crosshair, for creators and other high-end board users.
Asrock and Asus have several boards with TB4 below $500. Have a look around.
https://rog.asus.com/motherboards/rog-strix/rog-strix-z690-i-gaming-wifi-model/spec/ ~$359
I have Asus B550 Pro Art with two TB4 ports. I paid it ~$260.
That and its on nearly every laptop, it can't REALLY add so much that it breaks a product segment price structure. Do come along
I'd love all motherboards to have TB4 ports, but unfortunately, vendors still don't think this way, for various reasons. Laptops are a different universe of connectivity.
at this point your just trolling if you think paying $500+ for an actual port is "mainstream"
Before judging my language, hear me, again, the same quote: "The fact is that a
record number of mainstream AM5 and 12th/13th Gen boards have adopted Thunderbolt in comparison to previous platforms and generations. It's a fact, check it out."
This record number is still not enough in terms of wider adoption, but what I wrote was accurate. I bought the first ever, and only, AMD TB4 board on the market on AM4 platform, as I enjoy Thunderbolt for its versatility. On AM5 platform, there is at least six motherboards with TB4/USB4. On Intel, more 700 boards have TB4 than 600 boards. That's what I meant by record number. Things are, at least, heading in a good direction for TB, despite all current issues with selective adoption. Once TB5 is out next year, TB4 will be on majority of boards.
