Just now I tried this approach, and found that my laptop, Lenovo ThinkBook 14 G5+ IAP (with Intel Core i5-13500H), refuse to update the driver. I'm afraid this only work for 10th & 11th gen Intel mobile processors (12th gen may also work, I cannot test).
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I've been spending weeks to get my laptop and my desktop (Asus Proart Z690 Creator Wifi) work with my Focusrite Clarett 2Pre Thunderbolt. I think my experience would be helpful for many guys. So here is a quick review.
Although compatibility can be achieved techinically, Intel has officially announced that Thunderbolt 4 is not supporting thunderbolt 1&2. Although some of the Thunderbolt 4 device do support Thunderbolt 1&2, Intel is intentionally removing these compatibility:
- For Intel mobile CPU devices (10th gen and later), they have no dedicated Thunderbolt controllers, the corresponding parts are intergrated into CPU (except those 12th&13th gen -HX processors, which are basically direct copy of desktop processors). For these devices, if the method shown in the previous answer does not work, then there's no solution as far as I know.
- For Intel desktop CPU (11th gen or later) & -HX CPU devices & Thunderbolt 4 expansion cards, they requires dedicated Thunderbolt controller (JHL-8540 commonly). With controller firmware NVM31 (can be checked in Thunderbolt Control Center), Thunderbolt 1&2 would work without hot-plugh (and these device would not show up in Intel Thunderbolt Control Center). A Thunderbolt 3 dock is suggested (otherwise my Clarett requires cold boot, power off my power supply, after plugh in physically; my Clarett would also show correctly in device manager with my dock) but not strictlky required. However, all firmwares newer than NVM31 would drop support of Thunderbolt 1&2 devices, and cause several issues under macOS (if desktop used as Hackintosh).
For my ASUS Proart Z690 motherboard, Thunderbolt controller firmware does not downgrade with BIOS downgrade, even by flashing SM-BIOS chip with SPI-flasher, as the firmware is stored seperately. Luckly, ASUS provided a customized BIOS to downgrade TB firmware after I asked for help, and I found ways to downgrade BIOS if motherboard refuses to downgrade (because of BIOS Lock). Details can be seen on my posts on tonymacx86 (#2896):
Asus Z690 ProArt Creator WiFi (Thunderbolt 4) + i7-12700K + AMD RX 6800 XT | tonymacx86.com
some comments if you want to use Thunderbolt 1&2 devices with (latest) PC:
- For desktop users, the safest way is to use a Thunderbolt 3 (Titan Ridge) Expansion cards. If your motherboard supports TB3 or TB4 expansion cards, go for a TB3 expansion card of the same brand as your motherboard (different brands have different internal cable headers). If no, then a Gigabyte Titan Ridge card has high probability to work, but reqiures techniques (various case reported the card is still functional even with AMD 400&500 series motherboards, by putting the card to the first PCIe slot, which connect to the CPU rather than going through chipset).
- For Z690 motherboard with Thunderbolt 4 intergrated, they would work under controller firmware NVM31 or previous.
- For Z790 motherboard with Thunderbol 4 intergrated, and some X670e motherboards which realize intergrated USB4 with Intel controller (for example, ASUS Proart X670e Creator Wifi, with JHL 8540), there is basically no chance (as the first edition of BIOS provided would have TB firmware newer than NVM31).
- For 10th&11th gen Intel laptop users, follow the previous answer.
- For 12th&13th gen Intel laptop users, there is basically no chance.
There are still questions remaining:
- There remains chanse for USB4 AMD devices. 6000&7000 series AMD laptops (some with USB4) and most X670e motherboards with USB4 intergrated uses AsMedia controllers. As TB 1&2 compatibility is dropped by Intel intentionally, USB4 has a high chance to support TB 1&2. However, the stability of new-developed AsMedia controllers is a little bit worrying (some issues reported). For now, I have not seen anybody who has tried this approach.
- Inspired by the Titan Ridge card with AMD 400&500 series motherboard case, I'm planning to test Titan Ridge expansion card to my laptop through M2 slots (my laptop has 2, 1 go to CPU directly). This approach would not be helpful for most people, as it requireds to remove or modify shell of laptop.
Hope these informations would be helpful to some people. Good luck.
