I have a motu 1248.  What is the current state of thunderbolt for PC?  It seems like it still hasn't been implimented much. why?

Thunderbolt provides access to the PCIe bus.
For PC users, it's much less "pressing" because we have PCIe slots.
No current generation Mac has any other means to access the PCIe bus.
IMO, That was a bit short sighted on Apples part... along with no means to add internal drives.
 
Microsoft now offers full "PCIe via Thunderbolt" support for Win10.
You have to meet all the following conditions:

• Running one of the latest Z170, Z270, or X99 motherboards that provide Thunderbolt-3 via USB-C port
• Running an up-to-date install of Win10
• Need a USB-C to Thunderbolt adapter
• Your audio interface needs full "PCIe via Thunderbolt" driver

To my knowledge, only MOTU and UA currently have "PCIe via Thunderbolt" drivers available for Windows.
 
Microsoft chose to implement this support for Thunderbolt-3 (not Thunderbolt-2).
Microsoft claims support for Thunderbolt-3 should be backward compatible with Thunderbolt-2 peripherals... but they don't guarantee it.
 
 

IMO Thunderbolt = waste of money on PC.

Jim Roseberry
For PC users, it's much less "pressing" because we have PCIe slots.
 
To my knowledge, only MOTU and UA currently have "PCIe via Thunderbolt" drivers available for Windows.

I do enjoy the low latency I get from the MOTU AVBs via USB2 a lot ... but after a certain number of plugs in the project, the buffer size needs to be hiked up, thus again increasing latency ... not knowing the blue print behind TB, would that required increase in buffers happen later on TB compared to USB2 or is that solely dependent on what the CPU can handle?
 
Jim, do you have hands on experience with MOTU AVB over TB on win10? Are people getting in this or is still "early adopters only"?
 
What's the maximum cable length on TB? DAW is located in a separate room ...
 
 

Under ideal circumstances, Thunderbolt (with full "PCIe via Thunderbolt support") offers the same level of performance as PCIe.
 
In MOTU's case, the performance of the AVB series would be similar to their PCIe 424 series (with much better sound).    In short, as good as it gets.
 
Standard Thunderbolt cables have a limit of ~3-meters.
You can get more exotic optical TB cables that'll go ~10-meters (they're expensive ~$300).

Thanks for the input.  What is the price range of thnderbolt capable motherboards? So the cables have about a 10 foot limit?
 
 

For motherboards with Thunderbolt-3 you're looking at Z170 or Z270 (socket 1151), or X99 (socket 2011-3)
Cost is $200-$400

Hi Jim,
 
Here's the one I'm looking at - recommended/supported by UAD:
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128835&ignorebbr=1
 
$174.
 

Jim Roseberry
For motherboards with Thunderbolt-3 you're looking at Z170 or Z270 (socket 1151), or X99 (socket 2011-3)
Cost is $200-$400

Looks like a guaranteed way of making a PC build quite expensive.  If I were to go the Tbolt route I would go Mac since it will most likely work.

You don't have to go with a $400 motherboard.  
Those motherboards have U.2, 10-SATA ports, WiFi, dual Intel Gb LAN, etc.