MOTU introduces some cool new Thunderbolt stuff. What about Windows?

Before you jump on MOTU with Thunderbolt, confirm with them it'll work. MOTU is a little Mactarded. They definitely seem to like and support Apple more, especially historically. So you don't want to jump on a card, only to find out that it can't do TB on Windows, only on Mac.
 
In terms of cards, not many. The problem is that in part due to Apple's funding/requests Thunderbolt is tied to display. It is displayport multiplexed in with PCIe. That means you need DP for it, even if you aren't using it for video. Silly, and part of what has hurt adoption.
 
You can get some boards that have it built in, like Intel's high end DZ87KLT-75K. ASUS has a Thunderbolt card, but it looks like it only works with their motherboards.
 
Right now it is kinda an Apple only thing. Not because you can't get it in PCs, but because nobody cares so there's little support.
 
If you are sold on a PCIe bus card for the lowest latency, you could look at RME's HDSPe MADI or HDSPe MADI FX. You'd then need a converter box, of course. Not a cheap option, but should be real low latency, nto to mention extremely flexible.

On MOTU's site under the Tech Specs page it says Windows support coming soon.  I wonder how soon "soon" is?
 
Windows System Requirements*

* Windows support is coming soon…

1 GHz Pentium-based PC compatible or faster

2 GB RAM; 4 GB or more recommended

Windows 8 or later

Available Thunderbolt or high-speed USB 2.0 port

A large hard drive (at least 500 GB for recording)Cheers,
 
jayson

Sycraft
If you are sold on a PCIe bus card for the lowest latency, you could look at RME's HDSPe MADI or HDSPe MADI FX. You'd then need a converter box, of course. Not a cheap option, but should be real low latency, nto to mention extremely flexible.

When ever I look at the RME MADI stuff I walk away thinking that it would be cool, if I already happened to own a $40k console that happened to have MADI on it.
 
If RME happened to have an affordable 24 analog in converter to go with the MADI i might get more interested. The $5k M-32 IN seems pretty cool but I'd end up with a $9k package before it's done.
 
I have yet to find a 16, 24, or 32 IN channel all analog package with a few built in OUTs, all running off a internal clock that makes affordable sense for me to go MADI.
 
The LYNX 16 runs great without MADI and it's affordable and has a internal clock... but it's only 16 channels.
 
The Antelope Orion is 32 channells on an internal clock but it has a minimum sample buffer size of 128 and if you want low latency they advise you to record at 192 kHz.
 
The BURL mothership seems kind of cool but I think I priced it once and I got to a $12k package very quickly.
 
The rest of the stuff seems to take you down the road of having to use a bunch of wires to clock everything together and then you can spend the rest of your life wondering if your clocking is as good as it can be.
 
I know my specific interest of having 24-32 analog in all on one system is rather "niche" but it seems like in 2014 the technology is there.
 
The 24 I/0 is a great form factor but as I say it has a reputation for leaving people wishing they had the latest technology inside it.
 
I was about to snap and buy the MOTU HD192 system as the form factor is very close to ideal for me, (If I gnore the reputation for the cooling fan going berserk) but the guy at MOTU tells me, quote: "We do not support the MOTU 192HD anymore" and I say "But it still sells new at full price..." and he says, "Yes, we do not support the MOTU 192HD anymore". 
 
The Antelope is a great form factor but it doesn't seem to have a great driver and the warranty of only 1 year and a potential trip to Bulgaria for service has me in a holding pattern on that one.