Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Why are PCI combo cards so expensive for the Mac?

B

barkmonster

macrumors 68020
Original poster
The Only USB + Firewire + ATA133 Combo PCI Card for the Mac is the Sonnet Tempo Trio The best price I've found is about £149 including VAT!!!

These 2 cards are functionally the same but cost WAY less!

USB 2.0 + Firewire + ATA133 Combo PCI Card £39 including VAT

USB 2.0 + Firewire + ATA133 + Serial ATA Combo PCI Card £59 including VAT

Unfortunately you can't use them with a Mac 🙁

I'm guessing the price gap is even greater in the US, just to really make a point, the Window version of the Tempo Trio is listed at $30 less than the Mac version on the sonnet website!
 
Short answer? Because it's for a mac. Therefore mac-only firmware. Plus a bit of profiteering....

That card is expensive everywhere. Depends what you actually want. OWC (www.macsales.com) in the states do a mac-compatible PCI card that has 3xUSB2 and 2xFW400 for $29.95 (£15.50). If you want an ATA/133 card that'll be $74.99 (£39) and and SATA card is $57.99 (£30). Shipping would be about £15-20. So if you choose what you actually need it will probs come to a lot less than the very overpriced Sonnet card.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back