This SATA-II card too cheap to be true? (Updated with installation "fun")

[Loa]

Hello,

I'm not sure if we can post link to ebay items on this board, but I'll wait until I'm given the green light.

I found a PCI-E card with 2 eSATA ports + 2 internal SATA-II, a sata power cable and 2 sata cable for less that 15US$ shipped.

It's sold from Hong-Kong and I can't get a brand name on their eBay page.

Thanks

Loa

[Dr.Pants]

Have you checked the seller's feedback at all? There's a good first indication.

Second of all, I would contact the seller about the card in question and who the manufacturor is.

[geoffreak]

... might not work for Mac.

[Loa]

Have you checked the seller's feedback at all? There's a good first indication.

Second of all, I would contact the seller about the card in question and who the manufacturor is.

71000+ transactions, 99.6%, so it should be good.

Brand name: Card Link, Hong Kong company.

No idea on Mac compatibility, but if I recall correctly and especially since our "switch" to Intel, most things are compatible now...

Loa

[nanofrog]

Here's the manufacturer's page (http://www.cardlink.com.cn/product.asp?id=446).

Given it uses the Silicon Image 3132 chip, finding drivers should be possible, if the need arises. :)

[rtrt]

a

[Loa]

Here's the manufacturer's page (http://www.cardlink.com.cn/product.asp?id=446).

Given it uses the Silicon Image 3132 chip, finding drivers should be possible, if the need arises. :)

"If" the need arises? In the sense that I may not even need one?

I've been looking all over the place for a mac-compatible PCI card that has both eSATA and internal SATA connection.

The results: 0 cards found.

Loa

[rtrt]

a

[Loa]

card that NF linked to has jumpers to set both ports external, both internal or one of each - so only 2 'live' at any one time

if you need more you need to go more expensive or use 2 cards

Ya, it was the card I had found on Ebay. But 1 / 1 would suit me fine. Trouble is I'd like to have it fully Mac compatible as it's going to be used for one of my RAID0 boot volume...

Good to know yours is still stable, but I don't know if I could deal with the possibility that each update could break my boot volume...

Hmm, on the other hand, I could put my back-up drive on that card... Much less worries...

Loa

[teeck2000]

Yeah it should work fine since it's the Silicon Image. I actually bought one of these as well, and waiting for it to arrive. Any PCI-E x1 lane card only supports 2 channels of SATA. So you need to go to x4 for more simultaneous channels. These cards aren't very fast though, each port only supports about 110 MB/sec MAX, but should be fine since most SINGLE disks (except SSD) don't go faster than that.

[rtrt]

a

[nanofrog]

"If" the need arises? In the sense that I may not even need one?
No, in the sense of needing drivers. :eek: The card you're looking at doesn't list the ability to boot, and was uncertain if the drivers present in OS X would work or not. I've had the least time using recent Macs, and most of it's spent on RAID.

This is a really basic card, so if you need boot support, Port Multiplier support, or more ports (usable), then you'd need to look else where.

It might be helpful, if you posted the requirements (boot, port count, and port multiplier support). If needed. ;)

Any cards found, might help someone else. :) It's a forum afterall... ;) :D :p

don't know much about RAID - but NF has a lot of experience there so he might chime in

this is the driver i'm using successfully;

Tempo SATA E2P Driver (Mac)

Version: 1.1.9 V2B
Posted Dec. 8, 2008
Description: This software enables the use of all versions of the Tempo SATA E2P host controller in compatible computers running Mac OS X. This version fixes an issue which prevented volumes from mounting when connected to non-Rev. A cards.

Supported System Software: Mac OS X Version 10.3 or later

do have slightly guilty feeling about using drivers from sonnet when i didn't buy their card :o - but tbh funds were and still are a little tight and so will live with it for now and put them top of my list for next h/w purchase
Good to know they work. :) I'd expect those off Syba's site would as well. :D

BTW, can you offer any surprise features that aren't mentioned on the manufacturer's site, such as boot or PM support? Might be a really nice surprise. :D

[teeck2000]

The 3132 chip supports Port Multipliers.

[TheStrudel]

I've been looking all over the place for a mac-compatible PCI card that has both eSATA and internal SATA connection.

The results: 0 cards found.

Loa

I use one with two external ports, one internal:

http://www.nitroav.com/product/472/

Works great. Might not have all you're looking for, though.

[Loa]

I use one with two external ports, one internal:

http://www.nitroav.com/product/472/

Works great. Might not have all you're looking for, though.

Thanks for the find. But at 60$ + shipping, I think I'll take a chance with the cheap card Nano linked. Found it at 15$ shipped on eBay.

--

So I'm going to order it and download both drivers (SI and Sonnet) and see if it works for my internal back-up drive!

One connectivity question: The card comes with the SATA cable (red with black plugs) and with one short SATA power cable (molex on one side, black SATA plugs on the other). Will I need a splitter, and if so, which one? (I'm on a 2009 MP)

EDIT: Nanofrog, I found your post (http://forums.macrumors.com/showpost.php?p=7683651&postcount=10) in the thread about adding 2 SSDs to the 2nd optical bay.

Loa

[nanofrog]

EDIT: Nanofrog, I found your post (http://forums.macrumors.com/showpost.php?p=7683651&postcount=10) in the thread about adding 2 SSDs to the 2nd optical bay.

Loa
Fair bit of effort required for something so simple. :eek: :apple: :p

[Loa]

Fair bit of effort required for something so simple. :eek: :apple: :p

Yep. Hard to believe they made enough room for 2 HD and didn't think about a proper way to mount + connect them...

But I'm used to modding and soldering: high level RC cars & trucks! :-)

I'm not ready to set my RAID right now (need cash), and so I won't be able to report on my success/failure with this card soon, but as soon as I do it, I'll let you guys know.

Loa

[TheStrudel]

Well, they made room for two optical drives. It just so happens that it's also enough space for HDDs.

[Loa]

Well, they made room for two optical drives. It just so happens that it's also enough space for HDDs.

Not quite: they made room for 2 optical bays or 4 HDDs. Someone at Apple must have noticed that. Both optical bays can each physically hold TWO HDDs. My guess is that more ppl will need more than 4 drives, than ppl that need 2 optical drives.

Why not, at the very least, have 2 open SATA ports?

Loa

[nanofrog]

Not quite: they made room for 2 optical bays or 4 HDDs. Someone at Apple must have noticed that. Both optical bays can each physically hold TWO HDDs. My guess is that more ppl will need more than 4 drives, than ppl that need 2 optical drives.

Why not, at the very least, have 2 open SATA ports?

Loa
Apple was only interested in supplying the necessary cabling for 2x optical drives, as they don't offer HDD installs in those locations.

They could care less about the rest of the world (PC's), and leave mods up to the users and/or 3rd party manufacturers to offer solutions. ;)

[Loa]

Hello,

Got the card, installed it and ran into a problem: I can't make the SATA cable run from the card to the second optical bay. There is no hole to pass it through the "top" part of the MP...

Did I miss something?

Loa

P.S. And I don't even have an eSATA drive to test the card+drivers with!

[nanofrog]

Hello,

Got the card, installed it and ran into a problem: I can't make the SATA cable run from the card to the second optical bay. There is no hole to pass it through the "top" part of the MP...

Did I miss something?

Loa

P.S. And I don't even have an eSATA drive to test the card+drivers with!
I'd think if you remove the 3rd & 4th HDD's and the optical bay unit, you'd be able to route the cable through (just foward of the PSU, so you don't end up having to pull it as well). Run it behind the HDD cabling and up through the PSU cabling to get into the optical mount area from the back side of the case. Placing the card in slot 4 might make it a bit cleaner as well.

I hope this makes sense. :)

A lot of installation effort it seems, but this is the cleanest and most doable means I can think of. :eek: :rolleyes: :D

rtrt might chime in here. ;)

[Loa]

I'd think if you remove the 3rd & 4th HDD's and the optical bay unit, you'd be able to route the cable through (just foward of the PSU, so you don't end up having to pull it as well). Run it behind the HDD cabling and up through the PSU cabling to get into the optical mount area from the back side of the case. Placing the card in slot 4 might make it a bit cleaner as well.

I'll look at that possibility tonight. But I'll have to order/buy another, much longer SATA cable. The 12in cable will be way short for this "detour". :-)

Loa

[Andrew Henry]

I'd think if you remove the 3rd & 4th HDD's and the optical bay unit, you'd be able to route the cable through (just foward of the PSU, so you don't end up having to pull it as well). Run it behind the HDD cabling and up through the PSU cabling to get into the optical mount area from the back side of the case. Placing the card in slot 4 might make it a bit cleaner as well.

I hope this makes sense. :)

A lot of installation effort it seems, but this is the cleanest and most doable means I can think of. :eek: :rolleyes: :D

rtrt might chime in here. ;)

I ran SATA cables up to the optical bay, are you talking about removing harddrive 1 and 2, and in the front back corner there is a hole where the rest of the cables go up and you can use that.

Im not sure what is behind the 3rd and 4th bay though..

Andrew

[nanofrog]

I ran SATA cables up to the optical bay, are you talking about removing harddrive 1 and 2, and in the front back corner there is a hole where the rest of the cables go up and you can use that.

Im not sure what is behind the 3rd and 4th bay though..

Andrew
I believe we're thinking of the same thing. :) Following the cable bundle just in front of the PSU, when the Optical Mount is removed. (I was thinking it was at the 2 & 3 area, but pulling 3 & 4 would give the needed space to get the cable a bit more hidden, and still access the hole).

It's been over a year since I got into an '08 MP, so the details are getting a tad fuzzy. :o

[Loa]

It's been over a year since I got into an '08 MP, so the details are getting a tad fuzzy. :o

I got a 09 Quad! :-)

Loa

[nanofrog]

I got a 09 Quad! :-)

Loa
I've seen some posted images awhile back, but not been in that one at all. :o

But given the case is a modded version of the previous MP, the basic premise should still hold true. Pull the drives out, and look for a gap, as the backplane cable is no longer used on the drives. With the ports soldered directly to the board, it may be a bit trickier to make sure the SATA cable doesn't interfere with the drives connecting up properly (maybe a small section of double sided tape would be handy).

[rtrt]

a

[rtrt]

a

[nanofrog]

early days tho as those plans need funding!
Understandable. ;)
So assuming the 2009 is the same or at least similar enough to the 2008 you should have no problem - apart from cable length i guess :(
The '09's are different, as the backplane cable that connects your HDD bays is now gone. The SATA connectors are soldered directly to the board now, and the sleds go in deeper to mate up with them.

But I'm thinking the gap to route a SATA cable is still there, as the case is the same as yours with internal modifications (mostly due to the logic board/daughterboard arrangement). My concern would be getting the cable routed in a manner that doesn't prevent one of the HDD's from making contact with it's respective connector on the board. But it should be possible.

[rtrt]

a

[nanofrog]

.....well not looking too good if this

My concern with inexpensive cards (which use the Silicon Image driver) is that they may be limited to pre-Snow Leopard OS based Mac computers. It appears that Silicon Image has ceased all Mac development of their drivers.

from here;

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=9348838

is accurate.
It stinks, but I'm not surprised. :(

Apple's rather difficult to work with for 3rd party developers (reputation), and it's expensive as a result. So Silicon Image likely figured it was time to dump Mac support this time around. That places Mac support in the hands of 3rd party vendors like FirmTek, which means they now get to write their own drivers. Fewer choices... Whee. :rolleyes:

It might mean a few other cards will work off FirmTek's drivers, but they won't continue to develop them if not enough consumers buy the product for Macs. Assuming they're in fact the only remaining vendor with Mac support, nothing would exist at this point. :eek:

So supporting FirmTek with a purchase might be a good idea. :p

[rtrt]

a

[nanofrog]

Do Firmtek cards use the SI3132 chip as well?
I believe they do, but the only way to absolutely confirm it, would be get a pic with any tape/labels removed.

There's just not that much out there that's super cheap (SI chip), and uses a simple design. FirmTek/SeriTek doesn't actually manufacture their own gear, BTW. So it could actually be anyone making it, while they write their own drivers. :)

[rtrt]

a

[nanofrog]

might hold off on snow leopard for a few months then pick up a 4 port card instead.

everything should be stable by then - os and drivers
Not a bad idea, as to let the bugs get sorted. To some extent anyway. ;) :p