SATA controller with both internal and external ports

[Caesar_091]

Hi all,
I'm looking for a PCIe SATA controller for my Mac Pro 1,1 with both internal* and external (to connect two external drives) ports

*internal SATA port needed to connect an LG BluRay drive (GGW-H20L) actually connected to the ODD SATA port (but I want to use it on Windows too and I would like to upgrade firmware without opening my Mac or using the AHCI mode).

Have somebody found a controller like this?


TIA :)

[mooblie]

I believe there used to be a Sonnet Tempo eSATA card with "4+4" ports (4 internal, 4 external) but it's not listed on their site now, so it's probably obsolete. I'm also not sure if it was PCI or PCIe. Might be worth a little eBay searching?

Edit: on checking, I think it was PCI-X only. Sorry! :) Can you not use the motherboard SATA port for your internal drive and an eSATA (external ports only) card ?

[nanofrog]

There's not a single card that can do what you want. :(

The cheapest, would be this (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/4-Port-ESATA-SATA-II-PCI-E-PCI-Express-Card-SIL3132-6C_W0QQitemZ200311740388QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Computing_ComputerComponents_InterfaceCards?hash=item2 ea38297e4) (and you'd need 2x, as it can only operate 2x ports, not 4). The description is misleading, but you can configure it as a 2+0, 1+1, or 0+2 configuration. Get the Drivers from SIL (here (http://www.siliconimage.com/support/searchresults.aspx?pid=32&cat=3&os=3)) or try Sonnet (their SIL3132 card drivers (http://www.sonnettech.com/support/kb/kb.php?cat=339&expand=&action=a3#a3) have worked for some with this card).

There's also cards from Highpoint that you could use a pair of them (620 and 622, internal and external 2 port cards respectively). But so far, they've not developed the Mac drivers as promised.