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Are there any PCIe eSATA cards that run with OSX 10.6.2?

S

suttonsam

macrumors newbie
Original poster
May 1, 2008
2
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I have a (Dec 09) Mac Pro 8 Core and want to connect it to a external: Quad-bay drive enclosure via eSATA. The drive bay is an: 'ProAvio EditBOX 4 PM'. The UK Apple Store does not list any PCi cards that are compatible with Snow Leopard. All I have found is the: Sonnet Tempo-e PCIe eSATA II E4P Expansion Card (20 External) which costs £220/$355 - Rather expensive!!

Does anyone know of alternative PCIe eSATA cards that are cheaper and run with OSX 10.6.2?

Thanks*
 
Try a Lacie eSATA card. i have one on my 2006 macpro with 10.6.2.
They are good, cheap and works on PC and MAC.
 
suttonsam said:
I have a (Dec 09) Mac Pro 8 Core and want to connect it to a external: Quad-bay drive enclosure via eSATA. The drive bay is an: 'ProAvio EditBOX 4 PM'. The UK Apple Store does not list any PCi cards that are compatible with Snow Leopard. All I have found is the: Sonnet Tempo-e PCIe eSATA II E4P Expansion Card (20 External) which costs £220/$355 - Rather expensive!!

Does anyone know of alternative PCIe eSATA cards that are cheaper and run with OSX 10.6.2?

Thanks*
Click to expand...

Just put this in my machine over the weekend works great under 64bit 10.6.2 never tried it 32bit but I imagine it works there equally as well.

http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Firmtek/SATA2SE2E/
 
You could use a SIL3132 based card (really inexpensive example), and Silicon Image has Beta drivers (stated for 10.6 & 10.6.2 and they're basic: no RAID functions at all).

There is one user having problems with it (internal + external configuration), but I'm not yet sure what the problem is, as it was working initially. But it's the least expensive card by far. The 4 port versions (that I linked is only a 2 port card, and the additional ports are to be configured, such as all internal, all external or a 1+1 configuration) are quite expensive ($200USD).

The LaCie suggested above is a SIL3132 model I think (they do have one), as the expensive one is a 4 port version.
 
I'm running the Sonnet Tempo E2P PCI eSATA card in slot 3 of my Mac Pro 1,1 and it works perfectly with Mac OS X 10.6.2.

Sonnet Temp E2P $43 at Amazon

Mark
 
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nanofrog said:
There is one user having problems with it (internal + external configuration), but I'm not yet sure what the problem is, as it was working initially.
Click to expand...

I guess that must be me. :p
But the point is, it was never working with the SIL drivers! None of the ports. The bundled driver was the first that enabled the ports. Unfortunately this driver does not work with SL properly, which results in kernel panics as soon as the connected drive is stressed.

I've got a little work to do at the moment, so I can't test it again before the end of January. But I will definitely keep you up to date!
 
Transporteur said:
I guess that must be me. :p
But the point is, it was never working with the SIL drivers! None of the ports. The bundled driver was the first that enabled the ports. Unfortunately this driver does not work with SL properly, which results in kernel panics as soon as the connected drive is stressed.

I've got a little work to do at the moment, so I can't test it again before the end of January. But I will definitely keep you up to date!
Click to expand...
I was wondering when you'd find your way into this thread. :D :p

Sorry about the confusion. I thought you had it working with the Beta drivers initially as well, not just the included driver in OS X.

BTW, what was the version of SL when you had functionality?
I'm wondering if it's an update to 10.6.2 that broke it, as the Beta drivers don't mention compatibility with 10.6.2, and if it failed under that one, still in testing, or just not updated (if passed in their testing). :confused:

I'd like to get this sorted, as many are wanting an inexpensive eSATA card, and the 4 port models are rather pricey. I do recall the card you have didn't work initially, as the existing drivers at the time (Leopard) failed. Then the Beta drivers dropped, and I was under the impression it was working from that point on.

If this isn't the case, or it's going to be yes, no, yes, no (drivers work then break with updates), it may be best to only recommend it to '06 - '08 owners. I hope this isn't the case, so I'm looking foward to getting a solution to this. $200USD is too much just to get a working eSATA port (and it won't even boot with OS X :rolleyes:).
 
32 bit kernel

The OWC website has a SIL 3132 based card which they say works with Snow Leopard, but only running the 32 bit kernel. Does that have any relevance to the issues that Trans is experiencing with the card not working in his system? Also, I have read many places here that for most systems running less than, say, 32 gigs of memory, there is no difference between the 32 bit kernel and the 64 bit kernel. Do you all agree with that, and, if not, what do you believe the impact is?
 
Mark Booth said:
I'm running the Sonnet Tempo E2P PCI eSATA card in slot 3 of my Mac Pro 1,1 and it works perfectly with Mac OS X 10.6.2.

Sonnet Temp E2P $43 at Amazon

Mark
Click to expand...

That only works under 32bit I replaced it with the card that I linked too, it definitely works well enough if you don't care to boot/run 64bit.
 
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
Duff-Man says....you may also want to check out a new card from Highpoint - the Rocket 622 - it's a simple 2-port eSATA card and can be had over these shores for about $50 and supports 10.6 out of the box....oh yeah!
 
Duff-Man said:
Duff-Man says....you may also want to check out a new card from Highpoint - the Rocket 622 - it's a simple 2-port eSATA card and can be had over these shores for about $50 and supports 10.6 out of the box....oh yeah!
Click to expand...
I'm seeing it go for $75USD so far. Nice find BTW.
 
nanofrog said:
I'm seeing it go for $75USD so far. Nice find BTW.
Click to expand...

Duff-Man says....I ordered one from Newegg for $49.99 - it arrived today actually...I have not installed in in the Mac Pro yet though as I am in the middle of a busy week. Perhaps on the weekend I'll do my 10.6 upgrade and install the card....oh yeah!
 
Duff-Man said:
Duff-Man says....I ordered one from Newegg for $49.99 - it arrived today actually...I have not installed in in the Mac Pro yet though as I am in the middle of a busy week. Perhaps on the weekend I'll do my 10.6 upgrade and install the card....oh yeah!
Click to expand...
:cool: Please let us know how it goes. :)
 
nanofrog said:
I'd like to get this sorted, as many are wanting an inexpensive eSATA card ...SNIP... I'm looking foward to getting a solution to this. $200USD is too much just to get a working eSATA port (and it won't even boot with OS X :rolleyes:).
Click to expand...

Hi nanofrog, i've ordered that really inexpensive card (£10 inc postage) from ebay, but it's yet to arrive ... i'll update you once it's here and i've got it in (probably using the new Sonnet driver)
 
slater-k said:
Hi nanofrog, i've ordered that really inexpensive card (£10 inc postage) from ebay, but it's yet to arrive ... i'll update you once it's here and i've got it in (probably using the new Sonnet driver)
Click to expand...

The Sonnet driver is the way to go as it's the only one working with these cards (at least with 10.6.1).
I didn't try 10.6.2 because of some serious RAID issues of this release, but it would be nice if you could keep us up to date. :)
 
Transporteur said:
The Sonnet driver is the way to go as it's the only one working with these cards (at least with 10.6.1).
I didn't try 10.6.2 because of some serious RAID issues of this release, but it would be nice if you could keep us up to date. :)
Click to expand...
I know I mentioned the Sonnet drivers via link. ;) I'm really glad they worked, and offers an inexpensive 2 port eSATA option. :D Personally, I wouldn't trust 10.6.2, and would advise waiting on 10.6.3 (out for testing now, according to the MR front page a <couple of days ago IIRC>) until there's confirmation it's OK with RAID. (Some SSD's seem to be affected as well). :(
 
I got a super-cheap eSATA card from Monoprice. It is product 3581 and costs less than $15. With the drivers from Silicon Image, it works fine under Snow Leopard 10.6.2. I did get one kernel panic, but it was user error - trying to disconnect while the drive was powered up.

This isn't a high-end solution, but I use my Mac Pro (2009 Octo) for scientific computing, and it's fine for me.
 
gglockner said:
I got a super-cheap eSATA card from Monoprice. It is product 3581 and costs less than $15. With the drivers from Silicon Image, it works fine under Snow Leopard 10.6.2. I did get one kernel panic, but it was user error - trying to disconnect while the drive was powered up.

This isn't a high-end solution, but I use my Mac Pro (2009 Octo) for scientific computing, and it's fine for me.
Click to expand...

eemzah said:
I got myself a cheap Taiwanese brand called Apiotek with a SiL3132 chipset. Its running on Silicon Images latest beta drivers for OS 10.6. So far everything is working except for RAID which I don't need.
Click to expand...
It could matter, so what are your exact system specs (OS and system model #)?
 
Seems as if these cheap SIL3132 cards are not exactly the same as they all require different drivers.

Very confusing! :confused:
 
Transporteur said:
Seems as if these cheap SIL3132 cards are not exactly the same as they all require different drivers.

Very confusing! :confused:
Click to expand...
Most I've seen appear to follow the same reference design. But I'm thinking there are different revisions of the SIL3132, and that may be the difference (i.e. one of the P/N's is SIL3132R5).

Unfortunately, they don't have a P/N list (i.e. due to different packages, RoHOS compliance <lead free, as it orininally appeared in '05 from the looks of it>, or design revisions), nor do they have a supplier list. I'd have to email, so it might be direct sales in the US.
 
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