What is everything going to be doing to extend the I/O of the Mac pro 7,1? I ideally need 6 USB-3 ports, and ideally I'd like them to be mounted in the machine so to not have external docks and stuff. Is there anything on the market to do this?
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MP 7,1 Extending the I/O of the Mac Pro 7,1
- Thread starter Shadow Puppets
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You can buy a USB card. However, cards that require SATA power are known not to work right now because a cable doesn't exist for that yet.
casperes1996
macrumors 604
Well technically the cable does exist... But only bundled with the i2J or whatever it's called.
jasonmvp
macrumors 6502
I don't know that you could attach that to a card that's requiring SATA power though. I'm pretty sure the connector that comes with the Promise device is molded together with the SATA data connector as well, so it's a single "thing" you attach to a drive. Probably won't quite work with a card (assuming it's even long enough to reach).
casperes1996
macrumors 604
Hm. That may be. Pretty sure I saw it as a separate cable, but I may very well be mistaken. Didn't look that carefully, so sure.
profdraper
macrumors 6502
The 4 port Sonnet Allegro works well (no aux power required). Having said this, IMO, it needlessly occupies a valuable 8x PCIe slot that could be used for something more valuable, now or in the future. In my case, I migrated 2 powered USB hubs: one a 13 port USB 2.0, the other a 7 port USB 3.0 (I have a lot of USB peripherals, not used all the time, but as and when needed they are hardwired in). Works perfectly. Otherwise, the Acasis 16 port 90w USB 3.0 data hub is meant to be excellent & would use only one of the MP7,1's two USB ports , see review.
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I have this hub and use it with my 7,1. It's very nice and works flawlessly, highly recommended!
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I plan to port over my Highpoint 1344a USB 3.1 Gen2 card. It's four USB A 10gb ports. I can update on how it works once my 7,1 arrives.
thisisnotmyname
macrumors 68020
The Sonnet cards are nice if you want to use a slot and have internal ports. For just general peripherals (i.e. not going to compete with each other for bandwidth like keyboards, mice, various controllers, etc...) Anker has inexpensive but good external hubs. Unless you're thinking about devices that each need max bandwidth simultaneously (e.g. USB storage) I'd just get a hub and mount it somewhere out of the way. My own is attached with 3M command adhesive strips underneath my desk.
You could also use a TB3 dock with multiple USB ports (e.g. CalDigit TS3 Plus) and then you'll be able to run multiple items at full speed simultaneously but again you'll have cables attaching to a satellite device.
I think the cable kit people are thinking of is the Belkin kit available from Apple.
You could also use a TB3 dock with multiple USB ports (e.g. CalDigit TS3 Plus) and then you'll be able to run multiple items at full speed simultaneously but again you'll have cables attaching to a satellite device.
I think the cable kit people are thinking of is the Belkin kit available from Apple.
The power header on the Mac Pro logic board is a basic 10-pin Molex connector. I plan on making my own cable and a few spares, if a lucky few want to pay parts + shipping (probably less than $20) I will send them out. Likely 2nd week of January.
The question is, what would a powered card would provide over the current offering. The unpowered Sonnet Allegro USB 3.2 card offers 4 ports, 7.5 watts each, at 10 Gbps. Is there a card that offers more or maximizes the pCIe bandwidth better?
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