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

Killer ExpressCards for 17" MacBook Pro

2contagious

2contagious

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Apr 29, 2008
755
0
UK
Hi!

Now that the new MacBook Pros are out, the 15" is getting closer and closer to the 17" (with the optional hi-res screen update). The one thing that really still separates them is that the 17" model still has an ExpressCard slot, which leaves more room for expansion. I am currently trying to decide whether to go for a 15" or a 17" and I thought I might ask you 17" MBP users: What are good ExpressCards you use/know of that are compatible with the MacBook Pro?
 
The ExpressCard slot and the extra screen real estate are why I'm getting the 17". I'm going to be getting a CF (compact flash) card reader ExpressCard to transfer pics from my camera (1DMkII) and I can see USB 3 ExpressCards coming out for the Mac in the not-too-distant future (next Sunday AD?).
 
I use my AT&T broadband Expresscard all the time on my early 2009 15" 2.9 MBP. I'll probably soon get an eSATA card for video editing.

My buscard slot on my 2003 tibook kept that machine running and expandable for years. When USB 3 comes out, there will surely be an Expresscard.

I actually got my 15" MBP because it was the last model with the slot. It's a serious omission not to have one on a pro machine, and I hope it comes back.
 
sth said:
Are there any ExpressCard34 SSDs that fit flush with the MBP case?
Click to expand...

Ditto, and that are not made by some random Asian manufacturer with no support, and barely compatible drivers that cause all kinds of problems when you sleep/hibernate?
 
I have the last MBP 15" that accepts the cards (Penryn GT8600M model) and I have tried to use it for eSATA before, but all of the cards I have encountered end up having that same piece of sh*t Sil3132 chipset with those crappy drivers / kernel module. It would be nice if there were an eSATA card that fit completely within the machine (just a port, not a big multitap dongle with 6 ports) and didn't require any 3rd-party kernel extensions.

I have a fast external drive that I use with FW800 (which isn't bad), but eSATA would be better.
 
The broadband cards were big a few years ago when carriers did not release USB versions (to prevent desktop use).

It seems to be that the Express34 standard never delivered on its promises. I do not miss it much.
 
Sonnet is supposedly coming out with a single port/flush esata card, but I prefer dual port (two drives, raid, etc.) Sonnet is supposedly the best and fastest (true 3 gb/s).
 
I have both a 48 GB SSD ExpressCard and a eSata ExpressCard for my MacBook Pro Late 2008.

Both are flush (though not pinpoint flush...SSD has the USB ring stick out just a millimeter or half) and I mostly leave my SSD in there all the time.

Other than those two and a flush card reader, there's not much else unless you want to add a graphics card or more USB/Firewire ports.
 
2contagious said:
Hi!

Now that the new MacBook Pros are out, the 15" is getting closer and closer to the 17" (with the optional hi-res screen update). The one thing that really still separates them is that the 17" model still has an ExpressCard slot, which leaves more room for expansion. I am currently trying to decide whether to go for a 15" or a 17" and I thought I might ask you 17" MBP users: What are good ExpressCards you use/know of that are compatible with the MacBook Pro?
Click to expand...

I am looking for a CF adapter for the Expresscard slot. I can't (in the UK) find any branded ones, only some cheapo ones on eBay. Is branded batter, and if so where can I buy one?

Thanks
 
Riemann Zeta said:
I have the last MBP 15" that accepts the cards (Penryn GT8600M model) and I have tried to use it for eSATA before, but all of the cards I have encountered end up having that same piece of sh*t Sil3132 chipset .....
Click to expand...

I bought a DIGITUS card recently (see http://www.amazon.de/DIGITUS-Express-300Mbps-Formfaktor-kompatibel/dp/B0017JPVZW

With this card I can
  • Boot from
  • Restore a Time Machine backup booting via SL DVD

So no drivers are needed and it seams to be stable so far.
 
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
moonwalk said:
Sonnet is supposedly coming out with a single port/flush esata card, but I prefer dual port (two drives, raid, etc.) Sonnet is supposedly the best and fastest (true 3 gb/s).
Click to expand...

http://store1.sonnettech.com/product_info.php?cPath=24_130&products_id=344
It's not a Tempo Pro, but it should be good enough. I'll probably buy one since the latest MBPs don't have anything better for fast disk access. I'm using a BC338 esata card right now, but it's just too buggy (random kernel panics).

3gbps is impossible over expresscard because the PCI-e 1x lane is limited to 2.5gbps. The card I linked to above maxes out at 125MB/sec, while the Tempo Pro cards do quite a bit better (up to 200MB/sec), but they are more expensive. $200 isn't worth it for me, for what I will be using it for.

the eSATA expresscard thread:
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/678101/

It looks like all the Sonnet cards (or OS X) have compatibility problems with enclosures using the eSATA/USB OXU931DS chipset.
 
deal on fastest SATA ExpressCard

Sonnet Technology Online Store is offering 15% off on the 200MB/s Tempo SATA Pro ExpressCard/34 that is compatible all MacBook Pros with ExpressCard slot. It's twice as fast as any other SATA ExpressCard for the MBP.

When you get to the page where you enter your credit card, there is a place to enter the "Specials/Promotion Codes" -- which is "BareFeats" in this case -- good until July 1st, 2010.

Start here:
http://store1.sonnettech.com/product_info.php?cPath=24_39&products_id=264
 
m85476585 said:
http://store1.sonnettech.com/product_info.php?cPath=24_130&products_id=344
3gbps is impossible over expresscard because the PCI-e 1x lane is limited to 2.5gbps. The card I linked to above maxes out at 125MB/sec, while the Tempo Pro cards do quite a bit better (up to 200MB/sec), but they are more expensive. $200 isn't worth it for me, for what I will be using it for.
Click to expand...

I had contacted Apple support to ask about USB 3.0 express cards for the new i5/i7 machines. There is no support built into OSX for USB 3.0, however the biggest issue would have been weather or not if the new machines had Expresscard/34 2.0 which supports 5 gb/s transfer rates. After talking to Apple support they had confirmed that the new i5/i7 17inch MBPs both have the new Expresscard/34 2.0 which would have the throughput necessary for next gen peripherals. So as soon as Apple releases a kernal update for OSX to support USB 3.0 we can then start getting all those nice speedy external drives.
 
2contagious said:
Hi!

Now that the new MacBook Pros are out, the 15" is getting closer and closer to the 17" (with the optional hi-res screen update). The one thing that really still separates them is that the 17" model still has an ExpressCard slot, which leaves more room for expansion. I am currently trying to decide whether to go for a 15" or a 17" and I thought I might ask you 17" MBP users: What are good ExpressCards you use/know of that are compatible with the MacBook Pro?
Click to expand...

Check out these cards:

http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/notebook_accessories/PCMCIA_Express34_Cardbus
 
Reapur said:
After talking to Apple support they had confirmed that the new i5/i7 17inch MBPs both have the new Expresscard/34 2.0 which would have the throughput necessary for next gen peripherals. So as soon as Apple releases a kernal update for OSX to support USB 3.0 we can then start getting all those nice speedy external drives.
Click to expand...

I have some potential bad news. When testing SSD RAID 0 pairs on the 2010 MBP core i7 using the Sonnet Tempo Pro sata expresscard, the write speeds were slower than the same setup on the 2009 C2D MBP.

Check out the graph near the end of this article:

http://barefeats.com/hard133.html
 
14 months later and apple still not releases usb3 drivers for osx- what a joke
It's obvious apple are vetoing usb3 to stop ppl upgrading to usb3, instead pushing us towards thunderbolt.

I understand intel has not officially adopted usb3 into their chipsets, and currently there are next to none thunderbolt periph available.

Apple should give us a firmware update that allows 3rd parties to Market peripherals via usb3
 
johnnyturbouk said:
14 months later and apple still not releases usb3 drivers for osx- what a joke
It's obvious apple are vetoing usb3 to stop ppl upgrading to usb3, instead pushing us towards thunderbolt.

I understand intel has not officially adopted usb3 into their chipsets, and currently there are next to none thunderbolt periph available.

Apple should give us a firmware update that allows 3rd parties to Market peripherals via usb3
Click to expand...
It's not Apple's job to write drivers for 3rd party accessories, that's the 3rd party's job.
 
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