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

[Loa]

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

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.

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]

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[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.

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.

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

 

[rtrt]

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[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]

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[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.