usb & firewire pci combo card question

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usb & firewire pci combo card question

Im looking to buy a usb/firewire pci combo card for my beige G3 AIO. what will work and what will not. im looking at one now
it has the ALI chip in it and USB COMPLIES WITH OHCI (OPEN HOST CONTROLLER INTERFACE) AND EHCI (ENHANCED HOST CONTROLLER INTERFACE). but it dont say anything about Mac only windows pc's. Any help would apreaciated

Posted on Oct 29, 2005 3:17 PM

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Answer 1

Oct 29, 2005 3:59 PM in response to Frank McHugh

Try "Other World Computing". They have lots of Mac compatible USB/Firewire.

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Answer 2

Frank McHugh Author

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Oct 30, 2005 9:48 AM in response to Frank McHugh

I was looking on ebay for one i see alot of them but most prolly wont work with the beige G3. Is there a sertin chipset on the pci card that wont work with the beige G3 cause im going to be getting a video card and herd that some USB2.0/FW combo cards dont play nice with each other. i resd on some forum about the open host controller type of card is best for the beige but i cant seem to find the forum or thread

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Answer 3

Jeff--

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Oct 30, 2005 10:25 AM in response to Frank McHugh

Frank

you want to to stay with Texas Instruments chip for the FireWire controller, and the USB side is relatively open

there are a number of cards that use non-TI controllers and you could have some problems under the Mac OS as these chips are more PC friendly than MAC friendly

look here

http://fwdepot.com/thestore/default.php/cPath/21

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Answer 4

Oct 30, 2005 10:45 AM in response to Frank McHugh

Frank.........

Another thing to keep in mind........

Is your ROM a RevA? If so you may have issues with a USB2.0 compatible PCI card......I did, and the only way to solve it I found after a week or two of discussion and trying things was a USB1.1 only capable card......

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Answer 5

Frank McHugh Author

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364 points

Oct 30, 2005 11:27 AM in response to Frank McHugh

Its a rev b rom and logic board the one with the rage pro video onboard

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Answer 6

Bill W

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4,755 points

Oct 31, 2005 9:52 AM in response to Frank McHugh

IOGear uses the ALI chip on their combo card and says it is Mac compatible; this card is sold by OWC. However, I have no personal experience with it. Do avoid, however. cards with VIA chips on them- The firewire works, but not the USB, even if you download VIA's drivers for OS X. All these drivers did for me was cause my Mac to fail to boot.

In my experience, there are combo cards for sale on eBay that claim Mac compatibility that aren't. Also be aware some of the cards OWC sells - specifically their "generic" (cheap) one is not compatible with Beige G3s.

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Answer 7

Frank McHugh Author

Level 2

364 points

Oct 31, 2005 1:19 PM in response to Frank McHugh

the one i was looking at on ebay used the ALi chipset.also the spec's said USB COMPLIES WITH OHCI (OPEN HOST CONTROLLER INTERFACE) AND EHCI (ENHANCED HOST CONTROLLER INTERFACE). like i said before i herd somthing about trying to get one with the open host controller but i cant find the thred or post it was in

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Answer 8

Jeff--

Level 5

4,900 points

Oct 31, 2005 7:41 PM in response to Frank McHugh

yes, you definitely want a card that is OHCI compliant

ALI is good on the USB side of things - TI is still what you want on the FireWire side

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