Opinions: VIA VT6212L Chipset for USB 2.0 PCI cards ??

Question

Level 2

250 points

Opinions: VIA VT6212L Chipset for USB 2.0 PCI cards ??

I found a no-name 5-port (4 outies +1 inny) USB PCI interface card in my MacJunk tonight. It has a huge black controller chip on it with VT2612L printed on it

No name on the card but the label on the software CD says "VIA USB 2.0 PCI Card" and it has drivers for PC and "Mac (G4 ONLY)" so I installed it & visited the VIA website, downloaded & ran the latest software "VIA MAC USB v1.6 software installer for Mac OS 10.2. 10.3 & 10.4".

The card seems to work OK and System Profiler says I now have a High Speed USB 2.0 bus on my G4 DA tower. A search on the internet reveals that a lot of people who use Windoze have had problems with VIA USB 2.0 cards.

Is anyone out there using VIA USB 2.0 PCI interface cards ???

Are they OK or a piece of crap ??

M

2.8 GHz iMac, 2->G4 towers, 2-> Daystar Genesis MP 800+ MacClones, G4 iBook, Mac OS X (10.4.10)

Posted on Nov 24, 2007 7:56 PM

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Answer 1

Jan 30, 2008 6:51 PM in response to Michael Shaw

I tried it in my dual 2.5 G5. It works... a little. My Epson 880 printer will work with it, but my RX500 won't. It also screws up my sleep function and makes the liquid cooling kick in a lot. I'm going to pull it out tonight. I found this post looking for others with similar problems.

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Answer 2

Jan 30, 2008 7:47 PM in response to Michael Shaw

Best bet for a USB 2.0 PCI card is any card with a NEC PD720100 or PD720101 chipset (xlr8yourmac results recommend the same). Read this for more feedback: http://www.xlr8yourmac.com/firewire/fwusb_card_deepsleep.html
Stick with the NEC chip, and try NOT to use drivers, Tiger doesn't need the drivers.

All of these Cards are NEC chipset based
Adaptec 3100LP
BAFO BF-460
Belkin F5U220
GWC UC-160
IOGear GIC250U & GIC251U
Keyspan U2PCI-5
O'toLink U2-C2A, U2-C2B, U2-P20N & U2-P50
Ratoc PCIU5
USBWholesale UII-PCIP

I recently installed an IOGear GCI251U card in my G4.

 Cheers, Tom 😉

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Answer 3

Bghost

Level 1

25 points

Jan 31, 2008 8:11 PM in response to Texas Mac Man

Hi,what about the Sonnet Allegro stiusb2 card?I put one in my QS and it works fine.

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Answer 4

Feb 25, 2008 4:29 PM in response to Michael Shaw

I'd be interested to know how you (the OP) have been getting on with your VIA chipset USB card, as I'm considering getting one myself. Have you been experiencing glitches in the same fashion as the G5 owner?

Thanks.

SiR G.

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Answer 5

The Pope

Level 1

10 points

Mar 3, 2008 10:09 AM in response to SiRGadaBout

I just installed a Startech that uses the VIA VT6212L and so far some devices are recognized but others are not.

I'd use the NEC chipset, there are some posts that say they work the best.

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Answer 6

ipitar

Level 1

0 points

Apr 10, 2008 10:16 AM in response to Michael Shaw

I also have to buy one usb2.0 card.

What about *DU-520 D-Link* 5-Port USB 2.0 PCI Adapter - DU-520, isnt disscused here?

It specs are for Macintosh 10.4 too, but should it work?

Thanks!

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Answer 7

japamac

Level 7

24,400 points

Apr 10, 2008 6:56 PM in response to ipitar

Hi-

Can't confirm the chipset of the D-link, but suspect it is not a NEC chipset as it needs separate drivers installed. Also have seen reports of wake from sleep issues (no devices attached) and recognition problems after OS updates.
Apparently the D-Link "works", but how well, is a point of contention.
I wouldn't but it. Find a card with a NEC chipset....

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