Connecting to older Macs without USB 2.0

Please use this thread to post successful methods of connecting 5G iPods to older Macs that do not have built-in USB 2.0.

The problem: The 5G iPods have dropped support for Firewire. You can connect them using USB 1.1, but this is painfully slow (USB 1.1 is 40 times slower than USB 2.0).

One solution: I own a PowerMac G4 that does not have built-in USB 2.0. I had previously installed an ADS Tech USB 2.0 card that claims to be compatible with OS X, but when I tried to use it to connect up my iPod, iTunes would lock up and I would have to force a reboot of my computer to kill it. Not a pretty sight. Apparently, Apple's USB drivers are not compatible with the majority of USB 2.0 cards out there. From other topics in this forum I read that the Belkin F5B220 USB 2.0 card will work. Luckily, Fry's let me return my old USB 2.0 card and I instead purchased the Belkin card, and it works great.

Why am I creating a new topic? To help other people who have the same problem, please post other ways to solve this problem. Please, let's not complain about the problem in this topic, just solutions, please.

Other people have said that the Belkin 3 port USB Hub (F5B219) also works, but I have not tried it myself. Can anyone verify?

I have also read that any USB 2.0 card with the NEC chip on it should work. When I was at Fry's, I saw a few other PCI cards that use the NEC chip (in particular, one from IOGear), but I have not tried any of them. Has anyone been able to connect an iPod using one of these boards?

Finally, are there any solutions for owners of older Macs without PCI card slots? For Powerbooks and iBooks that have PC card (PCMCIA) slots, which USB 2.0 interface cards work with the iPod?

Even worse, if you own a 12 inch Powerbook or an iMac that doesn't have built-in USB 2.0, is there any solution that will allow you to connect a 5G iPod, other than using (very slow) USB 1.1?

Posted on Nov 3, 2005 9:35 AM

91 replies

Nov 11, 2005 4:58 PM in response to Roger Gunson

Can anyone using the Belkin F5U222 Notebook card tell me if the included AC adapter is requiredt to charge/transfer data with an iPod connected via a universal dock?

I found this information on another website:

The external adapter is only needed with some devices:

From the cardbus controller of the laptop you get 1Amp at 3.3 Volts which equals 3.3W. The USB Controller of the card draws 350mA at 3.3 Volts. The remaining power is boosted to 5volts (minus some efficiency loss) leaving you with 350mA at 5 volts to all the USB ports. There are some USB devices that may require up to 500mA of power.

But I don't know whether this applies to the iPod or not. Anyone?

Thanks

Nov 15, 2005 5:11 AM in response to William Leler

After searching for a week with no help at all, this article was exactly what I was looking for and fixed my problem.

Thank you very much, Willian Leler! This topic should be stickied or someting.

Thanks again!

Nov 16, 2005 11:21 AM in response to William Leler

I have a Dual 1.42 G4 Powermac. Had problems with the IOGEAR USB 2 PCI CARD w/2 ports. Switched to LACIE Dual USB2, Dual Firewire. $59 Canadian. Works well now.

Just wish I could sync my address book properly! Contact show up without the photos!

miv
www.mivphotography.com

Untmdsprt

Level 2

397 points

Nov 20, 2005 10:40 AM in response to Jared Suchil

Can you provide an exact model number of this card?

Nov 20, 2005 4:14 PM in response to William Leler

Newlink USB 2.0 PCI Card.

It says it's for Windows, but the (reputable) shop I bought it from said it would work with Tiger. They were wrong. A USB High-Speed Bus appears in the USB Device Tree, and the iPod appears connected to it and can be charged but it does not mount as a hard-drive/iPod on the desktop.

I'll be taking it back tomorrow. Any of the Belkin ones seems the safest bet.

Nov 21, 2005 6:51 PM in response to James Bachman

Belkin 3-port USB PCI Card works beautifully with 10.4.3 (though what I'm supposed to do with that one internal port, I don't know).

For those of you in London, you can't get it at the Apple Store, or Micro Anvika. Head straight for John Lewis, 5th Floor. They know how to provide the right extras.

macbill

Level 1

105 points

Nov 22, 2005 8:02 PM in response to Jared Suchil

Jared, Do you (or does anyone) know if the Compusa 2 Port USB 2.0 Card Bus would work on my son's iMac G3?

It is an iMac Graphite G3 400 with USB 1.1

I want to buy my son th 5G 30G for Christmas but not if it's going to be too slow. He's 12.

Thanks

Nov 23, 2005 9:14 PM in response to macbill

It won't the card I used is a "CardBus" card for laptops. I don't believe iMac's have a "CardBus" slot. the exact model that I purchased was this one: http://www.compusa.com/products/productinfo.asp?productcode=293596&pfp=SEARCH

Dec 10, 2005 2:42 PM in response to James Bachman

to all of you that have place a USB2 pci card into your comp;

1- did you have to put you computer to a non sleep setting ( energy saver, "put computer to sleep" ---> never)

i have heard of some sleep issues.

I have a digital audio g4 466mgz running 10.4.3 and i want to get a usb 2 card for it because i want to get a new 5thG ipod but don't want to use usb1.1. My gf uses her nano via the 1.1 port but 4 g is alot different than 60 g .

macbill

Level 1

105 points

Dec 12, 2005 9:37 AM in response to Meatwagon2

Not to get off the subject, but how were you able to install Tiger 10.4.3 on a G4 466 mhz? I thought it would only accept 10.3.9. Did you use an external DVD player? I'd like to install Tiger on my son's G4 466 Tower (it doesn't have a DVD player).
Thanks.
Bill

Dec 12, 2005 12:37 PM in response to macbill

macbill,

Had to return the dvd to apple and they sent out 4 cd install discs.

got to say my system runs a **** of alot better then the previous os 9 that i was running. Was going to buy a new g5 but i am going to wait until they come out w/ the new chips. so i bought more Ram for my g4, got an external hard drive, 250 lacie mini, and installed tiger and now i got a new computer. The only thing i'm missing is that usb 2.0. waiting to see who and what works the best. But i might get an ipod photo cause i believe it is FW accetable.

Dec 12, 2005 8:14 PM in response to William Leler

I bought a CompUSA two port USB 2.0 PCI card for my B&W G3/350. I'm sad to say that it doesn't work with my iPod video though it seems to work fine with all my other peripherals.

The iPod shows up in the System Profiler, but never mounts on the desktop.

It's a bummer.

Martin S.

Level 3

712 points

Dec 16, 2005 8:39 PM in response to William Leler

I'm in the same boat and not quite ready to replace my USB 1 iMac G4.

Has anyone tried the Macally Combination FW/USB2 hub?

From their advertising it sounds like this might be just the ticket especially for anyone with a Mac that doesn't take expansion cards.

Cheers Martin

crumich

Level 1

0 points

Dec 17, 2005 4:51 PM in response to Jared Suchil

Following Jared's advice, I picked up a CompUSA brand 2-port USB 2.0 Card Bus card for my Powerbook G4 1Ghz. I can report that under 10.4.3 it is transferring to my 5G iPod at USB 2 speed.

A few other comments:
-Under 10.3.8 it would behave like the built-in USB ports.
-A power adapter for the card has not been necessary, although the card apparently can support one.
-I did not install any of the drivers that came with the card.

PowerBook, Titanium 1Ghz Mac OS X (10.4.3)

Dec 18, 2005 1:59 AM in response to Martin S.

I believe that any of these combo hubs are just that. They have both USB and 1394 hubs in the same chassis, but they're not connected. I'm not a software guy so I don't know if/ how it would work, but someone is missing the boat bigtime if there's a way to build a 1394USB 2.0 standalone converter for the hundreds of thousands of USB 1.1 iMacs and iBooks out there that have no other option (like me). Jeff

iMac 500Mhz Mac OS X (10.3.5) No USB 2.0 😟

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Connecting to older Macs without USB 2.0