Apiotek IE-1007 PCI Express FW800 Card Does Not Read

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Level 1

90 points

Apiotek IE-1007 PCI Express FW800 Card Does Not Read

Hi Gang

With respect to a 2.0 Dual Core G5 with PCIe slots

I bought #2 Apiotek IE-1007 PCI Express FW800 Cards from OWC and tried everything to get them to read my external Lacie Storage Drives. They just won't read them. The PCIe FW800 cards do show up in the System Profiler as a PCI Firewire Card, but they will not read the Lacie's.

http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Apiotek/IE1007/

No it's not something simple like cables, because all 5 external drives will read fine through the Native FW800 Rear Port.

Are Drivers necessary or available from Apiotek? No

From Apple;
"Combined maximum power for all four PCI Express slots should not exceed 200 watts"

I have an nVidia 7800 GT installed which required a power connector cable. I've read where the 7800 could draw somewhere between 85 - 100 watts? I'm not sure how this effects anything?

For now, this remains a mystery. But I can tell you, (in my opinion), there is very little meat to this tiny PCIe card. Very few tabs actually making contact in the PCIe slot. It's NOT a full-sized card. But again, I'm not sure what all this means?

No I'm not going to explore a SATA controller until I figure this problem out.

I was wondering if these slots, (above the PCIe graphic slot), were actually PCI-X? Or PCI? But I don't think so

Yes I need to call OWC 😟

Any ideas?
Thanx
Mike

Power Mac G5 1.8 - G4 1.4 Quicksilver, Mac OS X (10.4.11), G5: 4 Gigs RAM - ATI 9800 Pro AGP - #2 Internal Drives

Posted on May 24, 2009 8:15 PM

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Answer 1

japamac

Level 7

24,400 points

May 25, 2009 3:55 AM in response to ENIGMACODE

Hi-

"Combined maximum power for all four PCI Express slots should not exceed 200 watts"

You are fine with the 7800GT.
A firewire card will draw about 7 watts per port.

It's NOT a full-sized card. But again, I'm not sure what all this means?

It only has what it needs to make a cheap PC/Mac compatible PCIe card.......

I was wondering if these slots, (above the PCIe graphic slot), were actually PCI-X? Or PCI?

They are all PCIe.

Yes I need to call OWC

That's the best idea.

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Answer 2

May 26, 2009 11:32 AM in response to ENIGMACODE

I just installed the Apiotek IE-1007 card in my MacPro1,1. I was concerned about the unexpected power connector on the Apiotek card -- I couldn't find any power cables in the MacPro box to attach to it.

So, I booted up anyway with the card with no power connected to it -- and it worked with my GTECH G-RAID2 drive plugged into one of the FW800 connectors.

At this point, I am looking at doing a speed test -- there seems to be a lag when clicking through folders on the drive that gives me reason for concern.

Jon

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Answer 3

ENIGMACODE Author

Level 1

90 points

May 26, 2009 11:43 AM in response to japamac

Hi Steve
Hi jw

Well I went through some old posts, and in fact I did see where there were a few PCIe cards that were problematic, (did not work with older G5's). This dumb Apiotek IE-1007 is one of them. I realize the folks at OWC are basically pretty good, but I still have to fight with them to wave the 15% restocking fee. The fact of the matter is that I trusted their recommendation that this card would work. It simply doesn't, and the Apiotek company is also useless. There are no drivers, and no technical help.

Like everything else, if you want to get something done right, you've got to do it yourself. Out of desparation I went to the local Apple Store here in Philly, called 'Springboard Media'. I don't like shopping there because the sales people are young stuck up Apple Geeks who laugh at you when you tell them you're still using an older Power Mac G5. Long story short, I bought a 'Sonnet Tango' there, (a much better 'MEATIER' card), and it works just fine. It's a bit pricey, but I can't afford to take anymore chances with FW800 and my documentary. Thought I'd leave this info for other folks;

Here's a 'SURE BET' (and better priced than Springboard Media)
http://www.provantage.com/sonnet-technologies-fw8usb2-e~BSONT074.htm
(don't be fooled by the description on the outside of the box that sez; 10.5 and above, because inside the sheet sez 10.4 and above.)

Here's the old post;
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=5195017

Good luck to others
Mike

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Answer 4

ENIGMACODE Author

Level 1

90 points

May 26, 2009 12:05 PM in response to ENIGMACODE

I solved the problem myself - Good luck to others

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