Sata card compatible with MDD?

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Level 1

85 points

Sata card compatible with MDD?

Hi, this looks like a good deal: Only $22.50 w/free shipping:

http://www.ixbay.com/en/pci-sata-i-raid-card-w-4-internal-port-controller-card.h tml

But will it work in the MDD 12.5 ghz. G4 ? (and can also access files in OS 9?) At the bottom of the page, it seems to indicated it's ok for Mac... drivers incl. (?) but I would sooner trust expert advice here - and besides, it would be a 2 week shipping from Hong Kong, so I wouldn't want to have to return it.

I'm buying a couple of Hitachi 2TB internal SATA drives that I would connect to this card from IDE/ATA buses. +(and btw, are the terms IDE and ATA synonymous?)+

It's a lot less than one I saw at OWC, but again, compatibility is the question.

many thanks!

Keith

Dual 1.25 GHz PM/G4, Mac OS X (10.4.11), OS 9.2.2

Posted on May 6, 2010 1:17 PM

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Answer 1

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BDAqua

Level 10

239,219 points

May 6, 2010 2:39 PM in response to Keith Rodan

Hi Keith, well, it does say...

Windows NT4.0, 2000, XP, Server 2003 ,Vista32/64, Linux32/64, MAC (drivers are included, see the last picture)

Might ask which OSX versions it supports.

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Answer 2

japamac

Level 7

24,400 points

May 6, 2010 7:00 PM in response to Keith Rodan

Hi-

What the seller is probably exploiting is the SiI3114CTU chipset of the card and the ability to use a SiL3132 driver for limited OS X support.
The 3132 chipset is the most commonly used/discussed chipset.

The SiL3132 chipset driver is what is probably used. Note the gaps in OS X support:
http://www.siliconimage.com/support/searchresults.aspx?pid=32&cat=3&os=3

At the bottom of the page, it seems to indicated it's ok for Mac... drivers incl. (?) but I would sooner trust expert advice here

They call it MAC, so obviously are not Mac professionals......

Use of Silicon Images chipset devices is not new for PCI hard drive controllers, but success is highly variable.

Boot to connected devices is not supported, and the drivers don't work well (if at all) in latter versions of Leopard.
I won't even guess as to OS 9 support.

The chipset SiL3114, is not said to be OS X compatible by Silicon Images:
http://www.siliconimage.com/docs/SiI-DS-0103-D.pdf

I would call it a $23 gamble, vs a $64 sure thing.

Guaranteed any of the Firmtek Seritek cards will support boot, allow use of drives in all Tiger and Leopard versions, and allow access in OS 9.

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Answer 3

Keith Rodan Author

Level 1

85 points

May 7, 2010 11:51 AM in response to japamac

Hi Japamac.

As always, I am impressed with the care you've taken to address questions, and sure enough, there's the Sil3114CTU-printed chip in the close up photo.

Since then, I had a look at the company's warranty-return policy, and they seem to bend over backward to please: 30-day no questions/paid shipping returns, 1 year parts and labor warranty...if so, perhaps less of a gamble, only loss of time.

Bottom line though, OS 9 support is vital, so that would appear to decide it for the Firmtek..

many thanks,

Keith

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