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SCSI cards on Mac G5

Would I be able to install two SCSI cards currently in use in PCI slots my G4 in the PCIExpress slots of a G5?


The G5 is described (by the prospective seller) as follows:


BrandApple
Product FamilyPower Mac G5
MPNM9592LL/A
UPC0718908438565, 718908730676


I'd be running the G5 under Tiger 11.4.11.



Will be most grateful for any and all input.

Dual 1.25MHz MDD G4, 2GB RAM, 4 int dr.3ext FW drives, Mac OS X (10.4.11), nVidia 7800 GS 425MHz 256MB video card, dual 22" CRT monitors

Posted on Aug 4, 2011 1:23 AM

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Posted on Aug 4, 2011 2:23 AM

PCI cards will not work, or even fit the PCIe slots, as far as I know, this is the only SCSI card that works in G%s with PCIe slots...


http://www.attotech.com/products/product.php?sku=EPCI-UL5D-0R0


http://avid.custkb.com/avid/app/selfservice/search.jsp?DocId=352677

13 replies

Aug 4, 2011 3:53 AM in response to Ramón G Castañeda

Any and all cards that are currently installed in you G4 will remain with the G4- none will work in the Quad.


I assume that the SCSI is for a scanner? If so, it might be time to move to the Ratoc SCSI to Firewire adapter:

http://www.ratocsystems.com/english/products/FR1SX.html


I use one with a Nikon Coolscan III and I like it much better than the old SCSI way (absolutely so since SCSI in Leopard is worthless).

Aug 4, 2011 5:05 AM in response to japamac

japamac wrote:


Any and all cards that are currently installed in you G4 will remain with the G4- none will work in the Quad.


Thanks for the info, now I know from both you and BDAqua that they won't even fit.



japamac wrote:


…I assume that the SCSI is for a scanner? If so, it might be time to move to the Ratoc SCSI to Firewire adapter:

http://www.ratocsystems.com/english/products/FR1SX.html


Actually, two scanners. A film scanner and, most importantly, an Epson Expression 836XL Tabloid transparency scanner. Currently I'm running each of them from a separate SCSI card, and they work flawlessly.


I had acquired a SCSI-to-USB adapter by Microtech that I used with a Jazz drive attached to a G3 beige tower upgraded to G4. I'll have to see if that still works.


I absolutely plan to stay away from Leopard (if that abomination even runs on the G5) and would run the G5 under Tiger 10.4.11.


Thanks again.

Aug 6, 2011 11:59 PM in response to japamac

japamac wrote:


…time to move to the Ratoc SCSI to Firewire adapter:

http://www.ratocsystems.com/english/products/FR1SX.html


I've looked all over the place, and it appears to have been discontinued. At the Ratoc web site, when I attempt to put this in the shopping carter, I get a message that it "is no longer orderable". Fleabay has not helped either.


Do you have any leads to a possible source or an alternative suggestion?


As a last resort, I'll have to keep the G4 just to scan. 😟


Thanks in advance.

Aug 7, 2011 7:32 AM in response to japamac

Well, I may have solved my problem, as I found a reasonably priced, open-box ATTO Model No. EPCI-UL5D-L00 PCIe SCSI card with a 30-day money-back guarantee. I expect to have it within 10 days, same as the G5 Quad. It has dual SCSI channels, plenty for the two scanners. A third scanner runs natively on Firewire.


Thanks again to both of you.

Dec 11, 2011 1:06 PM in response to Ramón G Castañeda

I recently picked up an Epson 836XL for $20 on CL, and went ahead and bit the bullet on a Ratoc FR1SX Firewire to SCSI adapter. Ratoc listed them on their site, but the price had increased to $198. Apparently the IC's inside the device are no longer being made. But they are in stock as of right now.


Works fine on my Pro with Snow Leopard. Been using Vuescan since 2002 and of course it all works just fine.


Any luck getting any other USB or Firewire to SCSI adapters to work with the scanner and Vuescan? Got to be cheaper alternatives for those with Mac Pro systems and SCSI external devices.

Dec 11, 2011 3:21 PM in response to SiliconSam

SiliconSam, you got more than a good deal if your 836XL is working properly, it's a steal. If you also got the full tabloid-size transparency lid, you practically won a mini lottery. Congrats.


As mentioned in earlier private correspondence with SiliconSam, I'm extremely happy with the ATTO SCSI card, and even though I had to buy two high-end cables (one for each of my scanners) at a considerable cost, the Epson Expression 836XL is worth the total combined investment.



The current Epson Expression replacement model goes for $3,000.00.

May 12, 2012 2:27 PM in response to Ramón G Castañeda

I have the same scenario--Epson 836XL (with the ADF and transparency lids), and I ended up buying the last G4 Powerbook (used) with a pc card slot and a scsi adapter. Basically created a dedicated head unit for the scanner. Works great! It boots the old MacOS, so I can use Epson's scanner software. You can do the same with a pc laptop running XP (with the pc card slot, of course).

SCSI cards on Mac G5

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