Are there two firewire cards in the '08?

[rockinrocker]

I'm having some issues that I think might be tied to my firewire card.
The problem is intermittent, so it's kind of tough to test for.

Would using the front FW port be a different card than the ones in back?

Thanks

 

[Intell]

The Mac Pro only has one FireWire chipset within it.

 

[rockinrocker]

So if the problem is the FW plugging it in in the front won't matter.

 

[Intell]

Correct.

 

[rockinrocker]

So I'm thinking maybe I'll just try and add a card and see if that solves the problem.

Anybody tried this one with a Mac Pro?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815166018


It doesn't say that it supports OSX, but there's a reviewer that said he put it in an '09 MP and it worked fine.
There's a spare molex power connector in there, right?

 

[ActionableMango]

There's a spare molex power connector in there, right?

You have two molex cables in the optical bay. Whether or not there is a spare depends on whether or not you are using both of them, but you can always get a y-cable.

You will also need a molex extension cable to run the distance from the optical bay to the card, and routing the cable is a little bit tricky although not impossible. It involves temporarily removing one of the molex cable's connectors.

 

[rockinrocker]

I'm only have one optical drive, so that should work.

I wonder though... Won't the card get power from the slot?
Would the molex cable only be needed if there are devices connected that need to draw power?

 

[ActionableMango]

I'm only have one optical drive, so that should work.

I wonder though... Won't the card get power from the slot?
Would the molex cable only be needed if there are devices connected that need to draw power?

It's possible, but I have no experience with this card so I cannot say one way or the other.

For example, I have one USB3 card that requires power hookup just for the card to work without any devices attached at all. OTOH, I have a different USB3 card that doesn't require the power hookup even with devices attached.

 

[ColdCase]

So if the problem is the FW plugging it in in the front won't matter.

Perhaps, depends where the problem is. There are two FW buses (perhaps legs is a better term) but they feed one controller chip set. A misbehaving device on one leg may not affect the other leg. I'm not sure which legs are connected to which ports. I have a faint memory that the two front ports are on different legs... but that could be completely wrong.

 

[rockinrocker]

Well, either waxy I already ordered the card.
At ~$25.00 I figured it was worth a shot.

 

[rockinrocker]

Well the card works fine.

I went ahead and connected the molex power cable while I had the system out and open, so I don't know if it's required or not. I got a splitter and an extension- the fit was a little tight coming out of the drive bays but worked fine.

So far so good.