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USB 3.0 card for Mac Pro

Mac Hammer Fan

Mac Hammer Fan

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Jul 13, 2004
1,342
509
Can someone recommend me a stable and reliable USB 3.0 PCI-e card for my Mac Pro (Westmere)? It should be compatible with 10.6.8, 10.7.5 and 10.8.3.
There are already two cables from my Radeon 5870 connected to the motherboard, therefore there is no place for a power cable.

TIA
 
Mac Hammer Fan said:
Can someone recommend me a stable and reliable USB 3.0 PCI-e card for my Mac Pro (Westmere)? It should be compatible with 10.6.8, 10.7.5 and 10.8.3.
There are already two cables from my Radeon 5870 connected to the motherboard, therefore there is no place for a power cable.

TIA
Click to expand...

I have the CalDigit and it works well at high speeds. However, I do get the common error when waking from sleep. Tech support there is pretty good, but ultimately said I'd have to live with it. I do and haven't even checked in months to see if there's a fix yet. That isn't too much of trouble to deal with at all. I also have the dual High Point card but they were awfully slow updating 10.8 drivers, assuming they have yet. I pulled the card from my MP. Some have said a generic driver works on it. Lots of info here:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1501482/
 
Mac Hammer Fan said:
Can someone recommend me a stable and reliable USB 3.0 PCI-e card for my Mac Pro (Westmere)? It should be compatible with 10.6.8, 10.7.5 and 10.8.3.
There are already two cables from my Radeon 5870 connected to the motherboard, therefore there is no place for a power cable.

TIA
Click to expand...

I use the Inatek KT-4004 PCIe card...but in snow leopard you require drivers.

This worked miracles for me:

1 - You go to the site http://www.tonymacx86.com/ (The site is also a great reference)

2 - You make an account (Essential but not particularly problematic)

3 - You then go to the downloads, to downloads index

4 - Find the appropriate Multibeast for your operating system

5 - Download the Multibeast that best fits your system in this case -
MultiBeast Snow Leopard 3.10.1

6 - it is a small file - 22 mb total (in ZIP format)

7 - Unzip and open the installer Multibeast 3.10.1.pkg

8 - Click continue and agree to the licensing (Free)

9 - Go down the install options to:
- Drivers and Bootloaders
- Kexts and Enablers
- Miscellaneous
- USB 3.0 - NEC/Renesas

10 - Install that driver and restart your machine…you are now good to go.
 
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xav8tor said:
I have the CalDigit and it works well at high speeds. However, I do get the common error when waking from sleep. Tech support there is pretty good, but ultimately said I'd have to live with it. I do and haven't even checked in months to see if there's a fix yet. That isn't too much of trouble to deal with at all. I also have the dual High Point card but they were awfully slow updating 10.8 drivers, assuming they have yet. I pulled the card from my MP. Some have said a generic driver works on it. Lots of info here:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1501482/
Click to expand...

Yes, I can recommend the Caldigit FASTA 6GU3 Pro too, all SATA/eSATA ports are bootable. USB of course not.

Note that according to Caldigit only the old FASTA 6GU3 card (without 'Pro') is compatible with OS X 10.6.8. However, eSATA works always on the FASTA 6GU3 Pro, even with OS X 10.6.8. USB 3.0 maybe.
 
Dadoctorisin said:
I use the Inatek KT-4004 PCIe card...but in snow leopard you require drivers.

This worked miracles for me:

1 - You go to the site http://www.tonymacx86.com/ (The site is also a great reference)

2 - You make an account (Essential but not particularly problematic)

3 - You then go to the downloads, to downloads index

4 - Find the appropriate Multibeast for your operating system

5 - Download the Multibeast that best fits your system in this case -
MultiBeast Snow Leopard 3.10.1

6 - it is a small file - 22 mb total (in ZIP format)

7 - Unzip and open the installer Multibeast 3.10.1.pkg

8 - Click continue and agree to the licensing (Free)

9 - Go down the install options to:
- Drivers and Bootloaders
- Kexts and Enablers
- Miscellaneous
- USB 3.0 - NEC/Renesas

10 - Install that driver and restart your machine…you are now good to go.
Click to expand...

Why bother with drivers. What is wrong with using a native USB3.0 supported usb3.0 controller and no external source requires
http://www.datoptic.com/ec/usb3-0-pci-express-support-usap-for-mac-windows-and-linx.html
 
I have some very nice experience with Orico PME-4UI USB3.0 PCIe controller. It works out of the box using Apple native drivers so nothing extra is needed.

check it here
 
Synchro3 said:
Yes, I can recommend the Caldigit FASTA 6GU3 Pro too, all SATA/eSATA ports are bootable. USB of course not.

Note that according to Caldigit only the old FASTA 6GU3 card (without 'Pro') is compatible with OS X 10.6.8. However, eSATA works always on the FASTA 6GU3 Pro, even with OS X 10.6.8. USB 3.0 maybe.
Click to expand...

I agree, Caldigit FASTA 6GU3 Pro, installed in my 3,1, is really good.
 
GOR4N said:
I have some very nice experience with Orico PME-4UI USB3.0 PCIe controller. It works out of the box using Apple native drivers so nothing extra is needed.

check it here
Click to expand...

I have to agree. The Orico card works well in the MacPro. I recently got one and have absolutely no issues in mine.
 
Dadoctorisin said:
I use the Inatek KT-4004 PCIe card...but in snow leopard you require drivers.

This worked miracles for me:

1 - You go to the site http://www.tonymacx86.com/ (The site is also a great reference)

2 - You make an account (Essential but not particularly problematic)

3 - You then go to the downloads, to downloads index

4 - Find the appropriate Multibeast for your operating system

5 - Download the Multibeast that best fits your system in this case -
MultiBeast Snow Leopard 3.10.1

6 - it is a small file - 22 mb total (in ZIP format)

7 - Unzip and open the installer Multibeast 3.10.1.pkg

8 - Click continue and agree to the licensing (Free)

9 - Go down the install options to:
- Drivers and Bootloaders
- Kexts and Enablers
- Miscellaneous
- USB 3.0 - NEC/Renesas

10 - Install that driver and restart your machine…you are now good to go.
Click to expand...


I confirm that the Inateck KT-4004 pci-card works fine - I am using it under OSX 10.8.5 without problems.
BTW Inateck supports the UASP protocol - they claim that this realizes even up,to 60% more transfer speed than the max of the standard USB 3.0'protocol which would be limited at 5 GB/sec !
So - if I understand correctly this means a max of up to 8 GB/ sec!

Not bad - although 5 GB/sec is surely enough for most of MacPro users...
 
Last edited:
MrAverigeUser said:
I confirm that the Inateck KT-4004 pci-card works fine - I am using it under OSX 10.8.5 without problems.
Click to expand...

The additional supply via molex is required or can I use without problems powered only by PCIe? I will use only pen drives and external hard drives.
 
dimobr said:
The additional supply via molex is required or can I use without problems powered only by PCIe? I will use only pen drives and external hard drives.
Click to expand...

The KT4004 is exclusively powered by PCIe. There is no additional power supply option for that model.
 
Sonnet Allegro Pro 3.0 if you want the best.
It's the most compatible and fastest.
 
I will be purchasing a Sonnet Allegro Pro (USB3-PRO-4PM-E) 4-Port USB 3.0 PCI Express Card very soon....

24942140450_9ede53e2ea_b.jpg
 
Macdctr said:
I will be purchasing a Sonnet Allegro Pro (USB3-PRO-4PM-E) 4-Port USB 3.0 PCI Express Card very soon....

24942140450_9ede53e2ea_b.jpg
Click to expand...
Just got mine today. This card is awesome.
Using two 64GB Kingston HyperX USB flash drives I was simultaneously transferring at 600MB/s (300MB/s from each stick) to an XP941 SSD and it didn't flinch!
 
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MrAverigeUser said:
I confirm that the Inateck KT-4004 pci-card works fine - I am using it under OSX 10.8.5 without problems.
BTW Inateck supports the UASP protocol - they claim that this realizes even up,to 60% more transfer speed than the max of the standard USB 3.0'protocol which would be limited at 5 GB/sec !
So - if I understand correctly this means a max of up to 8 GB/ sec!

Not bad - although 5 GB/sec is surely enough for most of MacPro users...
Click to expand...

No, you aren't understanding correctly at all. You should read through the 1st post on this thread.
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/usb-3-x-pcie-cards-for-classic-mac-pro.1501482/

Then read this post which is a complete review of the card in question.
https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...classic-mac-pro.1501482/page-25#post-18769304
[doublepost=1456343750][/doublepost]
Squuiid said:
Just got mine today. This card is awesome.
Using two 64GB Kingston HyperX USB flash drives I was simultaneously transferring at 600MB/s (300MB/s from each stick) to an XP941 SSD and it didn't flinch!
Click to expand...

And here is the review I wrote for your card...
https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...classic-mac-pro.1501482/page-59#post-21540537
[doublepost=1456343969][/doublepost]
dimobr said:
The additional supply via molex is required or can I use without problems powered only by PCIe? I will use only pen drives and external hard drives.
Click to expand...

All these questions have been answered MANY times. Please goto this thread and read post# 1.
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/usb-3-x-pcie-cards-for-classic-mac-pro.1501482/

Here is the review for the card you're asking about.
https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...classic-mac-pro.1501482/page-25#post-18769304
 
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Dadoctorisin said:
I use the Inatek KT-4004 PCIe card...but in snow leopard you require drivers.

This worked miracles for me:

1 - You go to the site http://www.tonymacx86.com/ (The site is also a great reference)

2 - You make an account (Essential but not particularly problematic)

3 - You then go to the downloads, to downloads index

4 - Find the appropriate Multibeast for your operating system

5 - Download the Multibeast that best fits your system in this case -
MultiBeast Snow Leopard 3.10.1

6 - it is a small file - 22 mb total (in ZIP format)

7 - Unzip and open the installer Multibeast 3.10.1.pkg

8 - Click continue and agree to the licensing (Free)

9 - Go down the install options to:
- Drivers and Bootloaders
- Kexts and Enablers
- Miscellaneous
- USB 3.0 - NEC/Renesas

10 - Install that driver and restart your machine…you are now good to go.
Click to expand...


Thank you Dadoctorisin! EXCELLENT SOLUTION, IT WORKED PERFECTLY (I only installed the USB3 drivers for Inatek KT4004 card to work on Snow Leopard, card works fine in OS Sierra).

SOOOO... I know that POST was from like 2014.... and it's like 2017/2.... but the above solution worked perfectly for me! I ONLY INSTALLED THE USB3 DRIVERS, nothing else form the giant list of MultiBeast installer options and it worked perfectly with my KT4004 card from Inatek that I bought on Amazon way back in 2014. I only planned to use it on my Silver MacPro with the newest Mac OS Sierra, which that card works flawlessly with that Mac OS, but it does not work with Mac OS X Snow Leopard 10.6.8. I was not planning on using the USB3 card with Snow Leopard, until the last Mac OS Sierra update killed my Apple Compressor version 3 working on the newest Mac OS, so I've been having to boot into Snow Leopard to use the old Compressor, problem is all my media is delivered to me on USB 3 hard drives! Long story, which I won't go into.... Anyway, I installed ONLY the USB 3 drivers from MultiBeast and voila! It's working, the USB3 card KT4004 is now working on Snow Leopard 10.6.8! YAY... no more unplug, replug multiple times to USB3 and USB2, no only USB3, which cuts my time in half when editing LITERALLY!

I'm a Producer/Editor and recut all of a SONY Studios company, all of their shows for VOD and NetFlix streaming... a lot of work.

It only took me about 6 months to find this. I didn't really need this, but it is definitely very, very helpful!

I was having to work in Mac OS Sierra to do the edit, then reboot into Snow Leopard to compress files using Compressor v3. Now I can just stay in Snow Leopard (except the part where I design my Apple App's, which I must be in Sierra to do that.... Maybe I'll just boot up my other MacPro for App design?).

Sincerely,

And look for my Apps on the Apple App Store, Visit my website at:

http://www.johnavatar.com

Robert Moore
Silicon Beach Design Studios @ JOHNAVATAR.com
 
Dadoctorisin said:
I use the Inatek KT-4004 PCIe card...but in snow leopard you require drivers.

This worked miracles for me:

1 - You go to the site http://www.tonymacx86.com/ (The site is also a great reference)

2 - You make an account (Essential but not particularly problematic)

3 - You then go to the downloads, to downloads index

4 - Find the appropriate Multibeast for your operating system

5 - Download the Multibeast that best fits your system in this case -
MultiBeast Snow Leopard 3.10.1

6 - it is a small file - 22 mb total (in ZIP format)

7 - Unzip and open the installer Multibeast 3.10.1.pkg

8 - Click continue and agree to the licensing (Free)

9 - Go down the install options to:
- Drivers and Bootloaders
- Kexts and Enablers
- Miscellaneous
- USB 3.0 - NEC/Renesas

10 - Install that driver and restart your machine…you are now good to go.
Click to expand...

I know it's an old thread but thanks anyways. Worked for me as well. They still make this card and it still needs a driver for Snow Leopard, though it's perfect out of the box in El Cap.

Since all I needed was a single USB-3 port to speed up daily back-ups, it is the perfect solution at half the price of the Sonnet card.

Again dig through the nests and only install the one driver. Some of the other items could damage the OS.
 
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