today i received this https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-Inat...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649 usb expansion card but it does not work , maybe the problem is that i have to use extra power but i am not willing to do this , is there something else i can do ? My mac pro see's the card but when i put on a sd card reader nothing is appeared at the desktop and no power light from the sd card adapter light's on
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USB 3.x PCIe Cards for Classic Mac Pro
- Thread starter ActionableMango
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Some cards are okay without their external power connector hooked up, generally for self-powered devices, but this is "iffy" and many/most cards are not. Also, it looks like your card uses the VIA chipset. I've not seen anyone mention VIA chipset compatibility, and I suspect that Apple's MacOS drivers don't support it. I just searched the thread and found nothing.
So I speculate that you have two problems: (A) you've not connected power to the card's molex connector, and (B) it's not compatible with MacOS.
The safe bet is to return your card and get one of the recommended ones in the first post where someone has verified it works. This is what I recommend. Using a card with a chipset that's used by Apple in their Macs ensures current and future support in MacOS.
If you really want to push through with your existing card, which I do not recommend, then you can give the GenericUSBXHCI drivers a try. I think they support VIA chipset. If true, this solves problem B, but not well. Like all third party KEXTs, this driver may have problems with newer versions of Mac OS. Also you still have problem A, so you either have to hope for the best that the card doesn't need power, or you have to apply power.
Here is a link to the drivers. I did not look very hard. There may be something newer.
RehabMan / OS-X-Generic-USB3 / Downloads — Bitbucket
bitbucket.org
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Some cards are okay without their external power connector hooked up, generally for self-powered devices, but this is "iffy" and many/most cards are not. Also, it looks like your card uses the VIA chipset. I've not seen anyone mention VIA chipset compatibility, and I suspect that Apple's MacOS drivers don't support it. I just searched the thread and found nothing.
So I speculate that you have two problems: (A) you've not connected power to the card's molex connector, and (B) it's not compatible with MacOS.
The safe bet is to return your card and get one of the recommended ones in the first post where someone has verified it works. This is what I recommend. Using a card with a chipset that's used by Apple in their Macs ensures current and future support in MacOS.
If you really want to push through with your existing card, which I do not recommend, then you can give the GenericUSBXHCI drivers a try. I think they support VIA chipset. If true, this solves problem A, but not well. Like all third party KEXTs, this driver may have problems with newer versions of Mac OS. Also you still have problem B, so you either have to hope for the best that the card doesn't need power, or you have to apply power.
Here is a link to the drivers. I did not look very hard. There may be something newer.
RehabMan / OS-X-Generic-USB3 / Downloads — Bitbucket
the card is suposed to be compatible with my mac pro as the seller told me ...
i downloaded one of the files attached i opened th xhcdump , right?
1.
Throw it away. Why do you think they put a MOLEX power socket on the card ?
i feel that you have not read every page in this thread.
2.
Look for cards that have the FL1100 or ASM 1142 chips - ( these chips are natively supported by High Sierra & Mojave & maybe Sierra too ) and that also have a SATA power socket
if you're going to connect USB non-powered SSD drives. Better safe than sorry.
3.
You can remove the SATA HDD closest to PCIe slot 4 - install that HDD in the DVD drive cage.
The cage has space for TWO SATA connections and connection screws
4.
Buy a SATA to SATA cable - every PC shop has them - snip off one of the SATA cable's locking tabs so that the cable will slide into the cMP's SATA socket.
5.
This is an excellent Inateck USB 3.0 SATA powered card. I have one.
6.
For external HDD or SSD cards buy an external USB 3.0 powered dock like this one.
====================================================
7.
Many people will tell you that you don't need a SATA powered USB 3.0 card. I 1000% disagree.
8.
Go to your Macrumors member profile / SIGNATURE
Make a SIGNATURE that describes your cMP setup. We are not mind readers
and having a "SIG" is a nice courteous gesture to members that you require knowledgeable advice from.
My SIGNATURE is at the bottom of this post.
Throw it away. Why do you think they put a MOLEX power socket on the card ?
i feel that you have not read every page in this thread.
2.
Look for cards that have the FL1100 or ASM 1142 chips - ( these chips are natively supported by High Sierra & Mojave & maybe Sierra too ) and that also have a SATA power socket
if you're going to connect USB non-powered SSD drives. Better safe than sorry.
3.
You can remove the SATA HDD closest to PCIe slot 4 - install that HDD in the DVD drive cage.
The cage has space for TWO SATA connections and connection screws
4.
Buy a SATA to SATA cable - every PC shop has them - snip off one of the SATA cable's locking tabs so that the cable will slide into the cMP's SATA socket.
5.
This is an excellent Inateck USB 3.0 SATA powered card. I have one.
Inateck PCI-e to USB 3.0 (4 Ports) PCI Express Card and 15-Pin Power Connector, Red
Inateck PCI-e to USB 3.0 (4 Ports) PCI Express Card and 15-Pin Power Connector, Red
www.amazon.com
6.
For external HDD or SSD cards buy an external USB 3.0 powered dock like this one.
iDsonix Tool Free USB 3.0/2.0 to SATA 2.5/3.5 Inch Hard Drive Docking Station with 3.3 Feet USB 3.0 Cable for HDD/SSD Support 8TB and UASP, Fast Heat Dissipation- Black
iDsonix Tool Free USB 3.0/2.0 to SATA 2.5/3.5 Inch Hard Drive Docking Station with 3.3 Feet USB 3.0 Cable for HDD/SSD Support 8TB and UASP, Fast Heat Dissipation- Black
www.amazon.com
====================================================
7.
Many people will tell you that you don't need a SATA powered USB 3.0 card. I 1000% disagree.
8.
Go to your Macrumors member profile / SIGNATURE
Make a SIGNATURE that describes your cMP setup. We are not mind readers
and having a "SIG" is a nice courteous gesture to members that you require knowledgeable advice from.My SIGNATURE is at the bottom of this post.
Well good, you now have legitimate complaint to return the card. The Mac Pro doesn't have Molex power and unless something has changed recently, MacOS doesn't support this card's chipset.
Hi all,
As we're looking to save our PCIE slots to use at optimum would below item be worth to look at and put in the second unused DVD/CD drive-bay of the cMP 5.1?
Looking forward to your responses.
Thanks!
As we're looking to save our PCIE slots to use at optimum would below item be worth to look at and put in the second unused DVD/CD drive-bay of the cMP 5.1?
Hima USB 3.0 Front Panel Hub (Support Type-C, USB 3.1 Hub)
Hima USB 3.0 Front Panel Hub (Support Type-C, USB 3.1 Hub)
www.amazon.com
Looking forward to your responses.
Thanks!
As we're looking to save our PCIE slots to use at optimum would below item be worth to look at and put in the second unused DVD/CD drive-bay of the cMP 5.1?
Looking forward to your responses.Hima USB 3.0 Front Panel Hub (Support Type-C, USB 3.1 Hub)
Hima USB 3.0 Front Panel Hub (Support Type-C, USB 3.1 Hub)www.amazon.com
Thanks!
it looks like the connector cable inside the unit is diesigned to fit into some kind of usb motherboard header socket which the mac pro doesn't have.
Inateck makes a few different cards, and I can tell you from experience that not all of them work in a Mac Pro - for reasons @ActionableMango lays out above. I bought one that *seemed* like it would work, but it did not. The KT-4004 (at the time, the correct model) just plugged in and has worked well ever since. A close look at the Ebay add would seem to indicate that while the seller *wanted* this to appeal to a Mac Pro user, the description (See Feature 1) makes no mention of Mac Pro. No doubt the seller copied the information from some place else.
Return it and get the proper one.
Return it and get the proper one.
The PCIe slot can supply up to 75 watts, but it normally does not. The slot only provides low wattage unless the PCIe card "negotiates" for higher wattage. So something really power hungry like a GPU has to be able to start up with the initial low wattage, then negotiate for higher wattage before switching to a higher power mode.
I assume most dirt cheap USB cards simply use a molex or sata connector because that is cheaper than adding whatever the mechanism is that negotiates for full power.
For example if you look at the ~$10 Inateck cards, they all have a power connector and require supplemental power. If you look at Inateck's KT-4004, it has no power connector and gets all the power it needs from the slot, but it's also ~$30.
The Sonnet card gets its power exclusively from the slot and actually advertises high current USB charging. No supplemental power connector, but it costs a lot more.
So the power is definitely available in the slot. It's just that cheap, rock-bottom-effort cards don't bother to make use of it.
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how do you know it doesn't support this chipset ?
the motherboard does not provide special power source but you can take power from sata ...
This Inateck USB 3.0 card KT-4004 works fine as I'm using this in one of my Mac Pros. Try to get that card. As far as I know, the Fresco Logic chipset is compatible with the Mac Pro's motherboard unless I'm wrong.
[Support UASP for Mac Pro] Inateck 4 Ports PCIe to USB 3.0 Card for Mac Pro - No Additional Power Connection Needed
[Support UASP for Mac Pro] Inateck 4 Ports PCIe to USB 3.0 Card for Mac Pro - No Additional Power Connection Needed
www.amazon.co.uk
[Support UASP for Mac Pro] Inateck 4 Ports PCI-E to USB 4*USB3.0 MAC Pro | eBay
Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for [Support UASP for Mac Pro] Inateck 4 Ports PCI-E to USB 4*USB3.0 MAC Pro at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products!
www.ebay.co.uk
Because people trying to use a card with this chip report having to install the open source generic driver from Github to make it work. A supported USB chip would use native drivers included in MacOS.
Hi, as I'm building a cMP to replace my 2010 MacBook Pro as my daily computer, this forum has helped a lot to find the right information.
EDIT: Mac Pro 5,1 Mid 2010, Boot ROM MP51.0089.B00 (for now)
For a USB 3.1 card I choose the StarTech PEXUSB312A2 (ASM2142 chipset), as it is USB 3.1 Gen 2, but cheaper than the Sonnet Allegro Pro USB 3.1. Here's my report so far, maybe it can be helpful for someone:
Is this normal behaviour? Those lanes/speeds/switches/busses get me confused. I'm on High Sierra, while waiting for a Metal card. After upgrading to Mojave (and the latest firmware), will anything change?
EDIT: Mac Pro 5,1 Mid 2010, Boot ROM MP51.0089.B00 (for now)
For a USB 3.1 card I choose the StarTech PEXUSB312A2 (ASM2142 chipset), as it is USB 3.1 Gen 2, but cheaper than the Sonnet Allegro Pro USB 3.1. Here's my report so far, maybe it can be helpful for someone:
- When installed in PCIe slot 3 System Information states 5.0 GT/s
- When installed in PCIe slot 2 System Information states 2.5 GT/s
It looks like sleep isn't working, if that's the case I'll return the card as this is a dealbreaker for me
EDIT: sleep seems to work just fine
EDIT 2: sleep works fine as well with a USB drive attached (with the Not Ejected Properly message after wake-up, but also no re-mount)
Is this normal behaviour? Those lanes/speeds/switches/busses get me confused. I'm on High Sierra, while waiting for a Metal card. After upgrading to Mojave (and the latest firmware), will anything change?
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Which Mac Pro do you have? I guess it must be MacPro4,1 orMacPro5,1 because slot 3 gives you 5.0 GT/s. Slot 2 in any cMP 3,1 or later should allow PCIe 2.0 in slot 2.
You say you don't have the latest firmware for the MacPro5,1 that came with Mojave?
MP5,1: What you have to do to upgrade to Mojave (BootROM upgrade instructions thread)
Please fully read this first post, you will probably find that you have one or more problems described into the various notes below. Mojave will only install if you have upgraded your BootROM to the current release and your Mac Pro have a Metal capable GPU*. If you are trying to install Mojave...
forums.macrumors.com
The latest firmware should make PCIe 3.0 cards run at PCIe 2.0 speed at boot. You can use the fast.sh script to change the speed from PCIe 1.0 to PCIe 2.0. Use the pcitree.sh script to verify the speed change. #482
You can use the scripts to benchmark slower speeds in faster slots to see what you gain. There are ways to add PCIe 3.0 slots to your cMP (very expensive).
You don't get all the benefits of the ASM2142 with the PEXUSB312A2 in a cMP because you are limited to PCIe 2.0 x2 (8 Gb/s) instead of PCIe 3.0 x2 (15.75 Gb/s). The best USB 3.1 gen 2 card in a cMP is one with a PCIe 3.0 x4 switch and ASM2142/ASM3142 or a Thunderbolt 3 add-in card.
The PCIe 2.0 x4 switch in the Sonnet Allegro Pro USB 3.1 allows the two ASM1142 controllers on the card to be used but each ASM1142 is limited to PCIe 2.0 x2 (8 Gb/s). A switch has an added benefit in the MacPro3,1 (and maybe earlier) because it allows converting the PCIe 2.0 x2 of the ASM1142 to the PCIe 1.0 x4 of slot 3 and slot 4. Otherwise the ASM1142 would be limited to PCIe 1.0 x1 speed (4 Gbps) because those slots don't support x2 (only x1 and x4).
My ( spare card ) Sapphire 7970 Dual-X twice showed up running at 2.5GT/s x 8 Link width.
I shut down, removed the power cord, removed all PCIe cards - installed a spare HD 5870 - rebooted with the " TRIPLE Chime " NVME / PRAM reset.
Then shut down again and re-installed the Sapphire 7970 . .
. . . . Voila ! back to 5.0GT/s & x 16 Link Width
The above apparently ( in my case ) ' re-set ' the PCIe slots.
NOTE :
I recommend installing PCIe USB cards in only PCIe slots 3 & 4.
My USB3.1 is in slot 4 5.0GT/s Link width 2 no problems at all.
I shut down, removed the power cord, removed all PCIe cards - installed a spare HD 5870 - rebooted with the " TRIPLE Chime " NVME / PRAM reset.
Then shut down again and re-installed the Sapphire 7970 . .
. . . . Voila ! back to 5.0GT/s & x 16 Link Width
The above apparently ( in my case ) ' re-set ' the PCIe slots.
NOTE :
I recommend installing PCIe USB cards in only PCIe slots 3 & 4.
My USB3.1 is in slot 4 5.0GT/s Link width 2 no problems at all.
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Which Mac Pro do you have? I guess it must be MacPro4,1 orMacPro5,1 because slot 3 gives you 5.0 GT/s. Slot 2 in any cMP 3,1 or later should allow PCIe 2.0 in slot 2.
You say you don't have the latest firmware for the MacPro5,1 that came with Mojave?
MP5,1: What you have to do to upgrade to Mojave (BootROM upgrade instructions thread)
Please fully read this first post, you will probably find that you have one or more problems described into the various notes below. Mojave will only install if you have upgraded your BootROM to the current release and your Mac Pro have a Metal capable GPU*. If you are trying to install Mojave...
The latest firmware should make PCIe 3.0 cards run at PCIe 2.0 speed at boot. You can use the fast.sh script to change the speed from PCIe 1.0 to PCIe 2.0. Use the pcitree.sh script to verify the speed change. #482
You can use the scripts to benchmark slower speeds in faster slots to see what you gain. There are ways to add PCIe 3.0 slots to your cMP (very expensive).
You don't get all the benefits of the ASM2142 with the PEXUSB312A2 in a cMP because you are limited to PCIe 2.0 x2 (8 Gb/s) instead of PCIe 3.0 x2 (15.75 Gb/s). The best USB 3.1 gen 2 card in a cMP is one with a PCIe 3.0 x4 switch and ASM2142/ASM3142 or a Thunderbolt 3 add-in card.
The PCIe 2.0 x4 switch in the Sonnet Allegro Pro USB 3.1 allows the two ASM1142 controllers on the card to be used but each ASM1142 is limited to PCIe 2.0 x2 (8 Gb/s). A switch has an added benefit in the MacPro3,1 (and maybe earlier) because it allows converting the PCIe 2.0 x2 of the ASM1142 to the PCIe 1.0 x4 of slot 3 and slot 4. Otherwise the ASM1142 would be limited to PCIe 1.0 x1 speed (4 Gbps) because those slots don't support x2 (only x1 and x4).
Hi joevt,
Thank you so much for your reply. I have indeed a Mac Pro 5,1. I'm waiting for my Metal supported card to upgrade to Mojave and the latest firmware. System Information should show 8.0 GT/s after this?
In the meantime I tried the fast.sh script, but I get this error:
sudo: setpci: command not foundWill look into it later.
I'm thinking of returning the card anyway, because I'm more and more convinced adding USB 3 ports to the front. Some nice mods here on macrumors (inspired by this one and others).
Can someone point me to a USB 3.1 gen 2 PCIe 2.0 x4 switch card, with an internal 19 pin connector? I have a hard time telling if the card has the right specifications to get the right speeds.
I plan to give this a try myself maybe, but is there anyone on this forum or elsewhere that sells modified front panel pcb's? That would make it pretty much plug & play, no? (as extra power is not needed?) Just connecting the front panel to the PCIe card with an extension cable:
I'm I right with those cards (right chipset + x4 switch)?
- StarTech.com PEXUSB311EI
- StarTech.com PEXUSB312EIC (10Gbps only for the USB-C port)
- SilverStone ECU02 (no ports on the back)
- Ableconn PEX-UB152 (no ports on the back)
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Check out Laser Hive's replacement front panel. It was designed for hackintosh case mods but you might be able to use it. Unfortunately, it does away with the Front Panel Firewire ports. I don't know if FW is important to you. (I rarely use the Front Panel USB or FW ports.)
Front Panel Conversion - The Laser Hive
replacement for G5 or Mac Pro original front panel. Laser cut 1.5mm brushed aluminium. Gives HD Audio standard connections.
www.thelaserhive.com
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Thank you for pointing to this modification TheStork, but I want to keep the case stock (and I really like the tactile quality of the original power button). But I guess this discussion belongs in this thread.
So my question remains: what USB 3.1 (10 GBit/s) PCIe x4 card has an internal connection?
So my question remains: what USB 3.1 (10 GBit/s) PCIe x4 card has an internal connection?
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Yes. 8.0 GT/s is for PCIe 3.0 link. You have PCIe 2.0 slots. A PCIe card with a PCIe 3.0 switch will have a 5 GT/s x4 upstream link and two or more PCIe 3.0 downstream links (one link per controller). The downstream controllers will appear in System Information as 8.0 GT/s. I say two or more downstream links/controllers because manufactures would not include a switch for a single controller.
Read the part about installing pciutils.
You don't need a PCIe card containing a PCIe switch unless you want more than 8 Gb/s and the card has a controller that is PCIe 3.0 x2 or you have a MacPro3,1 and you want to use slot 3 or 4 with a USB controller that is x2.
The PEXUSB311EI has no switch. It is a PCIe 2.0 x2 card using ASM1142. It has two USB ports.
The PEXUSB312EIC has no switch. It is the same as the PEXUSB311EI except it includes a 4 port USB hub (VIA/VLI - VL812) for four additional USB ports.
The ECU02 has no switch. It is similar to the PEXUSB311EI but uses the ASM3142 which is PCIe 3.0 x2. It has one Type-E port.
The PEX-UB152 has no switch. It is similar to the ECU02 but uses the ASM2142 and has two Type-E ports.
I don't know about the USB Type-E port. Does it support one or two USB 3.1 Gen 2 ports? I don't understand why those last two cards have a different number of Type-E ports.
I also bought the Startech PEXUSB312EIC
Have Mojave 10.14.6 but it doesnt work with sleep...
When putting to sleep it wakes at once =(
Please help me with this issue if you have any..
Thanx!
-ApB
As far as I know, with PCIe USB 3 cards, they're not supported in Sleep Mode. It could be an OS limitation, not sure. The sleep mode problem is mentioned at the start of this thread.
It could be any number of things. Search for "wake reason" in the system log. Every time the system wakes, it makes a note of why it woke in the log. There are probably many entries, but the relevant one will have timestamp matching the event time you are concerned about.