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Macsonic

macrumors 68000
Sep 6, 2009
1,709
100
I've booted from a drive connected to the Caldigit card, but it may have been via the eSATA ports. I'd confirm it again, but my Voyager Q dock is broken so I can't.

I am pretty sure I have done that as well from eSATA ... but no additional drivers are required for that interface.

Hello. With eSata also on my Caldigit USB 3.0 card, I am able to boot from an external HD. With the ext HD connected to the USB 3 port no go. There is this thread about problems in booting using USB 3.0 with a Retina MacBook Pro with USB 3.0 ports. They also could not boot when the external HD is connected to the USB 3 port of the rMacbook Pro. But with USB 2.0 they are ble to boot.

https://discussions.apple.com/message/23362502#23362502

At first I thought the USB 3 has to be embedded to the logic board to make booting work. Though not exactly perfect, satisfied with Caldigit USB 3-eSata combo
 

crjackson2134

macrumors 601
Mar 6, 2013
4,847
1,957
Charlotte, NC
I was hoping the driver might be in the EFI or something.:confused:

Nope, it's not there. The driver is a kernel extension, it loads with the kernel. There is no way for the hardware to be recognized unless it's integrated into the bootstrap firmware.

----------

Hello. With eSata also on my Caldigit USB 3.0 card, I am able to boot from an external HD. With the ext HD connected to the USB 3 port no go. There is this thread about problems in booting using USB 3.0 with a Retina MacBook Pro with USB 3.0 ports. They also could not boot when the external HD is connected to the USB 3 port of the rMacbook Pro. But with USB 2.0 they are ble to boot.

https://discussions.apple.com/message/23362502#23362502

At first I thought the USB 3 has to be embedded to the logic board to make booting work. Though not exactly perfect, satisfied with Caldigit USB 3-eSata combo

USB 2 yes, there is boot support for the internal ports included in the firmware. Using an add-on card that requires external drivers is another story.

eSata booting is supported. It's an extension of the SATA bus so it has to be included in the firmware.
 

ActionableMango

macrumors G3
Original poster
Sep 21, 2010
9,613
6,909
All we have to do is wait for Apple to provide a firmware update for USB 3.0 support.

Oh, and Internet Recovery support would be nice too, since the Mac Pro is the only 2010 Mac model that hasn't received this yet.

I know, I know, not in a million years.
 

crjackson2134

macrumors 601
Mar 6, 2013
4,847
1,957
Charlotte, NC
All we have to do is wait for Apple to provide a firmware update for USB 3.0 support.

Oh, and Internet Recovery support would be nice too, since the Mac Pro is the only 2010 Mac model that hasn't received this yet.

I know, I know, not in a million years.

It has internet recovery. Mine was assembled and shipped to me in Feb. 2013, so it shipped with 10.8.2. The documentation included discuses how to use internet recovery. I've never used it, but it's supposed to be there if your machine is running Mountain Lion or above.
 

ActionableMango

macrumors G3
Original poster
Sep 21, 2010
9,613
6,909
It has internet recovery. Mine was assembled and shipped to me in Feb. 2013, so it shipped with 10.8.2. The documentation included discuses how to use internet recovery. I've never used it, but it's supposed to be there if your machine is running Mountain Lion or above.

Right, but I said 2010 Mac Pro. Every 2010 Mac model got a firmware update to support Internet Recovery except the Mac Pro:
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4904

I suppose your 2012 model includes it, which is nice for you. :)
 

roobarb!

macrumors 6502
Jul 30, 2009
277
185
Just put an Orico PFU3-4P in my 2012 Mac Pro - works a treat. As the boot messages say, the driver is reloaded across sleep, so everything is kicked off when sleep mode hits. Other than that, it's fine. Drawing power from Bay 4 with a tiny little SATA - Molex converter, as I'm not using that bay for anything.

All in all a mighty convenient upgrade for £15.
 

Silicon Sam

macrumors newbie
Aug 11, 2011
15
0
I bought the same card too. I have a VanTec NexStar SATA HD docking station, and my read times from the dock have tripled from the USB 2.0 I was using.

My USB 3.0 CF card reader is not quite twice as fast though. Still, not bad for $20.
 

pastrychef

macrumors 601
Sep 15, 2006
4,754
1,453
New York City, NY
I picked up a little 64GB USB 3 flash drive over the weekend for $26 and I'm extremely impressed with its performance.

I'm using an Orico card and the flash drive is connected via a USB 3 hub.
 

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ActionableMango

macrumors G3
Original poster
Sep 21, 2010
9,613
6,909
First post updated to add the Inateck as recommended by others in this thread.

Thank you everyone for the help. I've contacted the eBay seller and I'll keep this thread posted on my progress.

Any updates? I'm curious if the problem was solved with a new card.

I see. I didn't realize there was any difference other than shipping operating systems.

I didn't realize the 2012 model included it in the firmware. Sure would be nice if Apple released that so us 2010 model folks could have Internet recovery!
 

crjackson2134

macrumors 601
Mar 6, 2013
4,847
1,957
Charlotte, NC

crjackson2134

macrumors 601
Mar 6, 2013
4,847
1,957
Charlotte, NC
I finally got around to installing the ORICO PFU3-2P card. It works perfectly alongside the RocketU card. They are coexisting together happily and both performing as expected.

I don't have any particularly fast external drives available at the moment so can't provide comparative bench marks right now I'll do that later I suppose when I have something faster to test.

So for now, I'll be using the RocketU for my backup storage devices (because of it's proven reliability) as it's seen by OSX as a Raid device and doesn't mount on the desktop. I'll use the ORICO for everything else USB 3.0 as needed.

When I finally get an PCIE SATA3 caddy and SSD, I'll have to pull the ORICO as I have no slots left.
 
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N19h7m4r3

macrumors 65816
Dec 15, 2012
1,191
8
I've had the Inateck KTU3FR-4PA since mid November and it's been a great card.

I was told it would would without connecting the power cable( which is supplied ), but I did so anyway. It's been extremely fast, and reliable. It also works great with my Plugable 7 port USB 3.0 hub.

Only issues is that disk/hub eject, and message when the computer wakes from sleep.


Only other complaint is Bluetooth interference with my Magic Mouse, it's essentially useless now. Although we all know this is a known USB3.0 interference issue.

Strangely I have no interference issues so far with some Bluetooth Speakers I just got. Most likely to the speakers using Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR? Although the MM uses 2.1 as well I think.
 

pastrychef

macrumors 601
Sep 15, 2006
4,754
1,453
New York City, NY
I had a similar interference issue with my Magic Mouse at first, but I've been able to bring back functionality to the Magic Mouse by using a better shielded cable to my USB 3 hub.
 

N19h7m4r3

macrumors 65816
Dec 15, 2012
1,191
8
I had a similar interference issue with my Magic Mouse at first, but I've been able to bring back functionality to the Magic Mouse by using a better shielded cable to my USB 3 hub.

I tried that, and the cables are very very thick, sadly it's not helped too much. I'll be moving my MP off and next to the desk once I get some headphone extension cables next week. Hopefully that'll help.

I can't get by in Screenflow, and FCPX without it and its scrolling features.
 
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