USB 3.x PCIe Cards for Classic Mac Pro

[nobullone1964]

I like my CalDigit card. It may be slower than it should be, but it's far faster than USB 2.0 or FW800, and I can boot from the card, too.

I am always being handed USB 3.0 drives these days, and it's a joy to get the data moving so quickly, with no hassles, ever. I'll take 3x or 5x faster any day, even though they said it would be 10x.

Which model Caldigit card are you using. You say it can boot a connected drive?

 

[tsialex]

Which model Caldigit card are you using. You say it can boot a connected drive?

AFAIK, only USB3 + e-SATA combo cards work for booting and only when connected via e-SATA.

http://www.caldigit.com/Fasta-6GU3plus/

 

[startergo]

AFAIK, only USB3 + e-SATA combo cards work for booting and only when connected via e-SATA.

http://www.caldigit.com/Fasta-6GU3plus/

https://eshop.macsales.com/item/CalDigit/FASTA6GU3/
Product Model Discontinued by CalDigit
This comes as a replacement:
https://eshop.macsales.com/item/NewerTech/MXPCIEL2ES3O/

 

[Mac_User 0101]

I'm looking at the Highpoint RocketStor 6124v -USB 3.1 Gen2 -4 bay RAID/storage enclosure. It has a USB C port but they claim only Windows PC can use a USB 3.1 Type A to Type C cable:

"The RocketStor 6124V requires only a single cable between the enclosure and the host system and can be used with any system that has a free USB Type-C USB 3.0, USB 3.1, USB 3.1 Gen2 or Thunderbolt™ 3 USB-C port. Customers with a Windows-based PC can also connect the RocketStor 6124V using a Type-A port, via a USB 3.1 Type-A to Type-C cable or adapter."

How can this be? Are they just assuming that any Mac that has native USB 3.1 has a Type C port and not taking into account that perhaps users of classic Mac Pro machines could add a USB 3.1 Gen2 PCIe card with Type A or Type C ports? Or is there a different pin out on a USB 3.1 Type A to Type C cable vs. a standard USB 3.1 Type C cable? Please advise me what could possibly prevent that from working on my cMP via a Sonnet Allegro Pro (3.1 Gen2 -Type A).

 

[crjackson2134]

I think you are reading into it too much. High Point’s marketing materials and FAQ sheets aren’t always the best. .. Consider that the built-in USB-A on a cMP is only a USB 2.x connection. It has less conductors and therefore won’t work correctly with a USB-A to C connector.

The RocketStor 6124V can be easily connected to any modern desktop or laptop

Modern MAC’s don’t generally have a USB type A connector, so no thought went into this statement. They didn’t define what they mean exactly by modern, so...

It should work fine provided you use a quality USB card, cables, and if needed an adapter. Just get it, and if it doesn’t work for your needs, return it for a refund.

Otherwise, contact High Point and ask them directly...

Just my 2¢

 

[Mac_User 0101]

Modern MAC’s don’t generally have a USB type A connector, so no thought went into this statement.

Thanks, that is what I thought. I would ask Highpoint directly but their customer support is near non existent. You have to create an account and login to create a support ticket. At least that's all I could find being that the support phone number listed is disconnected.

 

[crjackson2134]

Thanks, that is what I thought. I would ask Highpoint directly but their customer support is near non existent. You have to create an account and login to create a support ticket. At least that's all I could find being that the support phone number listed is disconnected.

Yes, I’m extraordinarily familiar with High Point tech support history and procedure. Making an account takes very little time. It’s worth it. I’ve contacted them dozens of times, and they have always answered promptly (even if they weren’t helpful).

 

[howiest]

https://eshop.macsales.com/item/CalDigit/FASTA6GU3/
Product Model Discontinued by CalDigit
This comes as a replacement:
https://eshop.macsales.com/item/NewerTech/MXPCIEL2ES3O/

I don't know how it can be a replacement... neither card works as of El Capitan and beyond.
I've got one of those NewerTech cards sitting on a shelf collecting dust.
The Caldigit Fasta 6GU3 Plus card is the one many of us want, but it's sold out everywhere.

 

[Synchro3]

I don't know how it can be a replacement... neither card works as of El Capitan and beyond.
I've got one of those NewerTech cards sitting on a shelf collecting dust.
The Caldigit Fasta 6GU3 Plus card is the one many of us want, but it's sold out everywhere.

http://bnglobalstore.com/index.php/products/caldigit-fasta-6gu3-plus-pcie-card

 

[trifero]

Because it's there. The documentation doesn't explain how connecting power to the card affects its capabilities. The card will work without it. I don't have any bus powered devices that require the extra power. Maybe I should use a PD sniffer to see if the card offers more power delivery options when extra power is connected.

Tried different devices for charging. No differences with/without the power port connected.
[doublepost=1557171563][/doublepost]

I don't know how it can be a replacement... neither card works as of El Capitan and beyond.
I've got one of those NewerTech cards sitting on a shelf collecting dust.
The Caldigit Fasta 6GU3 Plus card is the one many of us want, but it's sold out everywhere.

I had that card. Not even was able to boot from esata ports.

 

[Mac_User 0101]

It’s been a while since I’ve called them. What phone number did you call? I’m not sure the info below is still up to date, but this is what I have on file.

I called that number today and it works but it's their store. Unfortunately, the rep couldn't help me with either of my questions pertaining to RocketStor 6124v or SSD7110. I'm going to create a support ticket which is what he also suggested. That RocketStor is a really nice enclosure and probably the best for the money if looking for USB 3.1 Gen2 connectivity. I also wanted to know if the SSD7110 truly only supports m.2 capacities up to 2TB. I didn't think that was a limitation on the 7101A so I don't see why the 7110 would be that way. I like that card because I have a great idea how to get SATA III to my internal drive bays in a 5,1. Not really upgrading it from the backplane like earlier cMP can. But I could install the drives backwards on the sleds and run a long SAS to 4 way SATA cable to each drive from the 7110. Then I'll just grab the power for each drive from the backplane with a SATA power cable.

 

[crjackson2134]

I called that number today and it works but it's their store. Unfortunately, the rep couldn't help me

They actually used to have a test-lab there with 4 cMP 5,1s and did do 1st level support. However, that is why I said I got prompt responses (even if not helpful). Many times the answer is, I don’t know, and we couldn’t resolve.

Also, support by ticket has been hit/miss on answering questions for me. I’ve never been ignored, and they always tried to help, but I had a professional connection at the time. I’ve had good experiences with their products and the hardware seems good quality. If I were purchasing, I wouldn’t hesitate, you can return it if it doesn’t work as advertised.

 

[drolson]

I had the same problem with the PFU3-4P that I bought. On the end of the PCI bracket, there are two tabs that prevent the bracket from sitting flat on the Mac's PCI bracket, prevent the card from going all the way into the slot, and prevent the Mac's plate with the two thumbscrews from fitting.

The solution is to use a pair of pliers to bend the tabs so that that part of the bracket is entirely flat and parallel to the motherboard as it should be.

I've attached an image with the offending tabs circled in orange.

Right! with the tabs, the the power plug is made to big which allows you to put it in backward, do that and not know it and plug your usb in and you will give whatever you have plugged into it to much electricity and burn it out, this card sucks period

 

[ActionableMango]

Thank you @joevt for updating the recommended list.

Reminder to everyone, the first post is a wiki and anyone can edit it. I do not maintain it any more as I haven't had a Mac Pro in a very long time and I'm only here casually now.

 

[VaZ]

Does anyone ever experience USB ports not working suddenly until a reboot is done !?
Its happening on both my stock usb 2.0 ports and pcie 3.0 ports occasionally.
Is there a tool that can restart the usb ports without the need to reboot?
Can bad system RAM cause this behaviour !?

 

[Mac_User 0101]

Does anyone ever experience USB ports not working suddenly until a reboot is done !?
Its happening on both my stock usb 2.0 ports and pcie 3.0 ports occasionally.
Is there a tool that can restart the usb ports without the need to reboot?
Can bad system RAM cause this behaviour !?

I'm going to try to answer your question the best I can until someone more experienced chimes in. It sounds to me like it may be a wake from sleep issue. Are you putting your computer to sleep? Tell us more... What computer and what version of MacOS? Also, what USB 3.0 PCIe card are you using? Check your log files for kernel panics. I would think if it were a RAM issue it would cause the entire OS to freeze but I could be wrong about that.

 

[VaZ]

I'm going to try to answer your question the best I can until someone more experienced chimes in. It sounds to me like it may be a wake from sleep issue. Are you putting your computer to sleep? Tell us more... What computer and what version of MacOS? Also, what USB 3.0 PCIe card are you using? Check your log files for kernel panics. I would think if it were a RAM issue it would cause the entire OS to freeze but I could be wrong about that.

I never put the Mac to sleep it runs 24/7. My signature shows my specs. I can't find anything related in the logs either.

 

[mrnobody]

A follow-up to my prior post.
The Syba SD-PEX50055 (ASMedia) SATA-3/USB-3 combo card was a no-go with the Apricorn Velocity Solo x2 (Marvell)already installed plus the (Etron) USB-3 seemed unreliable. Replaced the Syba with a Vantec UGT-ST644R (HighPoint clone) and re-installed the Inateck KT4006 USB3 card into slot 4.
All drives now functioning perfectly as is the USB-3, all with the native drivers & zero issues with Sleep 'disconnects'!

 

[zozomester]

Yes. Think of the PCIe bus like an Ethernet network. Both use switches for connecting multiple devices and to transmit data between devices. Every PCIe device is like a computer on the Ethernet network.


Connecting a USB device to a port of the controller does not make the controller active, or making a controller active does not reduce bandwidth to another controller.

To get full throughput, only one port of one controller can be sending or receiving data because doing the same to a second port on the same link exceeds a bandwidth limit or adds overhead. Overhead cannot be eliminated. Links can be widened or made faster (The ASM2142 uses a faster link, the GC-TITAN RIDGE uses a faster and wider link).

Are you using some extra cabel for the GC-TITAN RIDGE card? I don't have the usb tools on it.
Thank!

 

[Mac_User 0101]

Are you using some extra cabel for the GC-TITAN RIDGE card? I don't have the usb tools on it.
Thank!

I'd like to know if the using the GC-Titan Ridge as a USB type C card also requires Windows initialization like Thunderbolt.

 

[joevt]

Are you using some extra cabel for the GC-TITAN RIDGE card? I don't have the usb tools on it.

I use the Thunderbolt header cable and place a wire between two of the pins. This makes the USB controller always appear even when no USB devices are connected.
List of Intel Titan Ridge Thunderbolt 3 Devices
testing TB3 AIC with MP 5,1

I'd like to know if the using the GC-Titan Ridge as a USB type C card also requires Windows initialization like Thunderbolt.

The USB controller does not require Windows.

 

[zozomester]

I use the Thunderbolt header cable and place a wire between two of the pins. This makes the USB controller always appear even when no USB devices are connected.
List of Intel Titan Ridge Thunderbolt 3 Devices
testing TB3 AIC with MP 5,1


The USB controller does not require Windows.

Do you mean?

 

[joevt]

Do you mean?

That's one way to do it. It may be easier to use the included Thunderbolt header cable, connect one end to the GC-TITAN RIDGE, and add a small wire to the other end as shown in this picture:

 

[zozomester]

Thank! how does this solution help?

 

[joevt]

Thank! how does this solution help?

#2371 to make the USB controller of the GC-TITAN RIDGE always available (so you don't need to boot with a USB device attached).

Or, if you're asking why you should use my method where the jumper wire is attached to the header cable instead of attaching the jumper wire directly to the GC-TITAN RIDGE - then it depends on what kind of jumper wire you have. If it's just a wire, then you put each end of the wire into a hole - easy. If you have a wire with female connectors, then you can use that wire directly but make sure the female connectors don't touch the other pins of the Thunderbolt header of the GC-TITAN RIDGE.