On Sep 10, 2008, at 6:17 AM, J Winter wrote:
> Do you mean using eSATA as external drives? > > (I didn't think you are saying that this card allows you to use eSATA > internally.) The SiI 3132 is the chip type. The chip may be operated in two modes: RAID mode and BASE mode. Most of the PCI-E cards, which are used in desktops, are RAID mode, although some can be FLASHed to be BASE mode (BASE mode simulates an IDE drive to the host). When used as n Express-34 card in a laptop, the card provides two eSATA (external SATA) ports, which are identical to the ports found on a PCI-E card. Most of the Express-34 cards are BASE mode, and I am unaware of those which can be FLASHed to RAID mode as this requires a DOS system, although a Win-32 FLASHer is also available (a MacOS FLASHer is NOT available). As I stated SiI3132 is included in many MacOS distributions, and if it is not, then the MacOS installer is freely available from the SiI web site. After you insert the Express-32 card, you may then insert one or two eSATA (external SATA) cables (not generally included with the card), and each of the two ports supports a port multiplier, which provides for a five-to-one expansion of the available storage on each port. It is thereby possible to connect 10 TB of external storage to a laptop, using a simple Express-34 card. You need not buy a special Mac card, either. Just look for the Silicon Image 3132 designation in the description of the card. Almost every manufacturer of 3132 cards is using the SiI "reference design", so they all work alike, although some cost $40 and some cost $90. If you have a PCI-E card, and it is in BASE mode, then your desktop has the same capabilities as described, above. --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed Low End Mac's G3-5 List, a group for those using G3, G4, and G5 desktop Macs - with a particular focus on Power Macs. The list FAQ is at http://lowendmac.com/lists/g-list.shtml and our netiquette guide is at http://www.lowendmac.com/lists/netiquette.shtml To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/g3-5-list?hl=en Low End Mac RSS feed at feed://lowendmac.com/feed.xml -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
