On Nov 10, 6:35 pm, Ross <[email protected]> wrote:
> On Nov 10, 11:27 am, Stewie de Young <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> > ... I think what he is after though is whether these cards can have a DVD
> > drive plugged into them that you can boot off...
> > Stewie
>
> Correct!
>
> I just searched for Mac compatible SATA controller cards, then for
> cheap Mac compatible SATA cards. I finally found that Silicon Image
> chip sets are the basis for most Mac compatible SATA cards. SYBA makes
> about the cheapest SATA II 2int/2/ext 4-port Mac compatible out there;
> PCI-X model SD-PCXSA2-2E2R, $33.99 @ mwave.com. The card comes stock
> with a RAID capable (software only) BIOS/firmware that only supports
> hard drives. However, a non-RAID BIOS/firmware is available for
> download (card must be flashed in a Windows PC) that eliminates the
> delay at boot caused by the RAID BIOS looking for a RAID drive set,
> and allows the card to support SATA ATAPI devices such as optical
> drives, tape drives, etc. as well as hard drives (non-RAID). The SYBA
> SATA PCI-X model SD-PCXSA2-2E2R controller card is based on the
> SIL3124 chipset. So theoretically, any card based on this chip set
> will run in a Mac with the right BIOS/firmware installed. There are
> several other manufacturers cards available using this chip set that
> allow port multiplier (up to 5 devices/port) operation with external
> enclosures, etc..
>
> I had to inquire directly with the manufacturer's tech support
> personnel to obtain this info. They were also very specific about
> which versions of OS X the card would operate with. Namely, 10.4.9,
> 10.4.10 and 10.5.1. I have sent an inquiry to confirm whether or not
> these are the ONLY versions of OS X the card will function with. If
> so, I will have to keep searching for a solution. I believe I have
> found an alternate card that will work under 10.5.8 and 10.6.1, but it
> is a 4-port internal that costs about $89.99-$119.00. Way too much for
> simply adding a SATA DVD burner to my MDD, unless I can sell the
> Seritek 1V4 for about the same amount.
>
> There may be some SIL3512 based cards that will work as well. Still
> looking...
>
> Anyway, thanks to all who tried to help.
SIL3512 based cards do NOT work with Macs. Here is a list of BIOS/
firmware available for the SIL3124 based cards, along with the
versions of OS X they support:
<http://www.siliconimage.com/support/searchresults.aspx?
pid=27&cat=3&os=3>
There are other manufacturers that I have not investigated yet; e.g.,
Addonics, Areca and Adaptec. I will take a look at their product lines
as well.
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