Anybody knows of a cheap PCI IDE controller that works on a Mac?

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WoundedWallet

Platinum Member
Oct 9, 1999
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Anybody knows of a cheap PCI IDE controller that works on a Mac?

So far the only one I found was an Acard AEC-6280M for almost $100. But that's way too much for what I need it for.

Are there other brands that could be bought in the $40 range?

thanks
 
KeithP

KeithP

Diamond Member
Jun 15, 2000
5,664
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Here is a place that has the Acard product for $69. I have never dealt with that company though. If you can find a good deal on a external firewire drive, firewire cards can be had for about $40.

-KeithP
 
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InlineFive

Diamond Member
Sep 20, 2003
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Originally posted by: KeithP
Here is a place that has the Acard product for $69. I have never dealt with that company though. If you can find a good deal on a external firewire drive, firewire cards can be had for about $40.

-KeithP
Click to expand...

That's OK but it doesn't take advantage of the 64-Bit PCI slots in Macs. For a fast hard drive array a faster bus is necessary without being held back by the standard (PC) 133MB/s 32-Bit/33Mhz PCI Bus.
-Por
 
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WoundedWallet

Platinum Member
Oct 9, 1999
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Keith, I think you got a great idea. I've been wanting to get one of those external enclosures and i might as well get one with firewire now. I think one of the ports in the back is a firewire already, just a different connector.

I haven't dealt with firewire before but it will be a good learning experience. Will I be able to daisy chain two drives with the firewire connection?

dartworth, ebay is a good idea as well. This will be my plan B

and Por, I appreciate the heads up, but for this task speed is not a top priority. Hopefully this is a one time deal and I won't have to tinker with Mac hardware for a loooong time.

Thanks guys. I see new doors now.
 
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WoundedWallet

Platinum Member
Oct 9, 1999
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It's a quadra 9600 I think. I have it with the back facing me and a monitor on top and another monitor next to it, and it's late right now.... But it is the last Quadra made or at least the one before last. The manufacturing date is November 1997 and it has a 300MHz cpu, but no usb ports.

The computer itself is worthless and I would rather not to spend money on it. But I need to get the data out of someonelse's HD becuase it is failing. And that data is important.

As of right now, I'm split in between Keith's firewire idea and Nothinman's(another forum) Linux idea. I'll probably try the Linux way first because I already have it set up. If that doesn't work then I'll go for the firewire option. Hopefully those HD external enclosures work with macs too.
 
MDE

MDE

Lifer
Jul 17, 2003
13,199
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If it's that old I highly doubt it has FireWire. Possibly copying the data over ethernet (assuming it has a network card) could also work. I had fun burning a Centris 660AV, after trying to figure out a use for the thing, so I know your frustration.
 
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WoundedWallet

Platinum Member
Oct 9, 1999
2,325
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hmmm... you might be right about no firewire :brokenheart:

I just checked the specs. It is a Power Mac 9600/350 and not a Quadra like a thought, sorry about that.

The ports in the back are:
ADB: 1
Video: DB-15
SCSI: DB-25
Floppy: None
Geoports: 2
Ethernet: AUUI-15 & 10Base-T
USB: None
FireWire: None
Modem: None
Other: Printer, Modem, Speaker, Microphone

So the funny looking port, may be this AUUI-15, whatever that means.
The port looks like a miniature printer port on the printer's side.

I just realized that I could use the zip drive to save the data once I get the HD working in the system.
But now without a firewire port, I'm back to the original question.

I don't know how I would be able to use ethernet to transfer the data because the HD would have to be in "some" system to be able to connect. The HD is from a different mac, which is 3000 miles away.

Buying a firewire card and then an external enclosure would end up costing as much as the IDE controller, but if I'm lucky maybe I can borrow them. I'll go check if my friend's firewire card is mac friendly.

Or maybe a usb card would be even cheaper and more useful.

Sorry if my thoughts are all over the place. I'm really dreaded by this task but at the same time excited by the challenge.

Thanks again guys.
 
Metron

Metron

Golden Member
Oct 16, 2003
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WW,

AUI-15 was the "old" standard for ethernet cable, aka "thick" wire or 10base5.

We also used to run ethernet over coax, aka "thin" wire or 10base2.

Modern connections use an RJ-45 connector for twisted pair, or 10Base-T.

Ungerman-Bass was one of the first companies to market a TPAU, or Twisted Pair Access Unit, that would convert AUI or Coax to twisted pair. The twisted pair standard has evolved over time... hence CAT3,CAT5e, etc.

Here endeth the lesson.

Metron
 
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WoundedWallet

Platinum Member
Oct 9, 1999
2,325
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thank you metron, did not knoweth that. I'm assuming that AUI-15 is the funny looking port and not just an also run standard on the RJ-45. That would explain why both have the same symbol <-->. Is that the ethernet symbol btw?

now i got some more bad news, my friend's firewire (pyro dv) is not mac compatible.

I guess the Linux route is my only cheap choice at this point.
 
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WoundedWallet

Platinum Member
Oct 9, 1999
2,325
0
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Are you saying the data is not Mac compatible though
Click to expand...
No, I was refering to my friends firewire card that I was gonna borrow, instead of buying something like you suggested on ebay.

Acctually the enclosure+pci card seems to be cheapest way outside Linux. But as of right now I'm very disappointed with the whole thing.

Someone gave me another mac(even older) yesterday, that supposedly had an ide hd. After a long struggle trying to get to the ide connector, I realized that it only had one connector, the other side had the metal going straight into the wire.

That made me think that apple makes things one way or the highway. And my hopes of having the PowerMac bios recognize a 60GB hd went away. Maybe if I used an ide controller instead of a usb+1394 pci card I would have a better chance, but at this point I don't know if I want to spend any money on this. All I really want is throw all the mac stuff in the trash, and ship the hd back to my niece.

See I was trying to be the hero uncle, but I'm wasting too much time going nowhere. Opening that performa last night was the last straw. They might as well have soldered the damn thing, like they did with the ipod's battery. I think someone should sue apple for Racketeering under the RICO law. Force people to go their repair stores to change a hd? That's what the manual says!

Enough with the rant, sorry. I'll report if I succeed. Friking greedy Steve Jobs....
 
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