TB to FW800 adapter

[Essence_of_War]

Suppose I have an older Mac Pro 3,1 w/ FW but no TB, and a newer Drobo w/ TB/USB3.0 and no FW.

Can I connect the two with this:
http://store.apple.com/us/product/MD...rewire-adapter

By popping the TB end into the Drobo, and a FW800 cable into the other end into the Mac Pro? Or is it only intended to work with a TB enabled Mac and a FW peripheral? I can't see why that would be the case off-hand, since both TB and FW controllers are pretty bright.

 

[Childs]

I don't think it will work. You would need something to act like a thunderbolt controller. You would be better off buying a PCIe USB3 card for your Mac Pro, which should cost about the same as the adapter you are looking at. I bought this one a few months ago:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GG5GMKK

But haven't actually tried it yet. It should work though based on the reviews. I'm kinda surprised no one has made a PCIe Thunderbolt card for the older Mac Pros.

 

[Essence_of_War]

Thanks! I think I'll probably just go with the USB 3.0 card, route.

My understanding is that without a special TB-header on the logic board, it isn't actually possible to make a thunderbolt expansion card. At least if there is, Intel and Apple are either playing it close to their chests, or not allowing it.

 

[vbuggy]

Yeah no, it won't work, because Thunderbolt is effectively the bits before the PCI-E card.

Caldigit sells a USB3.0 / eSATA combo card which works in the soccer mom's workstation. I'm running a couple on the old Pros I haven't tossed out yet and have had no major issues - works in BC as well, if that's important. The current one supports UASP.

From what I've read, many of the cheap aftermarket cards listed as Mac compatible have ifs and buts - Caldigits don't in my experience - well, as far as the host hardware can be said to be trouble-free.