Safe for me to try this PCI card?

acme · 06-24-2012, 03:42 PM

A neighbor of mine is re-locating and lightening his load of possessions. He was nice enough to sport me this Belkin PCI card: http://tinyurl.com/8a2n8bw

To my knowledge, it has *never* been used. He says he never used it. It's in it's plastic half-clamshell, looks dust-free. Was prbly kept in a plastic bag, on a shelf, etc.

My question is: is it safe for me to try this card in my Mac Pro? I could use the extra USB and older-style FireWire ports, but I'm not sure whether this card is supported by my Mac, and if not, would any damage result to my Mac?

Thanks for any ideas about this.

a

DeltaMac · 06-24-2012, 03:56 PM

Your question "Is it safe for me to try this card in my Mac Pro?"

Well, yes - safe enough, I suppose, as long as you don't actually (somehow) install the card in a slot.
The problem is, that Belkin card is a PCI card.
Your MacPro has PCI-Express slots, which are not compatible with PCI cards.

acme · 06-24-2012, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeltaMac


	Your question "Is it safe for me to try this card in my Mac Pro?" Well, yes - safe enough, I suppose, as long as you don't actually (somehow) install the card in a slot. The problem is, that Belkin card is a PCI card. Your MacPro has PCI-Express slots, which are not compatible with PCI cards.

Heh...well, that would be that.

Do any Macs use PCI cards such that it would be worth a shot selling this card on Craigslist, then? Or is this really antiquated technology?

Maybe there are enough PCI-compatible Macs out there such that somebody would want it?

a

DeltaMac · 06-24-2012, 04:18 PM

The last Macs that will take normal PCI cards are the PowerMac G5s, until the last generation of those (Late 2005) which is the first with PCI-Express slots.
I think you can assume that PCI card will work in any PowerMac G4, the Blue & White G3, and perhaps some older PowerMacs with PCI slots, although there could be driver issues, and USB 2.0 ports won't work at high speed in a really old Mac that doesn't have OS X.

And, of course, that card is NOT solely for Macs, Windows will be fine, too.

acme · 06-24-2012, 08:05 PM

yeah, that's a good point....thank you!

a

06-24-2012, 03:42 PM	#1
acme MVP Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,684	Safe for me to try this PCI card? A neighbor of mine is re-locating and lightening his load of possessions. He was nice enough to sport me this Belkin PCI card: http://tinyurl.com/8a2n8bw To my knowledge, it has never been used. He says he never used it. It's in it's plastic half-clamshell, looks dust-free. Was prbly kept in a plastic bag, on a shelf, etc. My question is: is it safe for me to try this card in my Mac Pro? I could use the extra USB and older-style FireWire ports, but I'm not sure whether this card is supported by my Mac, and if not, would any damage result to my Mac? Thanks for any ideas about this. a

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06-24-2012, 03:56 PM	#2
DeltaMac League Commissioner Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 7,957	Your question "Is it safe for me to try this card in my Mac Pro?" Well, yes - safe enough, I suppose, as long as you don't actually (somehow) install the card in a slot. The problem is, that Belkin card is a PCI card. Your MacPro has PCI-Express slots, which are not compatible with PCI cards.

06-24-2012, 04:18 PM	#4
DeltaMac League Commissioner Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 7,957	The last Macs that will take normal PCI cards are the PowerMac G5s, until the last generation of those (Late 2005) which is the first with PCI-Express slots. I think you can assume that PCI card will work in any PowerMac G4, the Blue & White G3, and perhaps some older PowerMacs with PCI slots, although there could be driver issues, and USB 2.0 ports won't work at high speed in a really old Mac that doesn't have OS X. And, of course, that card is NOT solely for Macs, Windows will be fine, too.

06-24-2012, 08:05 PM	#5
acme MVP Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,684	yeah, that's a good point....thank you! a