Thread
USB 2 in old world macs
Is this even possible? I have a powercurve 601 (with a G3 upgrade) sitting in my closet that I'm going to get running sometime. Could I add in a USB2 card and have full USB 2 functionality? My logic says no, but maybe I'm wrong...
USB 1.1, yes, possibly. Beyond that, your logic is spot on. I don't know which Mac 601 architecture (Piltdown, Catalyst, Cold Fusion, Carl Sagan, TNT) the PowerCurve approximates, but it will have to be PCI rather than NuBus, or no-go at all. Even then it may be a struggle, or a slightly faster struggle with a G3 upgrade installed. And (at least) OS 8.6 installed.
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My powercurve is a PCI based mac. Not sure what OS I will run on it but I would like USB... it's not a requirement, but it would be nice. I'm actually considering running 7.6.1 on the old thing. I don't think I have any other good installs of the "classic" mac OS.
Support for LaCie USB external peripherals exists in LaCie's Silverlining driver from at least v6.2.1 upwards, and maybe v6.1.x (if such exists). 6.2.1 will not run under/with Mac system software less than v7.5.2. Whether you could use this to attach a USB peripheral successfully is speculative at best. It was not for nothing that I quoted OS 8.6. Fully PPC-native code and the earliest comfortable USB support by Apple comes with that version.
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USB 2.0 only works under OSX... i have an USB 2.0 card in my 9500 and it works quite nice and fast under 10.4.11. in OS 9 only the USB 1.1 card in there works.
The OrangeMicro USB2/FW combo card works well in a 7200 with OS 9.1. It should be supported from OS 8.6 on. It is even possible to install a well running OS 9.2.2 on older PowerMacs to have the most recent driver software (use OS9helper). I have tried this with a 7200 and a PB1400 successfully. I found a cheap USB host adaptor (not Mac specific made) working on a beige G3, but _not_ on a 7200.
As Bunsen said: USB2 functionality is not given on system software pre OS X, no matter what the host adapter is capable of.
As Bunsen said: USB2 functionality is not given on system software pre OS X, no matter what the host adapter is capable of.
USB 2 support however requires OS X. In OS 9 and below your USB 2 card reverts to USB 1.1. With enough RAM, you could possibly get OS X on that beast with XPostFacto
Bolle and Bunsen have the right answer.
USB 2.0 "High Speed" will only be possible in OS X 10.2 or higher. (I think it's 10.2.6 specifically, but I might be wrong on that one, and it's even possible that there is a hack that lets it work in 10.1.) In OS X 10.0, 10.1 (from what I recall,) or OS 8.1 to 9.2.2, any USB card that works will operate at USB 1.1 "Low" or "Full" speed. Before OS 8.1, USB isn't possible at all. (I seem to recall a hack that made it work in 8.0, but I can't find any reference to it now, and I know it won't work in 7.x.)
USB 2.0 "High Speed" will only be possible in OS X 10.2 or higher. (I think it's 10.2.6 specifically, but I might be wrong on that one, and it's even possible that there is a hack that lets it work in 10.1.) In OS X 10.0, 10.1 (from what I recall,) or OS 8.1 to 9.2.2, any USB card that works will operate at USB 1.1 "Low" or "Full" speed. Before OS 8.1, USB isn't possible at all. (I seem to recall a hack that made it work in 8.0, but I can't find any reference to it now, and I know it won't work in 7.x.)
USB 2.0 requires OS X 10.2.8.
I remember when I got an iPod Shuffle. I had installed a USB 2 card in my AIO, and now that I think back, I probably had one of the oldest supported computers to run that iPod. 
So if you were to even use a Linux/ppc distribution, you could theoretically get USB 2.0 working with a USB 2.0 card, no? I had wondered that myself.
I hear iTunes is requiring Tiger or Leopard now.I remember when I got an iPod Shuffle. I had installed a USB 2 card in my AIO, and now that I think back, I probably had one of the oldest supported computers to run that iPod.
iTunes still runs on 10.3, but all of the new iPods officially need 10.4... I'm not sure if that's true though, because my brother uses a new shuffle on 10.3 [I hear iTunes is requiring Tiger or Leopard now.I remember when I got an iPod Shuffle. I had installed a USB 2 card in my AIO, and now that I think back, I probably had one of the oldest supported computers to run that iPod.
] ]'>The current version of iTunes does, yes.I hear iTunes is requiring Tiger or Leopard now.I remember when I got an iPod Shuffle. I had installed a USB 2 card in my AIO, and now that I think back, I probably had one of the oldest supported computers to run that iPod.
/me rocks out with iTunes 2 under OS 9
I'm surprised you're still able to connect.The current version of iTunes does, yes.I hear iTunes is requiring Tiger or Leopard now.I remember when I got an iPod Shuffle. I had installed a USB 2 card in my AIO, and now that I think back, I probably had one of the oldest supported computers to run that iPod.
/me rocks out with iTunes 2 under OS 9
Connect to what? The iTunes Store wasn't added until version 4...
*beats you by rocking out with iTunes 1.1 under OS 8.6*/me rocks out with iTunes 2 under OS 9
haha! I win! SoundJam MP 1.0 on Mac OS 7.6.1!
I was waiting for someone to pull out the SoundJam card.
/me rocks out to the random crackling sounds coming from the speaker of his leaky-capacitor Classic
WHAT NOW
How about, Creative surround sounds on my classic.
Rocking out to the Apple II's wimpy click speaker beeps? :lol:/me rocks out to the random crackling sounds coming from the speaker of his leaky-capacitor Classic
WHAT NOW
Or, we can take that even further by rocking out to the complete, blissful silence created by the Apple I.
If we want actual music, then the Apple IIgs should be the earliest 'win'.
LOL/me rocks out to the random crackling sounds coming from the speaker of his leaky-capacitor Classic
WHAT NOW
I don't post very often anymore, but this made me laugh. Good one, MF17!
Peace,
Drew
Back in the sunset of OS 9, there was rumor that Orange Micro was going to come out with a USB 2 PCI card with drivers for OS 9. In fact, I swear I heard that there was a demo program of the card. So if you are lucky enough, you might be able to find the tech demo and actually get USB 2 on OS 9. This was about the same time that people were finding the NEC USB chipset on MDDs and thinking that Apple might introduce USB 2 on them in OS X.
Orange Micro did eventually release a USB 2 card for OS X, though.
Peace,
Drew
Orange Micro did eventually release a USB 2 card for OS X, though.
Peace,
Drew
You're not going to get USB under 7.6.1. In fact, I would recommend OS 8.6 *at least* to get USB. Earlier than that, it's rough finding drivers.
OS X 10.2.8 is required for USB 2.0 functionality. Any machine that can't run or be modified to run 10.2.8 can't use USB 2.0. If your machine has a 601 or 603 soldered to the motherboard, you're not going to be lucky. XPostfacto generally won't install OS X on those. If your CPU is upgradeable, (on a card) you may get it to work, but no guarantees especially where clones are concerned.
USB 2 seems not to be a viable option on old world PowerMacs, as it is not on 68k Macs. But why would one want to use USB on an old machine? Flash memory is the reason, isn't it? Like digital photos, rugged and small removable media, compatibility with recent media to be shared with recent computers and peripherals. All those benefits are available, using recent flash memory with appropriate adapters. Think of a CF card or SD card from your digital camera, SDHC if you want. Any number of card readers and USB adapters is available for recent computers. And a few adapters for classic Macs are available, still. If you are interested in solutions, browse the 68kMLA Wiki.
A good point to start might be http://68kmla.org/wiki/Using_flash_memory.
Please do not forget to contribute results for your own setup on the page http://68kmla.org/wiki/Flash_Drive_Test_Results
A good point to start might be http://68kmla.org/wiki/Using_flash_memory.
Please do not forget to contribute results for your own setup on the page http://68kmla.org/wiki/Flash_Drive_Test_Results
That´s absolutely nuts. Why do we allow Apple to force us leaving our well working systems (like PPC, OS9 or even 68k)
Amiga people heave their USB since years. Also the Atari community was able to get USB 2.0 working at 68k - so where are the coders? Or maybe we should start collecting for USB 2.0 driver development.
http://hardware.atari.org/netusbee/netus.htm
http://nature.atari.org/
They aren't forcing you to do anything.
However your need has changed.
But I've been using this hammer for 40 years and now it can't use USB? How dare Spear and Jackson force me to stop using this hammer.