HELP: USB 3.0 ExpressCard not working on MacBook Pro with 10.13.6

[JaesonK]

My old USB 3.0 ExpressCard died. I'm not sure what chip it used. The card was labelled NanoTech ExpressCard/34 USB3.0. It worked perfectly, until it didn't.

I'm trying to use a replacement, but performance of my external USB3 RAID (OWC Mercury Elite Dual) is extremely slow. It's unusable with the new card at the moment. The RAID is faster on the USB2 now. No errors reported with the RAID. I tried a new USB3 cable too. The USB3 card is labelled AKE 2 Port USB 3.0 expressCard and says NEC UPD720202 Chip.

My 17" MacBook Pro is a late 2011 model with 16GB and running High Sierra 10.13.6.

System Report USB says:

USB 3.0 Bus:

Host Controller Driver: AppleUSBXHCIPCI
PCI Device ID: 0x0015
PCI Revision ID: 0x0002
PCI Vendor ID: 0x1912

System Report PCI says:

ExpressCard:

Type: USB eXtensible Host Controller
Driver Installed: Yes
MSI: Yes
Bus: PCI
Slot: ExpressCard
Vendor ID: 0x1912
Device ID: 0x0015
Subsystem Vendor ID: 0x1912
Subsystem ID: 0x0015
Revision ID: 0x0002
Link Width: x1
Link Speed: 5.0 GT/s

Is there some kind of conflict? Do I need a different driver? If so, where can I find it and how do I install it?

 

[Edhawk]

Yes there is a conflict, macOS doesn’t work with Renesas based USB chipsets. You need to use a card with an Intel, ASMedia or Fresco Logic chip, which are compatible with macOS. There are no native USB kexts that work with the Renesas card.

Provide a link to the Renesas (NEC) card you are currently using and someone might be able to provide a link to a card that will work in macOS.

 

[Edhawk]

A card like this should work, as it uses a compatible Fresco Logic (FL1100) chip.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/326947914360?

 

[JaesonK]

Thank you for the suggestions! I'll look for a card with the appropriate chips.

Until I get a compatible replacement card, I can use FW800 with my MacBook Pro and the OWC RAID, it has USB3 & FW800.

FYI, my 2011 MacBook Pro can only use the narrower 34mm size card, restricting it to 2 ports, rather than the wider 3 port version in the ebay link.

Thanks again!

 

[Edhawk]

Firewire may be your best option in the long run, as I can't find a compatible USB3.0 34mm Express Card. They all seem to use NEC/Renesas chips.

 

[Edhawk]

This offer on eBay may be the answer to your needs, it is for a 2 port 34mm Express card that uses the Fresco Logic FL1100 chip.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/298372357506?_skw=34mm+expresscard+2+ports+usb3+FL1100+chip&itmmeta=01KVJNC31179CR92KW47APZTW3&hash=item457860dd82:g:zogAAeSwbGpqGFQ-

 

[JaesonK]

Thanks. I saved it to my watch list for consideration, but shipping to the USA from Europe has been complicated by trump tariffs. Some aren't shipping to the USA at all. If I look at this seller's listing on the UK ebay, it says "Doesn't post to United States." If I look at the same seller & item from the USA ebay, it doesn't say they won't ship to the USA, but adds "Due to US customs policies, the buyer of this item will need to pay import fees to the shipping carrier prior to delivery." Sometimes the tariff is more than the cost of the item, sometimes not. It's a guessing game that keeps changing, and you don't know until the item reaches the USA what extra fee might be applied. It's become a real PITA.