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upgrading a Mac Pro for WiFi
#33339 03/08/15 12:36 AM
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jchuzi Online OP
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I plan on giving my 2007 Mac Pro to someone. It's possible that she will need to use WiFi rather than connect directly via Ethernet cable. Unfortunately, the Mac Pro does not have the Airport Extreme card that it needs. It is possible to buy a card but the installation looks to be daunting. I did come across a USB adapter but this looks too good to be true.

I have no experience with WiFi so I can't offer more advice. Opinions, anyone?


Jon

macOS 11.7.10, iMac Retina 5K 27-inch, late 2014, 3.5 GHz Intel Core i5, 1 TB fusion drive, 16 GB RAM, Epson SureColor P600, Photoshop CC, Lightroom CC, MS Office 365
Re: upgrading a Mac Pro for WiFi
jchuzi #33340 03/08/15 01:18 AM
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I can't help, but this may. (Cheaper, too..maybe.)


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Re: upgrading a Mac Pro for WiFi
artie505 #33341 03/08/15 09:35 AM
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jchuzi Online OP
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Thanks, Artie. The link in my original post points to that, but from OWC, not Amazon. As I said, it seems too good to be true so I need an opinion from someone with experience.


Jon

macOS 11.7.10, iMac Retina 5K 27-inch, late 2014, 3.5 GHz Intel Core i5, 1 TB fusion drive, 16 GB RAM, Epson SureColor P600, Photoshop CC, Lightroom CC, MS Office 365
Re: upgrading a Mac Pro for WiFi
jchuzi #33342 03/08/15 09:42 AM
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That's why I posted the link, Jon.

Although you'd have to sift through them, the Amazon page has got reviews from almost 4,000 users and answers to over 500 questions.


The new Great Equalizer is the SEND button.

In Memory of Harv: Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities. ~Voltaire
Re: upgrading a Mac Pro for WiFi
artie505 #33345 03/08/15 01:53 PM
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jchuzi Online OP
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Thanks for pointing out the reviews and questions. They were quite helpful and the device looks good. Plus, the price is right.


Jon

macOS 11.7.10, iMac Retina 5K 27-inch, late 2014, 3.5 GHz Intel Core i5, 1 TB fusion drive, 16 GB RAM, Epson SureColor P600, Photoshop CC, Lightroom CC, MS Office 365
Re: upgrading a Mac Pro for WiFi
jchuzi #33373 03/10/15 02:13 PM
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Originally Posted By: jchuzi
I plan on giving my 2007 Mac Pro to someone. It's possible that she will need to use WiFi rather than connect directly via Ethernet cable. Unfortunately, the Mac Pro does not have the Airport Extreme card that it needs.


Some models of mac pro shipped with airport capability but didn't have it. In other words they had the antennas and the connector on the mobo but didn't come with the card installed. For those models, you could purchase an "upgrade kit" from Apple. I got to install a few of them, but it was somewhat haphazard. Each model had a different kit, and they weren't interchangeable. Although the cards appeared identical, they used slightly different firmware specific to that model of mobo. (I missed the powermac g5's that could be upgraded with a standard G card...)

So the first check was to make sure it had the antennas installed. They were hidden, but you could spot the dangling end cables often tucked behind the mobo in the upper left corner, near a mini PCI sloth that had two screw hole posts near it where the card mounts. If you have that, you have to track down the correct card, and a pair of screws.

Considering the age, you're not going to get it directly from Apple. You'll have to go some other route, or perhaps salvage one from another machine. Finding those kits, even when they were supported, was surprisingly difficult. Good luck!


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Re: upgrading a Mac Pro for WiFi
Virtual1 #33376 03/10/15 03:56 PM
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jchuzi Online OP
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I decided not to tackle this by myself. (I looked at a youtube video showing the installation and it's more than I want to get involved with.) The recipient's boyfriend claims that he can solve the problem so I'll let him handle it. I spoke with an Apple tech support person who said that USB 2 wireless connectors had worked well for him. I passed this on to the recipient. We'll see...


Jon

macOS 11.7.10, iMac Retina 5K 27-inch, late 2014, 3.5 GHz Intel Core i5, 1 TB fusion drive, 16 GB RAM, Epson SureColor P600, Photoshop CC, Lightroom CC, MS Office 365

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