Adding a PCI slot?

Question

We recently purchased a Mac Mini to use as a dedicated computer for a microscope. It'll be connect to the camera and to the internet. We're replacing an old G3. And we're planning on simply using the mouse/keyboard/monitor that was existing in the lab.
When the Mini arrived, my excitement turned to disappointment when I realized the camera uses a PCI cable (the cable is labeled E89980-A). So I searched for adapters that would work to plug in the PCI cable into a USB or firewire slot. I found adapters that would work, but they are all advertised to be used for printers, not for cameras. Example.
I contacted the manufacturer, Diagnostic Instruments, and they told me that it is a proprietary PCI card and must be installed in the new computer.
Is there no other option? Would an adapter to USB card work? Do I need to buy a Mac with an slot for expansion?
I'm pretty embarrassed if that's the case because I am the one who did all the decision-making and convinced the boss to get a new computer.

Answer 1

Hello,
The cable you linked to on the Computer Geeks site is a USB to Parallel cable. That cable is going to be useful only for devices that are designed to plug into a parallel printer port.
The device you are trying to use comes with it's own PCI expansion card. The fact that it's connector may look like a printer port's connector is irrelevant.
If it requires that PCI expansion card to function, then you will have no choice but to buy a machine with a PCI expansion slot.
A parallel port / USB to Parallel cable will not provide you with the same function that the PCI controller they supply does.
And, there are no USB or FireWire to PCI expansion slot adapters available that I know of. The two designs are so dissimilar that it really isn't a practical product.
It would be technically possible. But, it would basically amount to an external case with slots and it's own controller. Then, a cable to connect it to the Mac. And, drivers to communicate with that external box that holds the card.
I am not aware of any such device that exists to run PCI slots off the USB or FireWire ports. But, if one did exist, it would likely be way out of your reasonable budget.
Additional expansion slot cabinets have been available for PC's for years. They function similar to how I described above. Except, that they plug directly into an existing ISA, PCI, etc. port inside the host computer. And, generally, they have sold in the $1000 to $5000 price range depending on the year and manufacturer.
Unfortunately, the new Macs are not shipping with standard PCI slots. The Mac Pro is the only model with Expansion Slots. And, they have newer PCI standards (PCI Express) that are evolutions of the PCI interface. But, you cannot simply plug a standard PCI card into them.
So, if this device is particularly important, I see your most viable options being:
1) Keep using the older machines for that task
2) Buy a newer Microscope that will interface with the FireWire ports.
I hope this helps.
Let us know if you have other questions.
P.S., if you'd like, go ahead and click the "Helpful" or "Solved" buttons on any of the posts / replies above if you feel they were helpful or adequately answered your question.