[mythtv-users] OT: PCI slots: 64 bit slots on Dell PowerEdge

[James Pifer]

Then I may be ok. Just happens that two PCI cards I looked at first are
not universal (one is a sound card). My FX5200 and two of my tuners are
still in my original backend and currently running. My third tuner is
still in the box... Hopefully they are indeed all universal!

Anyone know about USB sound? I could save a PCI slot there. Being a
server this mobo does not have built in sound. I see little USB keyfob
type devices on ebay for about $10. Not sure if they work with
Linux(fc5). I'm not looking for high performance on the sound. Just good
enough for TV.

Thanks,
James

On Tue, 2006-10-03 at 15:39 -0400, Aaron Howard wrote:
> On 10/3/06, James Pifer <jep at obrien-pifer.com> wrote:
> > I've been trying to get a frontend working well with TVOut. I bought a
> > PCI FX5200 that I've been trying to run in a box with Athlon 1400+
> > processor. (I've tried a lot of things, see previous posts about
> > horsepower)
> >
> > I have another box that I decided to try and use. I moved all of the
> > stuff it was running to another box to free it up. It's a Dual Xeon 1.8
> > ghz machine. That's got to have plenty to do this. (no HD)
> >
> > Problem is the PCI slots. It has:
> > two 32-bit 33MHz PCI slots
> > two 64-bit 66MHz PCI slots
> > two 64-bit 100MHz PCI-X slots
> >
> > Is there any way I can I use the 64 bit slots with regular PCI cards?
> > Maybe some kinf of riser or something? Currently the cards do not fit. I
> > have 3 tuners, plus the PCI FX5200. I'd be willing to trade up the video
> > card to something that would work, but all I can find are PCI-Express,
> > which to my understanding are different.
> >
> > Do I have any options?
> >
> 
> Well, let's see.  PCI-X is an extension to PCI.  Any PCI 2.2
> *universal* card should work in it.  Same thing w/ the 64-bit slots.
> A 64-bit PCI slot will accept a 32-bit card.  It just downgrades the
> bus to work at 32-bits.
> 
> A lot of tuner cards I've seen are 5V PCI, non-universal cards.  Same
> with PCI VGA cards.  (PCI-X is 3.3v only, whereas the PCI itself
> allowed for 5V or 3.3V cards...so universal cards...or cards designed
> to work at either voltage, will work.)
> 
> PCI Express is a complete redesign and shares only the "PCI" part in name.
> 
> If you look closely at the bottom of a PCI card, and see a notch
> towards the front of the card (take a look at:
> http://www.hauppauge.com/images/pvr500mce_board-b.jpg for instance) it
> is keyed to be a universal card and should work in a PCI-X slot.  The
> PCI-X bus that card is on, though will only run as fast as the slowest
> card.
> 
> Most newer PCI cards are universal cards, but not all.  From just a
> quick glance, it looks like the Hauppage PVR cars are all universal
> nowadays.  Older revs may not be, though.
> 
> As for video cards, good luck.  Google for "PCI universal VGA card" maybe.
> 
> -Aaron
> 
> P.S. Anyone...please correct me if/when I'm wrong.
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