New Apple G5 -- PCI+PCI-X !!

Post by **hubird** » Thu Jun 10, 2004 8:04 pm

http://www.apple.com/powermac/
great news, you can customize the new machine, concerning the PCI/PCI-X slots

Nice benchmarks I've seen here, made with Photoshop.

About the PCI(-X) issue:

PCI and PCI-X cards enable the Power Mac G5 to perform specialized tasks, such as video acceleration and audio digital signal processing (DSP). PCI-X supports 3.3V signaling and Universal 33MHz and 66MHz PCI cards. Your built-to-order Power Mac G5 system can be configured with PCI or PCI-X expansion technology. Three 64-bit PCI-X slots let you add one card running at 133MHz and two cards running at 100MHz. Three 64-bit PCI slots allow you to add three 33MHz cards.

Meaning: the Creamware cards fit the G5 without any hardware problem, you'll just miss some buss velocity (am I saying this right

).

I consider this as very very good news, it might give Wsippel and friends an extra motivation to do the great job!

A minus point is that Apple seems to stay with a dual processor setup.
Does Cubase SX support that?
My Cubase 5.0 not at least.
I'd have preferred a single 2 or 3 gig processor, but they seem to have lost that struggle.

Anyway, things did move at least

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Let There Be Music!

[ This Message was edited by: hubird on 2004-06-10 21:06 ]

next to nothing · Post by **next to nothing** » Thu Jun 10, 2004 9:10 pm

another issue here is the actual size of scope cards... are the scope's dimensions ok with the case layout?

Post by **hubird** » Thu Jun 10, 2004 10:43 pm

dunno, I have new hope there's more room now

Post by **garyb** » Thu Jun 10, 2004 11:18 pm

from the g5 manual:
1The PCI slots can accommodate mixed-voltage (5.0 V, 12 V, or 3.3 V) cards, but only at 3.3 V signaling, with 32-bit or
64-bit data widths and a 33 MHz frequency. You can add a 66 MHz card to a 33 MHz PCI slot if the card can operate
at the lower 33 MHz rate.

yay!

Shayne White · Post by **Shayne White** » Fri Jun 11, 2004 12:43 am

What does "only at 3.3v signaling" mean? Does the actual PCI slot have the notch in the correct place for Scope?

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[ This Message was edited by: Shayne White on 2004-06-11 01:43 ]

Post by **garyb** » Fri Jun 11, 2004 1:05 am

indeed.

valis · Post by **valis** » Fri Jun 11, 2004 1:21 am

Are you sure things have changed?

The last G5 series had PCI-X in the top 2 speed models and PCI in the bottom model, it looks to me like they're just giving the option of using either PCI-X or PCI across the whole line now, your choice.

Creamware cards require 5v signalling and as the specs say their PCI slots only supply 3.3v signalling, presumably because the PCI & PCI-X setups differ only by the slots and what controller they are attached to. Mixed signalling cards support both +3.3 V, +5 V, or 3.3/5.0 V mixed-voltage operation and hence would work with 3.3v, Creamware cards only support 5v and hence not mixed signalling.

I hope I'm not correct but I would bet they haven't changed the voltage support.

samplaire · Post by **samplaire** » Fri Jun 11, 2004 3:20 am

On 2004-06-10 21:04, hubird wrote:
A minus point is that Apple seems to stay with a dual processor setup.
Does Cubase SX support that?

According to Cubase hw requirements the SX supports dual processors and such systems are recommended.

Great news about the move backwards (I mean compatibility with old PCI cards). I hope it's true. Somebody have to confirm that.

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Sir samplaire scopernicus

[ This Message was edited by: samplaire on 2004-06-11 04:21 ]

Post by **hubird** » Fri Jun 11, 2004 6:38 am

Could be I was wrong and the voltage problem still is there, sorry for too fast optimism.
thanks Samplaire, good to know that Cubase SX supports dual processing

Shayne White · Post by **Shayne White** » Fri Jun 11, 2004 10:46 am

From what I could read I also think the G5s without PCI-X are only 3.3v.

Post by **hubird** » Fri Jun 11, 2004 5:40 pm

scary808 · Post by **scary808** » Fri Jun 11, 2004 6:26 pm

On 2004-06-10 22:10, piddi wrote:
another issue here is the actual size of scope cards... are the scope's dimensions ok with the case layout?

I'm sure thats not an issue at all. Have you ever seen one of Digi's cards? Those are quite large as well...

Post by **hubird** » Fri Jun 11, 2004 6:48 pm

it were the STDM cabelplugs that were in the way of the trafo I guess.
If you have more than one card...

bassdude · Post by **bassdude** » Sun Jun 13, 2004 6:34 am

Before CWA took over, I remember reading CW were looking at a mod to get their cards down to 3.3v. From this I concluded that the cards themselves would be quite happy to run at 3.3v but it would mean hardware mod of some sort. I wonder if this is possible at all?

astroman · Post by **astroman** » Sun Jun 13, 2004 8:32 am

I assume Valis has some insights that the cards rely on 5V signaling, which means the data level (at least of some signals) is at 5V.
The Sharcs themselves are 3.3 V chips but there's more on board than just the DSPs.

If 5V would only be required as supply voltage for op-amps and converters it would in fact be imaginable to 'modify' a card.
As long as it's unclear what signals are what level it's all speculation.

imho people really needing the power of a G5 wouldn't bother at all about the current situation (which I consider unpleasant, too).
A couple of (SFP)dedicated G4s running OS9 connect via Adat does the job. In pro environments (specially Mac) it's not unwelcome to 'use up' retired machines that way...
and since I'm talking business here: a 2nd hand machine (bought with proper bill) is virtually free of charge because it reduces the tax fee one would have to pay anyway.
It is filed under 'common costs' and not under investment

cheers, Tom

valis · Post by **valis** » Sun Jun 13, 2004 9:13 am

http://www.planetz.com/forums/viewtopic ... 1&forum=19

melenko · Post by **melenko** » Thu Jun 24, 2004 12:17 pm

great!!!
but how far are Whispel and the developers under
osx?
the new os is now(in a few days or weeks) "Tiger"!!