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I have read that PCI-e 8X cards can operate in 16X slots. If one was to stream audio to and from external eSATA drives, would this pose any problems?

I can't find any information on this after reading a few White Paper documents on eSATA, PCI-e, etc.

Obviously one can't run a 16X card on an 8X slot, but 16X is twice the lanes, and basically the same connector.

I'm looking at a 1 x PCI-e 1X, 1 x PCI 32bit, and 2 x PCI-e 16X mATX board from DFI, the LANPARTY JR P45-T2RS. It's a gamers dream when running a dual 16X GPU config, but that feature is unecessary for my needs, and I would use 1 of the 16X's for the eSATA 4 port 8X card, and the other for my eVGA PCI-e 16X video card.

Any Help Appreciated, Thanks.

JV

XITE-1/4LIVE wrote:I have read that PCI-e 8X cards can operate in 16X slots. If one was to stream audio to and from external eSATA drives, would this pose any problems?

this can't be answered generally. my workmate put up the same question recently. he wanted to run a 3ware raid controller (PCIe x4) in the unused x16 slot (runs as a server, so pci gfx is sufficient). the controller manufacturer said: yes it's supported from our side, but there is the slight possibility that the board manufacturer limits the x16 slot for PEG only. intel then confirmed that the x16 slot on the DP965LT isn't limited that way, so we should check back with the controller manufacturer...

finally all went fine, the x4 card runs properly in the x16 slot. although that should be fine in most cases it doesn't hurt to ask before buying...

-greetings, markus-

Danke Bruder-Mann Kylie.

DFI states that it can disable the dual 16X slots to work independantly in 16X / 8X operation, and Silicon Image, the manufacturer of the controller card says it is compatible.

It's a 4 Port eSATA controller card for an external rack of HDD's. I will be taking the HDD's out of the chassis this time around by using the eSATA 3GB protcol. I have come to the conclusion that using an onboard graphics controller, eSATA connector, or generic RAID configs only clogs up the pipes and steals valuable resources.

This will be my last mechanical HDD configuration, as Intel has demo'd it's first SSD products at Cebit 2008. They will use their own silicon and controller chips and SSD's in large capacities will be available to the public by early 2009. Which means they will cause market prices to drop and products to mature by 2010. Great news for audio guys. One advantage is that their products will be SATA II and eSATA compliant, so any config using 3.5" bays will be migratory.

Their notebook 2.5" sized drives look to be spectacular also.

XITE-1/4LIVE wrote:DFI states that it can disable the dual 16X slots to work independantly in 16X / 8X operation, and Silicon Image, the manufacturer of the controller card says it is compatible.

although one would have expected this information from a brand manufacturer, it was still a good idea to check.
fine, then, put it together and rock on

I have managed to downsize and redo my 28U racks into a single 8U SKB Shock Rack by using both sides of the rack, and ridding myself of anything larger than 10 inches in depth. My 3U 6 inch deep analog synth is perfect for this. I have even ported a hole to line up w/ the 8U LCD's workstation outtake fan.

I save 30-40 USD per week bribing Valet sttendants to guard my vehicle as I used a large dolley / cart truck, and had to make 2 trips. Now, I can do everything including the sound system in one trip.

I always have used flight cases etc. as I do reunion tours occasionally and become spoiled by a road crew all over again. When I go back to carrying my own shit, and having to do it twice a night, it sucks. I should be chasing fine trim in the audience instead of Packin' & Stackin'.

Just found out about a Crossfire mobo. I would force my 16X eVGA into an 8 lane config, which might or might not work.

To play it safe I will use a PCI eSATA controller card that operates at 1.5G instead of 3G's on the PCI-e slot. If I was running a 5 x card RAID 0 array I might hit 230 MB's of Reads, but a dual RAID 1 array that I will run is for redundancy of VDAT tracks live, so speed won't be an issue, but rather stabilty.

One can learn alot about motherboards and software from a Video GuRu.

there's no problem there.

the graphics card will work pretty much the same at 8x from what i can see. it's an nvidia card, no? the nvidia cards run very well in 8x slots according to the internet.

using the pci slot will probably work fine, too...

Right-O,...........Thanks 4 Confirming That.

I did come up w/ an older mature, and half the price PCI 32bit solution. One nice thing I like about new standards, especially like the 3GB myth, it causes older proven technology to drop their prices by 40% !

I can have the PCI controller card w/ 4 x eSATA ports, and the eSATA w/ 4 x I Type eSATA connectors for 200 USD !!...................Sold. The PCI-e 8X and 4 x HDD rack was 475 USD. No way, Jose.

The P45 ATX version of the DFI, and it's little mATX brother are the boards to beat. Even Foxconn and Abit are using some of DFI's BIOS tricks, and capacitor selections. Even the horizontal SATA connectors, which I won't need, are so well laid out.

This little warrior has no eSATA connector, which means less junk clogging up the pipes, and the P45 can handle 12 x USB ports running...perfect for controllers, dongles, Blue Ray USB DVD's, etc.

Tahoe In September Cheif !!

I have only one guy from extremsystems.org who can bench audio apps for me, but this freak runs this board w/ a + 2000MHz FSB and 4.5GHz on the E8500.

He just does remixes and uses no synths, but claims that Sonar 5.0 can have a ridiculous amount of reverb, delays and CPU hungry Sonalksiss stuff running. Twice the amount of his former Q6600 / P35 Gigabyte ATX board.

I wish someone had Scope and a DFI P45 to bench with.

I am too busy to be depressed about XITE-1's delayed release, but I think we all know that it will be the best DSP synth rack ever made, and will put SC so far ahead in terms of raw power, that nobody will dare attempt to make a similar product, except on a White Paper release, or as a recording app. only.

We should be proud of their hard work, and now that Assaf and Holger had a couple of tippers online together, we can envision " Massive Flexor III " patches working simultaneously making synths, processing vocals and controlling household appliances.