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Decklink Extreme PCI and G5 help please?
Hi all,
I’m actually an audio guy, but am looking at setting up a basic Final Cut system at my studio for editing SD material. (Final Cut 6 on OS 10.4) I’ve been running a Decklink Extreme PCI card (not PCIe) with Adobe Premeire, but want to move it into an older G5 (still to buy). I’ve found these statements on Black Magic’s website, and am curious if anyone has been able to stably run a Black Magic regular PCI card on a G5?
“PowerMac G5’s with 33 MHz PCI slots should not be used with DeckLink cards. Please review the latest compatibility information regarding G5’s with 33 MHz PCI slots.”
If interested–this is the full link explaining which G5’s do NOT work:
https://www.blackmagic-design.com/support/detail.asp?techID=76
“In summary, none of the PowerMac G5’s, with 33 MHz PCI slots, should be used with DeckLink cards at this time. Hopefully this advisory will change in the future if Apple are able to resolve the issues with the PCI slots.”
From their info, I’m understanding that Decklink PCI cards aren’t compatible with G5’s. Only the PCIe versions work? I’m assuming I should just buy a PCIe card instead of trying to find a G5 that will work around my existing card. Has anyone gotten a Decklink Extreme or similar BM PCI card to work on a G5 without the problems blackmagic lists?
Thanks a ton!
Matt
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4 Replies
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Hi Matt,
If you have a DeckLink Extreme PCI card, you can use it in a G5 which has PCI-X slots. It was only the base model G5 in each series of G5 which has the problematic PCI slots.
Regards,
Luke Maslen
Blackmagic Design -
Hi Luke-
Thank you for your response. So if I stick to one of the macs listed here that have PCI-X slots, I should be okay with the standard PCI card? I assumed that I’d have to have the PCIe card to work in a PCI-X slot?
Thanks so much,
Matt
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Hi Matt,
Any of the PCI-X Macs listed at the link you provided would perfect for use with your DeckLink Extreme PCI card. In fact, the card will operate at its full speed of 66 Mhz when placed in a PCI-X slot. It only runs at 33 MHz when used in a traditional PCI slot. PCI-X slots have more bandwidth available so your DeckLink Extreme card will take advantage of the extra bandwidth and run at 66 MHz.
PCIe is different to, and incompatible with, PCI-X. The size of the slots for PCI-X cards is physically different to those for PCIe cards. So while PCI-X slots provide backward compatibility for the use of (most) older PCI cards, PCI Express (PCIe) is quite different and you must use PCIe cards in PCIe slots.
The last generation of G5’s had PCIe slots and all Mac Pro’s have PCIe slots.
In your case, you can use any of the PCI-X G5’s listed in your link.
Regards,
Luke Maslen
Blackmagic Design -
wonderful! thanks a ton Luke-
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