-
OT – Filling last PCI-X slot?
As noted in the subject line this is somewhat off-topic. I have a MacPro Octocore with one expansion slot remaining. (The other slots are filled with Kona 3, RAID controller, and ATI X1900 graphics card.) I’d like to install a Firewire 800 expansion card into the remaining open slot (#2).
Question 1: Should I expect any heat issues due to filling that last spot (especially right next to the ATI card which requires its own fan)?
Question #2: Instead of installing more firewire ports on the computer this way, is it just as effective — or perhaps preferable — to buy an external firewire 800 patch panel and plug that into one of the Octocore’s FW800 slots? Will I get the same speed for all connected devices as I would get from the card? (Going with an outboard device also will leave that slot #2 open for possible future use.)
Thanks for any advice on these OT questions.
-
7 Replies
-
MacPros are PCIe all the way… not PCIx
David Roth Weiss
Director/Editor
David Weiss Productions, Inc.
Los AngelesPOST-PRODUCTION WITHOUT THE USUAL INSANITY ™
A forum host of Creative COW’s Apple Final Cut Pro, Business & Marketing, and Indie Film & Documentary forums.
-
I know. My typo. I think the word “Express” and I write an “X.” Recognizing that error, does anyone have any advice on my questions?
Thanks.
-
I haven’t heard of anyone having problems with head by having a fully populated bus. You would see better performance by installing another FW800 card than using all of the drives on the same bus. FW800 tops out pretty quickly if you’re doing quite a bit of stuff on it.
-Russ
Russell Lasson
Kaleidoscope Pictures
Provo, UT -
Thanks very much, Russ. I don’t have much experience with daisy-chained Firewire drives so my inclination was to buy an expansion card. I appreciate your advice on that.
Ron
-
Ron,
Firewire is just pitiful compared to the SATA solutions out there. I’ve been saying for years that a dollar spent moving further down the firewire path is a dollar mispent. Get yourself a SATA controller card and move away from the hazzards and slow performance of firewire.
David Roth Weiss
Director/Editor
David Weiss Productions, Inc.
Los AngelesPOST-PRODUCTION WITHOUT THE USUAL INSANITY ™
A forum host of Creative COW’s Apple Final Cut Pro, Business & Marketing, and Indie Film & Documentary forums.
-
Hi David,
These are utility Firewire drives I’m working with for backup, storage, etc. I’ve already spent plenty of money on my MaxxDigital 6 TB RAID 5 array. Lemme keep a couple Firewire 800s!
Ron
-
Ooops!!! Excuse me, you already seem to be in agreement with me when I say, “firewire is great for backups and transporting between facilities, but that’s about all…”
David Roth Weiss
Director/Editor
David Weiss Productions, Inc.
Los AngelesPOST-PRODUCTION WITHOUT THE USUAL INSANITY ™
A forum host of Creative COW’s Apple Final Cut Pro, Business & Marketing, and Indie Film & Documentary forums.
Reply to this Discussion! Login or Sign Up