Super Micro P8SCT, does it work for SD PCI Decklink?

[Bj Ahlen]

I’m not BMD, but I have been using a Decklink Extreme for SD work with a SuperMicro P4SCT+II motherboard for two years with no problems.

The P8SCT looks like a Socket LGA775 successor to this board and should work fine.

BUT…

Why use a pokey P4 CPU even for SD work? Decklink has for example the Asus A8N32-SLI Deluxe on their approved list at https://www.decklink.com/support/detail.asp?techID=47#hd_mobo.

That board is approved both for SD and HD, and it can use dual core AMD X2 CPUs that are overall better (at the same or higher prices) than what Intel offers for the moment.

(Note that AMD is transitioning to the new AM2 socket, but the motherboards for these have never been tested with/by DL so it’s too early to buy, and they offer no benefit at all with less than 4800+ CPUs, and perhaps 10% with 4800+ and up.)

Perhaps you already have a PCI-X Decklink card? You have to consider whether to sell it and get the new PCI Express version of the same card, or just figure that your existing card should work just fine in a PCI slot on the ASUS board (or the SuperMicro board), as per https://www.decklink.com/products/sd/specs/.

I have just ordered this Asus motherboard ($185 online) and an AMD X2 4800+ ($530 on eBay) with Corsair XMS memory ($75/GB with 2GB matched sticks) to put into a very quiet Antec Sonata II case w/450W PSU ($90), and will test my Decklink Extreme “PCI-X” card in this asap.

Seems like it should work for SD just based on Decklink’s web site.

[Francisco Rubiales]

Hi B.J. Thanks for your reply.

I purchased a Decklink Extreme PCI-X about a year ago and I have not been able to set it up since. The problem (budget aside) is that it’s not so easy to find advanced equipment in Mexico, and order it to the States presents other little problems too (stupid taxes, etc).

I wanted to put my card in a P4 system because I have the chip, but I also purchased an A8N-SLI mb (not deluxe, but well…) and I will certainly follow your advise; I’ll buy an AMD 4200+ DUAL CORE chip and put my Decklink there.

Thanks again for your insights.

Greetings.

Francisco.