Startech PCIx to PCI adapter

[bosone]

did anyone tried this?

PEX1PCI1

maybe a solution to add a third card to motherboard with only 2 PCI slots?
what about PCI bandwidth perfomances?
it will need a PCI cable extension to work, anyway...

http://eu.startech.com/Cards-Adapters/S ... d~PEX1PCI1

manual:
http://tinyurl.com/77l2yrj

This PCIe to PCI Adapter Card lets you use low profile PCI expansion cards in a server or desktop motherboard PCI Express slot. Compliant with PCI Express Specification 1.0a and PCI Specification 2.2, the adapter card connects through a PCIe 1x slot to provide a low profile PCI slot in its place. A spare full size bracket for PCI Express card is also included for use in larger desktop or server PCI Express slots.

A versatile solution, the adapter card converts PCIe to PCI or PCI-X; a built-on LP4 power connector links the card to the computer power supply, allowing you to install universal voltage PCI cards (3.3V/5V).

The adapter card offers an economical solution that lets you extend the usability of older or extra PCI Bus cards in newer PCIe capable systems.

To ensure suitable installation in any low profile server or desktop computer, the PCIe/PCI adapter features an innovative bracket design that adapts and secures the low profile PCI or PCI-X card into the converted slot.
The StarTech.com Advantage
The unique bracket design allows a low profile/half-height PCI card to work seamlessly in a PCI Express-based expansion slot
Backed by a StarTech.com 2-year warranty and free lifetime technical support

[vascomusic]

Probably, convertion to PCI will result in extra latency, and thus different PCI timings compared to the other 2 native PCI slots.
Try this, for equal PCI latency on all 3 slots:
(but doesn't guarantee that, after convertion, overall PCI bandwidth will be sufficient for 3 SCOPE boards )



http://www.neutronet.com/prod.cfm/1114008/

[vascomusic]

About the PEX8111 Bridge: (chip on the PCIe-to-PCI riserboard as shown above)

The ExpressLane™ PEX 8111 is a high performance bridge designed to the PCI Express-to-PCI Bridge Specification 1.0, that enables designers to migrate legacy PCI bus interfaces to the new advanced serial PCI Express. This 2-port device is equipped with a single lane PCI Express port and a parallel bus segment supporting the conventional PCI operation. The PEX 8111 is capable of operating in forward and reverse bridging modes. The PEX 8111 is offered in a 10 x 10mm 161-ball FPBGA or a 13 x 13mm 144-ball PBGA. This device is available in leaded and lead-free packaging.


I was looking for the PCI Express-to-PCI Bridge Specification 1.0 at http://www.pcisig.com/specifications/pciexpress/bridge/ but the (PDF) document seems to be accessible for members only


info: http://www.plxtech.com/products/expresslane/pex8111

more info: http://www.plxtech.com/download/file/592

Soundcard application: http://www.plxtech.com/files/pdf/apps/E ... _Audio.pdf

[next to nothing]

Why not just buy a motherboard with native PCI? I think that will save u a lot of hassle.

[vascomusic]

Why not just buy a motherboard with native PCI? I think that will save u a lot of hassle.

True, but depends on your needs/wishes regarding CPU socket and chipset.

If you want to run 3 PCI SCOPE boards, you'll probably end up with an Intel chipset (because of the PCI bandwidth).

For Intel socket 478, 775, 1155 and 1156 motherboards with 3 x PCI, there's plenty of choice.

If you want X58 chipset (socket 1366), only 3 motherboards have been released.
1 x Gigabyte only in Asia (not available)
2 x Asrock worldwide (available but rare)

For X79 chipset (socket 2011) there's no motherboard available (yet) with 3 x PCI...and likely won't ever be...

[bosone]

i asked them about the latency




Thank you for your inquiry! The card has bridge chips which will cause some delay in the communication between the PC and the card but we cannot provide a measurement in ms. Hope this helps!

If you have any further questions, please contact us.

[vascomusic]

that sucks...

Also, there's no information available about fixed or dynamic PCI Latency timer values (probably programmable in the PEX8111's optional EEPROM )

[ehasting]

Some am3 socket Cards offers 3 pci! I am using a board with 2 pci and getting max performance on my scope (pulsar2 +lunar2)

[peksi]

Common sense would tell that this solution is based on similar technology than those welded in motherboards. I suppose this thing has PCIe-PCI brigde and all the bad effects caused by it.

If a high performance PCI emulation could be achieved with just rewiring from PCIe when why all the mobo manufacturers haven't gone for it?

Only question that comes to mind is what bridge chip this thing actually has? I've heard that there are better bridge chips out there too...

Sorry for my pessimism