PlanetZ forums - scopeusers.com

Hy, I have finally got my first Pulsar 2 Card!
Now I have to get a PC, and have a few questions.
The Motherboard will have 4 PCI Slots, but no onboard graphic. So I will get a PCIe graphic card..
Will this graphic card make any problems with my Motherboard?

Motherboard: http://geizhals.at/a528332.html
Graphic card: http://geizhals.at/a611976.html

I ask this because the graphic card looks big and the PCI Slots are very near the PCIe Slot.
Thanks for all answers!

FWIW, that's an excellent Scope board, and the PCI-e 1X allows upgrading to newer Scope cards in the future. If the newer cards never materialize there's always the X-1/X-D 1U's that are a dream to use.
The Graphics card is the usual overkill with fins big enough for the card to swim to Iceland and back to Danzig.
I use a cheap ass 2D Graphics card for 40 USD and they work fine.
Your choice I am sure has it's benefits, but if the Scope card only works best on the 32bit slot sitting next to the Graphics card, all of those massive fins might pose a problem.

But the motherboard is very basic and that means 100% stability.

Congradualtions, you will now become a DSP addict for life.

ditto.

I kindly disagree... and at least the fins point in the proper direction.
On my GeForce 8400 (smallest one available) they are turned 90 degrees which effectively prevents any airflow from the inner part.
My guess would be that the first slot towards the PCIe16 is sharing with graphcard anyway (as was the case in some earlier designs). PCI slots always come in groups of 3, so that slot is probably for devices that just get powered by the slot or are totally passive, like connector plates.
Just guessing, tho... but looks a bit like a classic PCI revival at Intel ...

cheers, Tom

How can I find out if the PCI slot next to the PCIe16 works better for the Pulsar? Im a complete PC noob sorry...

you could look at the PDF information that's linked on the site you posted above...
but as you call yourself 'a complete noob' that's probably of few help.
I just had a peek and as far as I can tell (quick browsing) there's nothing mentioned about any priorities of slots or sharing, so I revoke my comment from above.

Anyway, the vertical photo in the documentation reveals enough space between the 16x slot and the first PCI slot.
If the fins get really close (unlikely) you could still insert some heat resistant plastic between the cooler and the card to prevent short circuits.
Btw on a 6, 14 or 15 DSP card there's no DSP in that area, as it's the space for the IO-plate.

cheers, Tom

Many thanks man!!
Will try this combination.
Cheers

I must concur, smarty pants is correct as usual.......
However I maintain the Graphics card should be the lowest power/cost peripherral in the system. A true audio DAW won't use the extra gadgetry on a gamer card.
I still have a graphics card AGP4x from Matrox in my oldest Gigastudio DAW and 8 years and it still runs just fine without the Nuclear Submarine architechture.....

Ankyu.......

smarty...
I have that same type of Matrox in my Tualation Scope box under flash disked Win98... a keeper
seems impossible to get such plain 2D stuff today. PC seller told me the M200 on recent Supermicro boards are a catastrophe in GUI experience - all his customers aquired an additional card...
But it would be interesting to get some facts how much influence current 'on-CPU-die' GPUs really have in the 2D domain. Will test it with the next CPU that's supposed to arrive here... but how ???

cheers, Tom