> > They have been designed from the start to be forward- and backward-
> compatible.
> > The 64-bit has a slot where the end of the 32-bit connector is located, and
> the
> > correct connector does not have a wide end. All the 32-bit connectors I've
> seen
> > have been the correct size (and I've seen a lot of them). A 64-bit PCI card
> in
> > a 32-bit slot steps down to 32-bit transfers. A 66MHz card in a 33MHz slot
> steps
> > down to 33MHz.
> >
> That wouldn't work too well when you need 99% of the bandwidth. The few 64-bit
> cards I've seen up close don't seem to have a wide enough slit to allow them to
> be plugged into a short PCI slot. The standard references to features such as
> this one seemed quite iffy. I wish I could justify a current copy of the
> standard. I just returned one to the local library, which had to get it on ILL.
If the 64-bit cards won't plug into a 32-bit slot then they aren't PCI. They
may look like PCI, and act like PCI, but if they don't follow the standard
they aren't PCI.
> Perhaps that one wasn't firewire, but it was ADAPTEC. The FC is what has me
> buzzed up right now and I've seen no 64-bit slots in motherboards offered
> recently. I hadn't even considered an Apple product, and it may take a while
> for me to accept that notion. I've certainly never seen a high-bandwidth card
> of any sort for sale that wasn't a 64-bit card. The abundance of 64-bit cards
> against the dearth of motherboards with 64-bit PCI slots is what I've been
> focusing on. Surely ADAPTEC and others are selling their products into
> something with full 64-bit capacity.
Look for boards with Serverworks or 760MP chipsets. I know Tyan, Asus, and
MSI have these boards. Get a Serverworks chipset if you want to use a PIII,
and a 760MP if you want an Athlon.
These are dual processor boards, but you don't have to populate both sockets
if you don't need two processors.
There are quite a few motherboards with 64-bit slots, and they've existed for
a while. I don't know why you haven't seen them.
> > > ALPHA boards aren't relevant any longer, are they?
> >
> > I think so. The Alpha will be around for a while, with EV7 on the way,
> despite
> > what some people think. Compaq announced the Alpha would be winding down, not
> > stopping dead in its tracks.
> >
> Yes, but they're controlled by someone else, now, and they're a fickle master.
> I'd put no faith in that statement at all.
>From my experience HP has a much better understanding of both the enterprise
computing market and the value of solid operating systems. For example, HP
is still supporting MPE, both with upgrades and new hardware.
--
Eric Dittman
dittman_at_dittman.net
Check out the DEC Enthusiasts Club at http://www.dittman.net/
Received on Sun Oct 28 2001 - 21:16:38 GMT