Multiple PCI bus motherboard

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TBass

Hi,

I have 4 PCI image capture cards that run at 60 frames/second, so only
two can go on any one PCI bus. We put 4 in one computer by using an
Intel Server Motherboard with a dual PCI bus, but that was 7 years ago,
and now that motherboard is toast. I need to get this system up and
running again quickly. Does anyone know of a motherboard with more than
one PCI bus that is readily available?

Thanks!
 
TBass said:
Hi,

I have 4 PCI image capture cards that run at 60 frames/second, so only
two can go on any one PCI bus. We put 4 in one computer by using an
Intel Server Motherboard with a dual PCI bus, but that was 7 years ago,
and now that motherboard is toast. I need to get this system up and
running again quickly. Does anyone know of a motherboard with more than
one PCI bus that is readily available?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

This page suggests you won't find systems with two PCI busses,
but may find products with a PCI bus and a PCI-X bus.

http://www.edt.com/recommended.html

One Southbridge chip which supports two busses, is the 6300ESB.
It would be found on some Intel processor based boards. (There
are certainly a ton of server boards that would do the job, but
would be even more obscure than the following suggestion.)

This board NCCH-DL, uses Xeon processors, and has
(2) 3.3V/64-bit/66MHz/PCI-X slots
(2) 5.0V/32-bit/33MHz/PCI slots

It is 12"x9.8" so close to ATX sized:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131064

You would need a Xeon processor, _unbuffered_ DDR memory with
or without ECC (not registered memory), an AGP video card (not
a 3.3V only video card - something AGP 8X rated is safe).

Supported processors (yes, you will need a comp-sci degree to
figure out what to buy):
http://support.asus.com.tw/cpusuppo...x?type=1&name=NCCH-DL&SLanguage=en-us&cache=1

Driver downloads and manuals can be found here (enter mobo name)
http://support.asus.com.tw/download/download.aspx

User manual:
http://dlsvr03.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb/Socket604/NCCH-DL/e1636_ncch-dl.pdf

Other details:
http://usa.asus.com/products4.aspx?l1=9&l2=39&l3=99&model=103&modelmenu=1

Best place to learn about this motherboard:

http://forums.2cpu.com/search.php
http://forums.2cpu.com/search.php?searchid=94274 (a search for NCCH-DL)
http://forums.2cpu.com/showthread.php?t=52272&highlight=ncch-dl

Note that, once you enter the "t=52272" official NCCH-DL thread,
you can use the "Search This Thread" menu item to search within
the thread.

For example, this item suggests checking the edge of your PCI capture
card, to see if it is a 5V only, or a universal 3.3V/5V card. If the
PCI cards are 5V only, they won't fit in the PCI-X slot. And that
would force you to look for a true dual-PCI based motherboard, which
might be harder to find.

http://forums.2cpu.com/showthread.php?p=475044&highlight=5v+pci#post475044

There is a large picture here:
http://www.gamepc.com/images/labs/rec-ncchdl-boardLG.jpg

Notice how there is a plastic "Key" near the faceplate end
of the PCI-X slot. I think that is the 3.3V key, and your
32 bit PCI card would need a slot cut to match that key.
If your PCI card is 5V only, it would have a slot
cut nearer the other end of the 32 bit section. Just like
there is a 5V key on the 32 bit slot... The 32 bit PCI
slot will accept a 5V only card or it would accept a
universal 3.3V/5V card (because that type would have both
slots cut), but would not take a 3.3V only card as far as I can
tell.

Anyway, I think you'll have a full day ahead of you :-)

Good luck,
Paul
 
I have only the back slot cut. Looks like I would only be able to use 2
of the PCI slots on this board.

The original was an Intel Server board, but those seem to strictly
order-only. I'm trying to see if I can find something more standard.
That first link you gave me, by the way, was a great help.

I'm trying to find something workstation-level that has 2 PCI 33mhz
slots and 2 PCI-X PCI slots, but thanks for pointing out the power
issue, since I might have fallen into that trap.

I just program the computers. I don't normally build them. :-)
 
TBass said:
Hi,

I have 4 PCI image capture cards that run at 60 frames/second, so only
two can go on any one PCI bus. We put 4 in one computer by using an
Intel Server Motherboard with a dual PCI bus, but that was 7 years ago,
and now that motherboard is toast. I need to get this system up and
running again quickly. Does anyone know of a motherboard with more than
one PCI bus that is readily available?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
Directron seems to sell server motherboards.

http://www.dark-circuit.com/directron/sorteditems/dualb.php

Take a look at the Intel
SE7525GP2 or SE7525RP2
 
TBass said:
Hi,

I have 4 PCI image capture cards that run at 60 frames/second, so only
two can go on any one PCI bus. We put 4 in one computer by using an
Intel Server Motherboard with a dual PCI bus, but that was 7 years
ago, and now that motherboard is toast. I need to get this system up
and running again quickly. Does anyone know of a motherboard with
more than one PCI bus that is readily available?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

How about one card that has 4 video inputs? I have one that is not 60 FPS
but I think there might be what you need available.
Ask here
http://www.cctvforum.com/index.php

CW
 
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