PCI-X Compatibility

[kcurry]

I was pretty excited about the high-end G5's, but now I'm a bit concerned about PCI-X. I checked ATTO's website and it looks like the UL3D isn't compatible with PCI-X. It appears as if there will be problems with quite a few PCI cards working in a PCI-X slot, even if they meet the specs, they are likely to require firmware updates. Does anyone know if the HD cards meet the specs? It looks like they have to be 3.3v PCI and they have to have the right style of connector (3 slits on the connector)...

Keys Curry

[Baba Omar Jun]

http://www.pcisig.com/data/specifica...cix_1066qa.pdf

[The Recordist]

7/2/03 FROM - http://www.xlr8yourmac.com/
ATTO Comments on PCI card Compatibility with G5 PCI-X models - I was out from about noon until late last night but had written ATTO yesterday to ask if they could clear up the confusion over compatibility with their PCI SCSI cards and the new G5 systems with PCI-X slots (the upper 2 models have PCI-X slots, the low-end version does not). Here's their reply on the 5V/3.3V confusion and notes on compatibility:

"Mike- We've also noticed that the number of questions regarding 3.3V versus 5V PCI signalling have increased dramatically over the past several months. Within the past 3 months, several Wintel machines have released that are 3.3V-only PCI-X. Now Apple has joined the 3.3V only fray with the introduction of the G5. ( 1.8GHz and dual 2GHz models, 1.6GHz model has only standard PCI 33MHz/64bit slots-Mike )

Two things need to be considered to determine compatibility: motherboard slot and adapter slot. Motherboard PCI slots will typically be either 5V or 3.3V and are keyed as such. Our adapters are keyed for 5V only or have Universal connectors. We do not have any cards that are keyed for 3.3V only, but in the future that may change. Currently, the ExpressPCI DC and PSC cards are keyed for 5V and will work in any 5V PCI slot. However, since the G5 is 3.3V only, these cards will not fit in that system.
Our Ultra3, Ultra320 and all Fibre Channel adapters use Universal PCI connectors. So, these will work in either 3.3V or 5V PCI slots (or PCI-X slots, too, which are typically 3.3V). All of these cards will work in the existing Mac systems or the new G5.

Peter J. Donnelly
Product Manager, Host Adapters
ATTO Technology, Inc.

(He later wrote )
I am planning on putting together a tech note and posting it to our web site to better explain what works with what, but hopefully my abridged answer below helps explain things. If not, please let me know and I'll try to clarify. Also, when we release the tech note, I'll let you know so that you can link to it, if you'd like."

[kcurry]

Yeah, ATTO's website makes it pretty clear that anything less than Ultra320 won't work in a G5 PCI-X slot. Sadly, Digidesign's SCSI|128 Kit is based on the Ultra160 card and will have to be junked if you go to the G5. Based on Digidesign's compatibility section of this website, they don't seem to show compatibility with Ultra320. So, it looks like right off the bat, I've got to get a new SCSI card if I want to use an SCSI drive with the G5. I was actually wondering about the specs on the HD Core and Process cards and whether these cards are going to run without problems in the PCI-X slots. Anyone know?

Keys Curry

[Mauro371]

Also, what about the PCI cards of Digi's expansion chassis? I have A Digi 7-slot chassis. Will I have to upgrade the PCI card?

Mauro

[digiengineer]

Originally posted by kcurry:
Yeah, ATTO's website makes it pretty clear that anything less than Ultra320 won't work in a G5 PCI-X slot.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">I would wait for ATTO to reconfirm this. In the post direct above kcurry, Peter Donnelly is quoted as saying:

Our Ultra3, Ultra320 and all Fibre Channel adapters use Universal PCI connectors. So, these will work in either 3.3V or 5V PCI slots (or PCI-X slots, too, which are typically 3.3V). All of these cards will work in the existing Mac systems or the new G5.

Peter J. Donnelly
Product Manager, Host Adapters
ATTO Technology, Inc.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Now, I've spoken with Peter before, the "Ultra3" adapters he's speaking about is the UL3S and UL3D (a.k.a. SCSI 128 Kit) cards. So my question is: which is the right information?

[dirosa]

and what about my MIX ++ system cards ??? will they run in the 3.3 V PCI X slots ?????
can we have an answer from digi on that please ?