Expansion Chassis for Mac Pro?

[derF]

What's the best expansion chassis for a Mac Pro? Magma PE6R4? Bit confused as I need a PCIe to PCIe chassis to expand HD3 to HD5.

Thanks for any input

[crizdee]

What's the best expansion chassis for a Mac Pro? Magma PE6R4? Bit confused as I need a PCIe to PCIe chassis to expand HD3 to HD5.

Thanks for any input

Hi,

The PE6R4 is obviously no good for you as its for PCI.

This one is the closest...

http://www.magma.com/products/pciexp...ox7/index.html

ExpressBox7 can accommodate up to 7 PCI Express cards with a MacPro providing users with the capability to achieve full track counts in this configuration.
* Digidesign qualification pending

Chris

[soundboy35]

While we're on the subject, we have a client that needs an HD7, which this would take care of.
2 questions:

Can you connect a PCIe computer with a PCIe host card to a PCI-X chassis using PCI-X Accel cards?

Can you use a second Core card as an Accel card, in addition to other Accel cards for extra DSP?

Thanks,

[crizdee]

Can you connect a PCIe computer with a PCIe host card to a PCI-X chassis using PCI-X Accel cards?

Can you use a second Core card as an Accel card, in addition to other Accel cards for extra DSP?

Thanks,

First question: Yes, that is what the Magma PE6r4 is made to do, connect a PCIe computer to a chassis housing PCIx cards. you will have a max of HD 6, core card and any combination of 5 accel or process cards.

Second question: yes i believe you can use a core card as an accel process card! (But why would you use a $8000 card to do what a $3000 card can do!!)

I think the only way to get above HD6 is to use PCIe cards and use the Magma express7 chassis, PCIe cumputer to PCIe chassis/cards. though not sure if this chassis has been qualified by Digi yet. But don't quote me as there might be an older chassis that supports more than 6 cards, so i guess it depends on your computer/Mac OS/PCI card type etc.

Chris

[Craig F]

PCIe is not supported beyond a 3 card system, no PCIe chassis is currently supported

PCI/PCI-X core cards do not have Accel chips, only PCIe core's have Accel chips

white paper PCI vs. PCIe

[soundboy35]

So you can't have more than an HD3 using PCIe cards??
What do people do in a case like ours, where
the user wants a PCI-e computer with an expansion chassis?
I personally think a PCI-X G5 with 6-7 Accel cards
is a mighty powerful system, but...

[AINSLIE]

MacPro + Magma Chassis + PCI HD system. Runs great, goes up to 6 cards and mentioned. This is my setup. PCI systeems are available new still for this exact reason - users who need an expanded system. Personally I wouldn't go back to a G5 if you paid me too ...

Ainslie

[soundboy35]

MacPro + Magma Chassis + PCI HD system. Runs great, goes up to 6 cards and mentioned. This is my setup. PCI systeems are available new still for this exact reason - users who need an expanded system. Personally I wouldn't go back to a G5 if you paid me too ...

Ainslie

Not really sure what you're saying here. Mac Pro is PCI-e.
Are you running a PCI-e expansion chassis or a PCI-X expansion with those 6 cards??

[blastula]

I think the Magma website makes things pretty clear...
But yes, they make chassis' that have PCI slots but can plug into a PCI-e computer using a specific PCI-e "host card".

I believe that the SBS unit is also an option
http://www.gefanucembedded.com/products/774

- rob

[crizdee]

I think the Magma website makes things pretty clear...
But yes, they make chassis' that have PCI slots but can plug into a PCI-e computer using a specific PCI-e "host card".

I believe that the SBS unit is also an option
http://www.gefanucembedded.com/products/774

- rob

Hi,

This one the PE6R4 seems the best bet. has the best latency of all the chassis's so far and it seems to be tested with pro tools.....

http://www.magma.com/products/pci/PE6R4/index.html

For Digidesign Pro Tools:

If you’re looking to build the most powerful Pro Tools|HD® system or want to move your existing Pro Tools|HD for PCI system to a host computer with PCIe (PCI Express) slots, the Magma PE6R4 Expansion Chassis allows you to do both. This 4U rackmountable system offers six available PCI-X (PCI Extended) slots and comes with a PCIe host interface card, enabling you to expand the capabilities of a PCIe-based computer to accommodate a PCI-based Pro Tools|HD system (PCI-X supports PCI cards).


4U rack-mount all steel enclosure

PCIe host interface card (x4)

Six PCI-X slots (64-bit/66 MHz)

Fan provides optimal cooling within the ventilated enclosure

Two 1-meter, high-speed InfiniBand cables and power supply included

Supports Apple’s Mac Pro; Windows support coming soon
The Magma PE6R4 Expansion Chassis sports an all steel, ventilated enclosure and comes with a PCIe host interface card, high-speed InfiniBand cables, and power supply. The 4U enclosure features six easy-to-access PCI-X slots that can be used to accommodate up to six Pro Tools® PCI-based HD Core, HD Accel, and HD Process cards. And thanks to the internal fan, your cards will stay nice and cool — even when your sessions heat up.

To use the Magma chassis, you will need Pro Tools HD 7.3.1cs1 software or higher (not included). If you have Pro Tools HD 7.3.x software, download and install the Pro Tools HD 7.3.1cs1 software update to use with the Magma chassis.