HD2 PCI on Mac G5 -or- Mac Pro ??

[Table Syrup Records]

Ok, so I need a Mac for a HD2 PCI setup

Obviously on the older PPC G5's I'll be stuck on 8.0 so that kinda sucks but might be a temporary solution......

Also... I am still unclear as to the significance of the PCI-X Architecture... so I don't know what that means for HD Cards vs those Macs (Is a HD PCI card PCI/PCI-X? Or are there PCI-X SPECIFIC cards???)

And... Are there early Intel Macs that were not Mac Pro's? Like a G5 Intel ??

And Finally, Are ALL Mac Pro's PCIe?

Ideally I'd like to find a Cheap'ish Quad Intel Mac with 3 full PCI slots so I could run a HD3 PCI (Core and Process) inside the machine.

Not sure if the Intel Macs have PCI.... If not, I suppose it makes the most sense to still buy the Intel Mac, and then run a PCIe to PCI Expansion Chassis???

If I am not mistaken, in order to run the latest revisions of PT you need to be Intel Based...??

Sorry Guys, I've got build experience with HD on Win but not on Mac.

I am ready to build an HD2 for the Basement build in the new house, but don't know exactly what to go with....

Your thoughts?

My main focus will be an eventual 48 I/O, and most my plugs will be Native.
Not a whole lot of VI work, as most my production is done outside the box on hardware.
I am almost positively bent on an Intel Mac in order to be current with PT and Waves Versions....
But also bent on PCI HD Cards due to cost.

So with those things in mind.....

[zodo]

PCI-X adds an extra set of pins, but it is backwards compatible with standard PCI cards. HD cards are PCI-X specifically.

All Intel Macs are 'Mac Pros'. G5 was the name of the PPC chip in older Power Macs.

All Mac Pros are PCI-e. Also, the very last generation G5s use PCI-e. You definitely won't be able to use PCI-X cards in any Intel Mac...a Magma PE6R4 Chassis is your only bet unless you crossgrade up to PCI-e cards. The chassis ain't cheap, unfortunately. There are chassis from other companies, but it sounds like none of them work properly.

Anything PT 8.0.3 and later requires an Intel Mac. If you're wanting to run any reasonable number of Native plugins, you'll want to go Intel. G5s are really only much use if you're going entirely TDM.

[formfunction]

Originally Posted by Shorty Emcee

I am almost positively bent on an Intel Mac in order to be current with PT and Waves Versions....
But also bent on PCI HD Cards due to cost.

Only way to do that is with Magma chassis... add over 2k to your overall cost. ff

[Table Syrup Records]

Right. Right. I see that.

I can get Magmas REALLY cheap tho. I can get a 6 or 7 slot PCIe to PCI/X for the neighborhood of $600 used in perfect condition

That being the case, and the goal being 48 I/O (Needing two cards) I think PCI is the way to go - card wise - for me, due to the financial end.
This is a money making sideline for me, not a full time gig.

Thanx.

I think that's the way to go: MacPro/Magma/HD2... keeps me current on the Software end until they drop support for non PCIe Accel cards.... I'm sure the EOL is coming for em.......