This is AWESOME | $290 4 Slot PCIe to PCI Expansion Chassis

[bayareajackson]

Anyone have a conclusion to this German find?

[bayareajackson]

Bump.

[crizdee]

Originally Posted by bayareajackson

Bump.

Yeah right

[Jantzen]

i'm about to try in a few days without the powermod....

I've only got HD1 though.

[Branko]

What about these?
http://www.cyclone.com/products/expa...s/600-2705.php

Any experience?

Branko

[Pete Gates]

Originally Posted by Branko

What about these?
http://www.cyclone.com/products/expa...s/600-2705.php

Interesting, they specifically mention Pro Tools:

Audio Processing: The difference between the 600-2704 and 600-2705 Systems

The 2704 and 2705 use the same expansion backplane and chassis, but differ only by the use of different Host Bus to Expansion Cable technology. The 2704 uses the switch based PCIe-408 HBA while the 2705 uses the repeater based PCIe-409 HBA. The repeater based technology use on the PCIe-409 (and 2705 system) shows slightly better performance (8-11% better reads for small packet sizes, unchanged on writes) but is unable to be downshifted into a smaller lane width - it requires a fully routed x8 slot. The PCIe-408 is slightly slower but can be down-shifted to a x4 lane width.

We developed a the repeater based technology to shave system latencies in small packet, latency dependent systems like audio and video processing. Consequently, the 600-2705 is the recommended choice for use with ProTools and Universal Audio and other audio processing applications.

Pete

[bayareajackson]

Originally Posted by Jantzen

i'm about to try in a few days without the powermod....

I've only got HD1 though.

Jantzen- Any success?

[Ozzie]

http://www.virtuavia.eu/shop/full-pa...-atx-case.html

It now works with the new improved power supply.

[HearInc]

Originally Posted by Ozzie

http://www.virtuavia.eu/shop/full-pa...-atx-case.html

It now works with the new improved power supply.

That looks like the card bus version... but do we think this PCIe to PCI one works with HD3 Accel?

http://www.virtuavia.eu/shop/full-pa...-atx-case.html

If it does, all my problems are solved.

[SolidBodySound]

I have a HD2 system hooked-up to my 2.8 Ghz 8 core MacPro and working with the Virtua Via PCI-E to PCI expansion system.
I am sure the Magma 2000.00 solution provides better performance/stability, but for $200.00 I could not pass up this experiment.
The highest and most DSP dense voice setting that I could get out of this rig is:
96 voices
2dsp's
@44.1k.
Be prepared for a lot of Kernel panics(well why not this computer has hardly broken a sweat since I forked over the $3000.00 a year ago!)
I have been trying to max this configuration out and usually the result is a nifty Kernel panic directly relating to arguments about the AppleI/O Kit pci something or other. Have the Protools prefs trasher ready and waiting until you can figure out how far you can push this deal.

It seems that Protools 8 works a lot better with this rig than did 7.4.2.
I am considering the 1500.00 Magma board set route when I have the cash. I have done a fair amount of googling regarding PCI-E and PCI HBA's,Backplanes,Backaches, headaches, you name it.... and my instinct is that the Magma system is 'tuned/optimized' to get the most out of this essentially stop-gap soultion for the lagging(not able to develop as fast as the World Mass-Market-Driven computer industry) audio hardware companies and developers. But until then I am totally stoked because with a minimal investment I can marry my PCI HD-2 rig with the speed and power of my new MacPro!
This way I can save my pennies for whatever DIGI has up their sleeve in new TDM hardware land... I actually can hardly wait, other than the bleeding of money that will ensue!

One big plus with the Virtua Via rig is that the pci slots are 32 bit(they are actually shorter than the HD cards) and my UAD-1 cards don't like 64 bit pci slots, like the ones that are in the Magma Pe6R4!
So I can use my UAD-1 with my MacPro as well!
AL

p.s. if you are really technically Saavy Cooldrives has the little 4 slot box for 200.00 where VirtuaVia wants 274.00 plus shipping for the same box! Rohs makes the desoldering quite tricky so don't mess around if you are not really good at soldering!