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Need many PCI slots
- Thread starter DynaOne
- Start date
I'm needing to hook up 8 USB 2.0 devices - and what I have found is that these 4-5 USB port USB cards consume more and more of the processor as you add devices to the one card (and I've tried 3 different brands of USB 2.0 cards with the same result). The processor is swamped by the time I've added 4-5 active USB devices.
When you only attach 1 USB device per card - the CPU consumption is far less.
I may be able to get by with less, but 5 is not enough - what is the most you know about?
When you only attach 1 USB device per card - the CPU consumption is far less.
I may be able to get by with less, but 5 is not enough - what is the most you know about?
paralazarguer
Banned
That's impossible. The PCI spec only allows 5 slots. A lot of boards have a shared slot which then allows 6 slots. I've never heard of 8.
Eug
Lifer
What devices? Do you already have the devices? If not then it may make more sense to go Firewire.
I have 6 Firewire devices on one card and I don't get slowdowns. Mind you, only three of them are high bandwidth (hard drives), and I rarely have everything going at the same time. (The other ones are 2 optical drives and 1 is a compact flash reader.)
I have 6 Firewire devices on one card and I don't get slowdowns. Mind you, only three of them are high bandwidth (hard drives), and I rarely have everything going at the same time. (The other ones are 2 optical drives and 1 is a compact flash reader.)
If "Elite" members agree with me, do I get that status too? 😛 😛 😛
[running around gleefully singing:] I said it fiiiirst! I said it fiiiirrrrrrst!
(Okay, I think that was merely temporary madness induced by mercury poisoning from amalgam fillings... I'll be fine in a minute.) 😉
[running around gleefully singing:] I said it fiiiirst! I said it fiiiirrrrrrst!
(Okay, I think that was merely temporary madness induced by mercury poisoning from amalgam fillings... I'll be fine in a minute.) 😉
If you reall, really, really(REALLY) want 8 slots, you could grab a server board, many mid-high end server boards use several PCI channels to give lots of slots.
In fact, come to think of it, most servers, even low end ones, uses several PCI channels to improve IO performance, for example an old Compaq box Im working with right now had 6 or 7 slots, but 3 PCI channels.
I guess Supermicro should make a couple of such boards.
In fact, come to think of it, most servers, even low end ones, uses several PCI channels to improve IO performance, for example an old Compaq box Im working with right now had 6 or 7 slots, but 3 PCI channels.
I guess Supermicro should make a couple of such boards.
It looks like server boards are the way to go - the Dells all have 7 PCI slots. Most of you guys didn't listen (read) above my second post explaining. All of these cards (and on-board) setups that support 5 USB connections are using only 1 controller chip to drive the 5 USB connections. Each time an active device is plugged in - the controller needs more help from the CPU - when all 5 are plugged in and transmitting data - there is no cpu capacity left. When I plug them in separate USB cards - (so there is one active USB channel using the controller chip) the CPU utilization is far lower.
Firewire is my fallback but the devices are webcams and there is much greater availability and lower cost in USB 2.0 than firewire.
Thanks.
Firewire is my fallback but the devices are webcams and there is much greater availability and lower cost in USB 2.0 than firewire.
Thanks.
ArmchairAthlete
Diamond Member
My A7N8X Deluxe has 4 USB 2.0 ports on the back I/O panel, two more from a connector on the mobo that goes to the front of my case. That's 6, one PCI card and you've got 8. Also has great integrated Dual NIC and sound, cutting two more PCI cards you'd otherwise need.
EDIT: I have all five PCI slots empty with my current config. Only card I have is a 9700 Pro in the AGP slot.
EDIT: I have all five PCI slots empty with my current config. Only card I have is a 9700 Pro in the AGP slot.
AgaBoogaBoo
Lifer
Wow, I'm kinda surprised when I hear about things like this since my Lan and sound are on the mobo. That leaves my video card for the AGP slot and thats it, my 6 or 7 PCI slots are all empty.
Two things to note with that many cards, when the system boots (I'm not sure on this, don't quote me on it) it may load the drivers for each USB card seperately. That would significantly increase the time it takes to boot up. I relized this when I remove a USB card which I don't use any more and an ATI TV Wonder card since soon I plan to upgrade to a 9700 Pro AIW with a tv tuner in it. Now, even on my P4 1.7ghz, 578 mb ram, I turn my computer on, and then once I turn my monitor on (takes only a few seconds to show whats happening) the loading of user files is almost done. I'm using Windows XP Pro and the only other two things that startup is a firewall and antivirus.
Have you tried testing the cpu load when using a USB hub? I use one hub even though I have 3 of the 4 usb slots empty because it brings the cable closer to me. All I have is a keyboard, mouse, and a smaller mouse by fellows which fits into my finger, (best thing ever!).
Two things to note with that many cards, when the system boots (I'm not sure on this, don't quote me on it) it may load the drivers for each USB card seperately. That would significantly increase the time it takes to boot up. I relized this when I remove a USB card which I don't use any more and an ATI TV Wonder card since soon I plan to upgrade to a 9700 Pro AIW with a tv tuner in it. Now, even on my P4 1.7ghz, 578 mb ram, I turn my computer on, and then once I turn my monitor on (takes only a few seconds to show whats happening) the loading of user files is almost done. I'm using Windows XP Pro and the only other two things that startup is a firewall and antivirus.
Have you tried testing the cpu load when using a USB hub? I use one hub even though I have 3 of the 4 usb slots empty because it brings the cable closer to me. All I have is a keyboard, mouse, and a smaller mouse by fellows which fits into my finger, (best thing ever!).
zephyrprime
Diamond Member
Wait a sec, why do you need a GF2 for dual monitor if you already have a GF4? Doesn't you gf4 have dual monitor? Or is it that you need dual DVI?
zephyrprime
Diamond Member
Here's something that hasn't been mentioned so far. If you're being swamped for processor time by multiple devices, Intel's Hyperthreading might offer you some relief. I'd also keep trying more USB addon cards. I know you've already tried three different brands but I've noticed that a lot of different brands of cards use the same chipset and same exact board layout so you might no really have been trying many different cards at all!
New news - whoa!! I just tried a PIII 800 with a Serverworks MB and it does not exhibit the same problem of swamping the processor when using all the USB 2 ports on one USB card that I experienced with a Dell p4 2.53. This must be a chipset/driver problem.
Thanks for all the comments.
DynaOne
Thanks for all the comments.
DynaOne
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