[AG-TECH] Capture cards and PCI-X

[Douglas Kosovic]

On Thu, 2007-08-02 at 07:44 +1000, Douglas Kosovic wrote:
> Hi David,
> 
> Just a few corrections, rather than suggestions.
> 
> > I've requested money for additional capture cards, as my existing ones
> > are +5 years old anyway.
> > 
> > I thought the winnov Quattro looked good, but I am having a hard time
> > getting one here in Canada.
> > 
> > The new computers, slightly used hand-me-down Dell GX620's, have two PCI
> > and one PCI-X slot.  Beggars can't be choosers...
> 
> The Dell Optiplex GX620 doesn't have a PCI-X slot but a PCIe x 16 (and a
> PCIe x 1 slot in the mini-tower configuration).
> 
> Do you have a mini-tower or desktop Dell GX620? The desktop requires
> low-profile PCI/PCIe cards with low-profile brackets, unless you have an
> optional riser card which allows full height cards.
> 
> > I see that the Viewcast Osprey 240, a PCI-X four port capture device is
> > available and in stock with one supplier.
> 
> The Viewcast Osprey 240 seems to be a PCIe x 1 card with a single input
> (it's compatible with x1, x4, x8, and x16 PCIe slots).
> 
> The Viewcast Osprey 440 seems to be a PCI-X card with 4 inputs, so isn't
> suitable with the Dell GX620.

Correction about the Osprey 440 not working in a GX620, the Viewcast
Osprey 440 will work in a 33Mhz 3.3Volt PCI slot with the extra PCI-X
pins of the card exposed. The 33Mhz 32bit PCI bus will only provide
about a quarter of the bandwidth of a 66Mhz 64bit PCI-X bus.


Doug