Pci-x

[arn]

Digitmag is reporting that specs for the PCI-Express and PCI-X protocol have been released:

PCI Express is the next evolution of PCI technology, which allows internal components of a PC, such as the microprocessor, to communicate with devices (such as graphics cards) attached through expansion slots. PCI-X is a bus technology used within computers to allow chips to exchange data at faster speeds than current PCI technology allows.

PCI-X is a bus technology used within computers to allow chips to exchange data at faster speeds than current PCI technology allows.


According to this older Newsfactor article, Apple is involved with 3GIO, another high speed successor to PCI:

The PCI Special Interest Group (PCI-SIG), of which Apple is a member, is attempting to push the 3GIO standard while retaining support for the still-emerging PCI-X standard. The group is telling users that PCI-X is optimized for high-end applications used on servers and workstations, while 3GIO is targeted toward general-purpose applications that run on desktops and mobile devices.

 

[barkmonster]

The idea of 1 unified high speed connection for all expansion cards is a good one. If it's backwards compatable with PCI in someway and AGP riser cards like the one offered with Xserve can be used for current graphics cards I think Apple should being out powermacs with this new technology as soon as possible, we don't want to wait like we've had to do for DDR and other faster technology.

 

[alex_ant]

Does anyone know what the relationship is between 3GIO and the GIO64 & XIO used in SGI workstations?

 

[marathon96]

This article got their technology acronyms wrong. PCI-X is already out as a technology (for example, IBM offers it on their PowerPC 440GP) and is simply a specification extension to the existing PCI specifications. It's pretty much a faster bus with limitations on the number of permitted bus loads (read: devices). PCI Express, which is NOT PCI-X, is an attempt to clean up the NGIO cum InfiniBand cum 3GIO mess that Intel created.

Due to Motorola's involvement with Rapid I/O (RIO) and Serial RIO (SRIO), I suspect Apple will likely have an interest there as well.

 

[BillGates]

barely backward compatible.

Have you tried to put an older 32bit 33Mhz PCI card in a 64bit 66Mhz slot? Since its keyed differently only newly manufactured cards will fit. I've not seen a 64bit 133Mhz PCI-X slot yet but I'm betting its slightly different too. What about the 64bit 266Mhz and 64bit 533Mhz PCI-X 2.0 slots. I'm not saying Apple should adopt new technology. They should actually do it faster then they are. Just don't be fooled into thinking ALL your older "PCI" cards will still work.

 

[Moonlight]

Standard

Apple needs to adopt a standard just like they did with PCI, so card manufactures can make the card for both mac and PC without spending too much extra. We don't want a PCI replacement to just be the fastest, but the most compatible with the industry.

 

[Sun Baked]

Just what we need even more PCI versions...

You did catch the Apple Knowledge Base Document - Xserve: Won't Turn on After PCI Cards Are Installed?

http://docs.info.apple.com/article....showSurvey=true&sessionID=anonymous|139399509

Seems PCI is so backwards compatible it requires you to look at the hardcopy tech specs of your card to make sure it'll work in your new computer.

 

[barkmonster]

I always thought PCI cards were fairly standard and the different speeds just meant more bandwidth could be used.

There I was thinking I'd win the lottery on saturday and then buy an Xserve, a magma expansion chassis and a Protools HD system.

I'll not bother buying a ticket now, I think I'll just set my sights on a new G4 sometime next year and wait for the Digi002 to come down in price a bit