How many PCI slots is enough?

[Joey-T]

I've been to the "introduce yourself" section, so be aware that I'm a newbie!

Right now, I'm running a pretty outdated machine (AMD233) and it is used as a "general computer with some audio apps." Needless to say, it doesn't cut the mustard for audio. I knew that a new machine is in order as I get more into audio production.

If you haven't read my intro in the newbie section, please do, as it gives an indication of where I'm at and what I hopefully learn to do. I can build computers, but I'm just beginning to learn about the audio products to make and record professional sounding music. In short, other than what it takes to turn the machine on, I don't know what audio-related programs and hardware I'm going to end up with (my learning hasn't gotten me that far yet).

Obviously I'm planning to go with XP, after reading a bunch on this site. And I plan to go with an Intel board and CPU, mostly because that is what I have had the best luck with in past systems. When the new system is built, I'm going to retain this one for Internet, word processing, you know, general computing use. The new system is going to be used for making my music ONLY.

That said, how can I determine how few PCI slots I can get away with without knowing what gear I'll plan to buy in the future? The reason I worded the question like that is that I can get a great deal (read: no cash out of my pocket) on an Intel D925XBC motherboard/CPU/memory combo from a friend of mine. It is a micro-ATX board and comes with a nice aluminum case with a digital readout. He's also going to throw in the PCI-Express video card that he ran with dual monitors. To save everyone from looking for the specs on this, it has onboard audio (which he told me I can disable for my intended use), support for ATA100 and SATA, onboard GIGA LAN, 8 USB ports and 3 Firewire ports. The downside is that it only leaves me with 2 available PCI slots.

Just starting out, can I get by with this? Or, as a later thought, can I just build yet another machine in the future as my needs grow but still use this one for some dedicated task while the (future) new one would handle other things? Or am I just inviting confusion?

I did some work for this friend and he is offering this machine as payment (which is worth more than the work I did actually). What do you guys think? Also, any advice as to what someone with my limited expertise should consider buying to get set up would be great too.

Fire away!

[Jeff]

2 PCI slots should be plenty. In all seriousness, you could avoid PCI altogether and go w/ firewire interfaces and be fine. I can't think of any reason you'd HAVE to have PCI, it'd just be nice to have 'em, but I dont think you'll need more than 2

Jeff

[Joey-T]

Thanks for the reply. I was hoping to hear something like that, especially since I have a SCSI card with a Plextor burner and a Plextor reader in this machine that I was hoping to move to the new machine (which would leave me with just one PCI slot, but gain me additional SCSI availability).

What would you recommend as an audio interface for the above described machine? I want to be able to use my MIDI keyboard as well as input my mic preamp and anything the guys might bring over for a jam session recording (guitars, drum mic'ing, etc). I do have a Peavy mixer that should probably be added to the mix. Oh, and the kids say to make sure they can make "albums" of them singing karaoke.

I've been doing alot of reading about the Delta 1010LT, which would use the last available PCI slot. It looks promising, but then again, I don't yet fully understand what I need. What do you think?

Thanks.

[Tweak]

I have 5 slots on my PC and every slot is filled.

[Jeff]

OK, fair enough, there's more things you CAN use w/ more PCI slots, just like there's more things you can use w/ more USB ports and Firewire ports. I'm sure you can use more, but I think you'd be fine w/ just the 2.

However, to make sure I don't steer you completely wrong, I'll ask. Tweak, what are the 5 things in yours? I want to see if they're all the kind of things that Joey is going to need

Jeff

[axeman69]

I've been doing alot of reading about the Delta 1010LT, which would use the last available PCI slot. It looks promising, but then again, I don't yet fully understand what I need. What do you think?

Thanks.

I have a 1010LT. I like it a lot. It has 8 analog ins and outs. 2 mic pres MIDI I/O and S/PDIF I/O. The nice thing too, if you have the PCI slots is that you can get a second one and have 16 analog channels and 4 digital channels. That's allot of interface for a little over $400.00. Actually you can have up to 4 in one system.

[Joey-T]

Thanks for the replies. I, too, am curious as to what you have filling up those slots (even if I don't understand it yet).

I mentioned in another thread that it looks like the Behringer MX9000 would be more than enough to do what (I think) I want to do. Tweak mentioned that it would be a good combo with the 1010LT. That being said, would you forsee me ever needing additional 1010LT's in the future with that setup?

I guess if it came down to it, I could always build another computer if needed. Heck, by the time I figure out what I'm doing, even this one would probably be outdated and obsolete. As a side question, those of you with two (or more) computers, what is the primary function of each?

[Tweak]

My computer is a bit older so I have to have cards/slots for firewire and ethernet; then there is the delta card for the 1010, scsi for the samplers and its drives, and video capture. Sometimes I need to install my soundblaster live as i used to develop soundfonts. So I am actually one slot short with 5.

[HumbleNoise]

The important thing is to define your gear first. Do you need anything more than a sound card? SCSI? DSP processors?

I've got an ATX format MB with 5 free PCI slots and I have used just one PCI slot for my sound card - an Audiophile 2496.

Video goes in the AGP slot, it has on-board LAN and firewire. So it's very possible to build a DAW with only a couple of PCI slots.

Future expansion will be lmiited, but that goes without sayng I hope. Some of the more common DAW uses for more slots are dedicated DSP effects cards like the UAD-1 or even the EMU 1820M can use 2 slots I believe.

[dxsare]

The E-mu 1820M Does technically take up 2 PCI slots, however only one (the main soundcard) is actually plugged in. The Work Clock Card plugs into the main soundcard and is just screwed into an open pci slot in the case, in most cases you have space where there is no pci slot on the mother board and you can just use that spot and it would not take up the "space" of a pci slot.

Dxsare

[cornieleous]

Most motherboards come standard with 5 PCI(4 at the least), so unless you need more, why worry?

Unless, of course, you were contemplating a micro ATX standard motherboard, which I recommend strongly against.

As for myself, I have 6 pci slots:

1. SCSI
2. 2nd video card
3. audio interface
4. SB live (only for soundfont creation and editing)
5. Firewire
6. free slot.


Also:

those of you with two (or more) computers, what is the primary function of each?

Computer 1 is a dedicated Digital Audio Workstation.
Computer 2 I use for games, office applications, and internet browsing. Comp 2 is also my file storage and file server so that Comp 1 stays clean.

Of course the machines are networked with a hub when needed.


D.