looking at new Dells and PCI slots

[Keith Kittlesen]

I'm looking at finally upgrading my computer and trying to decide if the Dell 370, 470 or 670 would suit my needs. I'll need to move my Adaptec 39160 SCSI controller, the Toaster and my Firewire card to the new system and that's where my questions arise.

The 670 has the following slots:

Three 64-bit/100 MHz PCI-X slots
One 32-bit PCI slot

the 470 has these slots:

One 32-bit/33 MHz PCI slot
One 64-bit/100 MHz PCIx slot
One PCI Express slot wired as x4 (2GB/s) but with a x8 connector. A x8 card installed in this slot will function at x4 speeds

and the 370 has the following:

Three 32bit/33MHz PCI slots (mini-tower) four 32bit/33MHz PCI slots (desktop)

I know the 370 will work for all 3 of my cards as this is what my current Dell 4100 has.

The 470 seems kind of limiting as it only has 3 slots. I imagine I would put the toaster in the 32 bit slot and the 39160 controller in the 64bit slot? looking on the Adaptec site it says the card would work in a 33/66 mhz 64 bit slot but mentions nothing about the 100Mhz PCIx slot. Will this fry my card? If I put my first 2 cards in the the above slots that leaves my PCI ADS Firewire card for the PCI express slot and I don't know if express is even compatible with a standard PCI.

The 670 has plenty of slots. Can you put regular 32 bit PCI cards (Toaster and Firewire) into a 64 bit slot and have them work? Going by Newteks recommendation I guess I'd put the toaster into the 32 bit slot and the Firewire and adaptec card into the 64 bit slot but that brings us back to the 100mhz thing again.

This slot issue really confuses me. Any input from people with similar systems would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Keith

[PIZAZZ]

I'm looking at finally upgrading my computer and trying to decide if the Dell 370, 470 or 670 would suit my needs. I'll need to move my Adaptec 39160 SCSI controller, the Toaster and my Firewire card to the new system and that's where my questions arise.

The 670 has the following slots:

Three 64-bit/100 MHz PCI-X slots
One 32-bit PCI slot

the 470 has these slots:

One 32-bit/33 MHz PCI slot
One 64-bit/100 MHz PCIx slot
One PCI Express slot wired as x4 (2GB/s) but with a x8 connector. A x8 card installed in this slot will function at x4 speeds

and the 370 has the following:

Three 32bit/33MHz PCI slots (mini-tower) four 32bit/33MHz PCI slots (desktop)

I know the 370 will work for all 3 of my cards as this is what my current Dell 4100 has.

The 470 seems kind of limiting as it only has 3 slots. I imagine I would put the toaster in the 32 bit slot and the 39160 controller in the 64bit slot? looking on the Adaptec site it says the card would work in a 33/66 mhz 64 bit slot but mentions nothing about the 100Mhz PCIx slot. Will this fry my card? If I put my first 2 cards in the the above slots that leaves my PCI ADS Firewire card for the PCI express slot and I don't know if express is even compatible with a standard PCI.

The 670 has plenty of slots. Can you put regular 32 bit PCI cards (Toaster and Firewire) into a 64 bit slot and have them work? Going by Newteks recommendation I guess I'd put the toaster into the 32 bit slot and the Firewire and adaptec card into the 64 bit slot but that brings us back to the 100mhz thing again.

This slot issue really confuses me. Any input from people with similar systems would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Keith

Would you like to save some money and have a system that is better suited for a VT[4]? Maybe have someone that can answer system specific questions that come up with VT[4]?

Contact me if you would.

jef at pizazzme dot com
or
409-860-9283