Motherboard with 6 PCI Slots

[John Stead]

Hello.

Could someone comment on a mother board I am looking at purchasing ....

Key items ... "Core 2 Duo", "6 PCI", "4 Sata II", "8 USB"

ATX Form Factor with Intel® Core 2 Duo, Pentium® D/ Pentium® 4/
Celeron® D CPU FSB 533/800/1066MHz, VGA, Dual Channel DDR2,
FDD, LPT, 4 x SATA II, 8 x USB 2.0 and 6 x COM

Specification
============

CPU
-----

LGA 775 Intel® Core™ 2 Duo, Pentium® 4/ Celeron® D
processor, FSB 533/800/1066 MHz

System Chipset

Intel® 945G + ICH7

BIOS
-----

AMI BIOS Label

System Memory

4 x 240-pin Dual channel DDR2 400/533MHz up to 4GB

Ethernet

Dual Broadcom BCM5787 for PCIe GbE

I/O
-----

8 x USB 2.0, 4 x SATA II, 1 x LPT, 1 x FDD, 1 x CF Type II,
5 x RS-232, 1 x RS-232/422/485, 2 x PS/2 for KB/MS, 1 x IDE

Expansion:

1 x PCIe x16 (Support PCIe x1/2/4/8/16 PCIe
add-on cards), 6 x PCI

IrDA:

1 x IrDA by pin header

Super I/O:

IT8712

Digital I/O

8-bit digital I/O, 4 input/ 4 output

Audio
-----

Realtek ALC655 with AC'97 codec

Display

VGA integrated in Intel® 945G

Watchdog Timer

Software programable 1-255 sec. by super I/O

Power Supply

ATX power

Power Consumption

5V@4.25A, 12V@10.17A, 3.3V@ 6.07A
(Intel® Pentium® 4 3.73GHz/1066 MHz CPU with 1GB
DDR2 667MHz)

[Joe The Dude]

At first glance, it looks like a great board to use as a foundation for a multi-tuner BTV Server.

However, If you are planning on using a lot of PCI Tuners, you need to make sure that the Capacitors on the Motherboard will not come in contact with the "Audio In" ports on the TV Tuners.

If you would provide the make and model, or a link, I'll look it up online and see what I can see, and report back to ya.

[John Stead]

Data Sheet Image.

http://www.carterrv.com/crv/img/HTPC-MB-6PCI.jpg

[Joe The Dude]

Say, where can I purchase that motherboard?


I see that it has onboard video... AND a PCI Express x16 slot...

I bet I could replace the Motherboard in my BTV Server with this one that you are asking about, use it's onboard video, and then stick a really nice multi-port (hardware accelerated) SATA Card in that PCI Express x16 slot...

Of course, I only use my BTV Server for recording and streaming to my BTV Link machines...

Hmm... I think that this motherboard you've found just may be ideal.

Heck, it also has dual Gigabit Ethernet ports.
One could be connected to a Home Network, and the other one connected to a HDHomerun (or several HDHR's with the addition of a multi-port gigabit switch perhaps).

After looking at the pictures, it looks like there might be capacitors or pins on the motherboard that might make it challenging for you to fully insert PCI Cards in three of the slots, but I can't be 100% certian of that.
Make sure the place you buy the motherboard from either has a good return policy, or will let you open the box in the store and try sticking a PVR-500 (or what have you) in each of the PCI Slots.

[John Stead]

Where .... www.MobileSafety.net .... Dave Winfield ... sales@mobilesafety.net .... They use it for Police DVR units. There are other models as well.

Clearance for PCI boards ....

All capacitors etc. are lower than the height of the PCI slots.

The only connections/headers to the rear of the PCI slots are the com port headers (com3 to com6).

The USB headers (2) for USB #5-8 beside/behind the outside PCI slot do not interfere with a PVR-500.

[myktek]

the question would be reliability? warranty? how many are made just in case you need to replace yours? and etc... buying something this specialized might bite you in the long run if it's really limited run. It definately looks like a good board to build a system around. another worry i would have is, will the slots line up to a standard atx case?

[John Stead]

Good point Myktek ...

Thes boards are typically used in manufacturing to produce end products such as a security DVRs mobile or stationary. They would also be used in a production environment to control manufacturing processes. These motherboards are rugged.

In this industry, the boards are given a guaranteed production life cycle of five to eight year. In all cases, a written gurantee is offered for at least five years.

They will fit the ATX case by design.

Other similar boards offer up to 6 Sata II, DVI on-board, lots of PCI or a combination of PCI/PCI-E.

... John Stead

[John Stead]

Here are some Core 2 Quad/Duo mother boards with 5 or 6 PCI slots.
TEC-KT965-ATXP
6 PCI, 6 Sata II, Dual GB Lan, Core 2 Quad/Core 2 Duo/P4 6xx, ATX, PCI-E 16x

TEC-KT965-ATXE
5 PCI, 6 Sata II, Dual GB Lan, Core 2 Quad/Core 2 Duo/P4 6xx, ATX, PCI-E 16x, PCI-E 4x

BAR-BC945G
5 PCI, 4 Sata II, Dual GB Lan, Core 2 Duo/Pentium D ATX, AGP 4x, 8 USB, 8 CH Audio, Raid

BAR-BV945GL
5 PCI, 4 Sata II, 1 GB Lan, Core 2 Duo/Pentium D ATX, PCI-E 16x, PCI-E 1x, 8 USB, 8 CH Audio

These are just a few that are available. They cost between $250 to $420 USD.

[John Stead]

I beleive I have found the board I am after. The price is $300 USD,

AIMB-763G2
------------------
LGA775, Pentium D/Pentium 4/Celeron/Core2Duo
Supports Enhanced Memory 64 (EM64T), SpeedStep (EIST), Hyper-Threading

Northbridge: 945G
Southbridge: ICH7R
Front Side Bus 1066/800/533 MHz

Memory 4 x 240-pin DIMM up to 4GB Dual
Channel DDR2 400/533/667 MHz SDRAM

Integrated Graphics Integrated Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 950
1 x PCI Express x16 slot for graphics card
1 x PCI Express x1
5 x PCI slots
2 x Ultra DMA 100/66/33
4 x Serial ATA 3Gb/s ports

Audio Realtek® ALC888 8-channel HD audio CODEC
S/PDIF out interface support
Universal Audio Jack (UAJ (R)) Sensing

Dual Gigabit LAN
8 USB 2.0 ports
1 x Parallel port
2 x LAN (RJ-45) ports
4 x USB 2.0 ports
1 x Serial port (COM)
1 x VGA port
1 x PS/2 keyboard port
1 x PS/2 mouse port
1 x Audio I/O

4 Mb Flash ROM, Award BIOS, PnP, WfM2.0, DMI2.0, SM BIOS 2.3
WfM 2.0, DMI 2.0, WOL by PME, WOR by PME, Chassis Intrusion

Internal connectors
2 x USB 2.0 connectors for 4 additional USB 2.0 ports
1 x CPU fan connector
1 x Chassis fan connector
1 x Power fan connector
1 x 24-pin ATX power connector
1 x 4-pin ATX 12 V power connector
1 x CD in connector
1 x Front panel high-definition audio connector
1 x S/PDIF out connector
1 x TPM connector (Option)
1 x COM port (COM2)
1 x 3-pin Power LED connector (PLED)

Power Requirement ATX power supply (with 20-pin and 4-pin 12 V plugs)
Form Factor ATX form factor: 12 in x 9.6 in (304.8 mm x 243.84 mm)


The difference to what we have now ...

1) Use Sata 300 instead of Sata 150
2) 4 Sata instead of only 2
3) Room to add PCI tuner #4 and #5
4) Room to add PCI Video Security DVR Card (4 cams)
5) Intel Processor upgrade from existing Athalon 64 3200+
6) FSB and Memory Speed upgrade
7) Increased LAN capacity for BTVlink
8) 8 USB eliminates external Hub
9) 8 channel audio instead of 5 channel
10) New 2007 motherboard that will be produced for another 5 years minimum
11) Non-Commercial, Industrial rugged design.

[Jakesty]

I don't understand why this particular board. For $129 from Newegg you can get a quad core capable motherboard from Gigabyte that has support for 45nm CPUs. It looks to have all of the same you're looking for except on-board graphics.
On board graphics don't work well with BTV since it questions you when it starts up that it can't perform at certain quality levels. 3D overlay, etc.
For $129 and another $60-100 for an acceptable video card, you'd probably be in better shape.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128050

This system has built in HDMI, which is the first I have found like that. Don't know how it would work, but it's even cheaper. $109
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128063

[John Stead]

Jakesty wrote ... "I don't understand why this particular board"

My topic is "Motherboard with 6 PCI Slots". I currently use three PCI-32 for three tuners. I need at least two more slots to add a dual tuner card and my security camera DVR board.

The Gigabyte brand models you made reference to have either 2 PCI-32 slots or 3 PCI-32 slots.

These Gigabyte mother boards are priced around $120 USD as you have mentioned. In order to add PCI-32 slots you would need to add an external PCI-32 bus. Magma has such an expansion unit at a cost of $1,300.00 USD. http://www.magma.com/products/pci/4PCI/index.html

To have a Gigabyte motherboard with 6 PCI-32 slots, you need to spend $1,420.00 USD.

The "TEC-KT965-ATXP" model mentioned ealier has 6 PCI and supports Core 2 Quad for only $420.00 USD. The model I am deciding on cost only $300.00 USD, has 5 PCI-32 and supports Core 2 Duo.

[rdb4133]

Hello John,

I have also been looking at something like this in the past. I hope this might be able to help you out: http://www.startech.com/Product/Item...=PEX2PCI4&c=US

Apparently all it needs is 1 - PCI x1 slot and it can convert that into 4 standard PCI slots. The price is also better than that Magma device which is ridiculously expensive!

[John Stead]

Thanks rdb4133 ..... Purchasing a motherboard with 5 or 6 pci-32 slots is still a lot cheaper.

[Jakesty]

Sorry, the most important thing you were looking for and I totally missed it. Although I think the M/B is one of the most important purchases you'll make for this, with your config, it might be cheaper to upgrade to a dual tuner like the MCE500 and/or HVR 1600.
I looked at Newegg for 5 and 6 PCI slot systems for Intel and they just don't have any.
My motherboard has 4 PCI, 1 PCIx16 and 2 PCIx1. Something like this could be an option for you too as they do make PCIx1 tuners and video cards. I would be most concerned about industry support for drivers and such with anything that's not more mainstream.

[John Stead]

You will not find these types of boards at Newegg or any other commercial outlet.

These "non-commercial", "industrial" boards are typically used in manufacturing to produce end products such as a security DVRs mobile or stationary. They would also be used in a production environment to control manufacturing processes. These motherboards are rugged.

In this industry, "industrial" boards are given a guaranteed production life cycle of five to eight year. In all cases, a written gurantee is offered for at least five years.

There are only a couple that support "Core 2 Quad" and lots that support "Core 2 Duo". All have 5 PCI-32 and a few have 6 PCI-32.

All of the ones I have been looking at are released in 2007. (New).

http://www.carterrv.com/crv/crviis.d... & Accessories

I do not want to "toss" my existing tuner boards to purchase new ones. I intend to purchase one additional dual tuner board to add to my existing lineup.

I need at lease 5 slots to support my existing tuners and to add a 4th dual tuner and to add my Security Camera DVR board.

Other HTPC builder may be happy with one or two PCI slots but I am not one of them.