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PCI-X Slot usage

I have a Tyan GX28 server with an Areca 1110 PCI-X 64bit/133MHz RAID card. The issue is that the GX28 only has USB 1.1 ports and I'd like to add USB 2.0 ports. I'm pretty sure that I can plug a regular PCI USB 2.0 card into the spare PCI-X card slot but I've read that this will make the PCI-X bus run at the normal PCI speed which will slow down my RAID card horribly.

1. Is it true that putting a regular PCI card on the same bus as the PCI-X 64bit/133MHz RAID card will cause th ebus to run at regular PCI speed?
2. If I'm right, what I need is a PCI-X to USB 2.0 card, are there any out there?

MSPG

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PCBONEZ

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MSProjectGeek

ASKER

Actually, the Tyan GX28 (S2881) has only 2 PCI-X slots, apparently they are on separate busses though so I guess that, as long as I can physically connect the PCI card to the spare slot, I can use a PCI - USB 2.0 card. Remember the point of the exercise is to give the GX28 some USB 2.0 ports - your link to PCI card extenders with ribbon cables may well be the answer; I don't think there's any other way to get USB 2.0 ports on the server - e.g. IDE to USB 2.0?

PCBONEZ

I was going by a photo of a S2881 in a GX28 chassis and there was a standard PCI slot on the board.
It's also shown in Tyan's specs on the board.
Wasn't on the riser, it was on the motherboard in the slot position farthest from the CPU.
(All the way to the edge of the board.)
Maybe there were different versions but Tyan usually says so.
.

PCBONEZ

I found another pic and I see what you have now..

IDE->USB doesn't work. Adapters go the other way and require drivers to work.
The only option I can think of is to use the NIC to network to a PC with USB2.
There -may- exist an adapter for PCI-X to standard PCI but I've never seen one.
.

MSProjectGeek

ASKER

I thought a regular PCI card could plug into a PCI-X slot?

PCBONEZ

I thought you didn't want it running at 33 MHz. ???

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Chris B

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PCBONEZ

"separate busses"
I missed that ~ sorry...

stuartindigo

I do have to ask, why do you want USB 2.0 in a server environment?

The only logical reason I can think of is an external storage/backup device - there may be better solutions available than USB 2.0.

Just a couple of thoughts.

Stuart

MSProjectGeek

ASKER

We use virtual PC and Virtual Server. The VHD (virtual hard drive) image files are often in excess of 5 Gig (3 Gig zipped) and we carry them from machine to machine using portable USB 2.0 drives.

I've increased the points and will split.

MSProjectGeek

ASKER

Sorry, screwed up there trying to split points between PCBONEZ and stuartindigo - can this be fixed?

Chris B

I accepted the wrong answer. Now what?

Leave a zero-point question in Community Support explaining what happened. The Moderators will "unaccept" your selection and re-open the question.

Chris B