Perhaps this will help clear up some of the confusion on this issue - dual processor G5's have PCI or PCI-X slots. However the Dual Core G5's (including the Quad) introduced in October 2005 - and all MacPro's- - have PCI Express (PCIe) slots. PCI cards are compatible with PCI or PCI-X slots but are NOT compatible with PCI Express slots.

Matt's single processor 1.8 GHz G5 has, according to Apple, 3 PCI (not PCI-X) slots. However most cards that are PCI-X compatible are also PCI compatible. The question for Matt is: how soon do you anticipate upgrading your computer itself?

All new computers will likely have PCI Express slots, so any card you buy for your present computer will not be usable in your next machine. If you intend to keep your computer for a while, then you might want to invest in a card.

However, before assuming that the problem has to do with your drives, I would suspect, as some others have suggested, that the problem may be with your Audio interface or its drivers. If it's possible to borrow a firewire audio interface made by another manufacturer, I would try that first. If that does not appear to be the problem and you decide that you are going to keep your present computer for a while then you have to decide whether you want to stick with firewire and get a firewire PCI card or go with a SATA solution - - both would give you a dedicated firewire port for your interface.

Miklos, what I see you said a week ago (about FW buses) has been my experience too for the most part. And I understand about FW800 being backwards-compatible; my point is that there should be separate FW busses so none of this is an issue.

Good advice, however, the pci 400 card is very cheap, about $50US or even less perhaps, plug your interface into that, don't put anything else there and it should work fine, it's better to have things on separate buses anyway IMO. my interface is the MIO 2882 +DSP if I put anything else on the same bus despite latest drivers software etc, despite the fact the makers say you can do so, I get clicks pops, crashes and so on it's a pain, once I put it on it's own bus and don't touch it, it works perfectly and so does everything else.

Miklos.

Nick: overlapping post there - I agree. In fact I agreed from the start! [:)]

@stevesong said:

Matt's single processor 1.8 GHz G5 has, according to Apple, 3 PCI (not PCI-X) slots.

.......or go with a SATA solution...

In that link i put up, apple say my g5 has pci-X slots, apparently not pci lol

SATA? [*-)] lol

I'm certainly not thinking of upgrading to a new computer in the near future, so investing in a pci card (and considering, as Miklos pointed out, that theyre pretty cheap) is most definitely what I'll do.

Matt

just to explain - pci comes in several flavours:
- PCI 1 32 bit 5 V
- PCI 2 32 bit 3,3 V
- PCI 2.1 32bit 3,3 V compatible to PXI-X
- PCI-X 64 bit 3,3 V 66 MHz
- PCI-X 64 bit 3,3 V 100 MHz
- PCI-X 64 bit 3,3 V 133 MHz
all PCI-X slots are compatible for PCI 2.1 cards

PCI 2.1 cards have 2 notches to fit into both types of slots
PCI 1 cards have only one notch (so they don't fit into PCI-X slots)
christian

[:'(] [:'(] [:'(] [:'(] [:'(] [:'(] [:'(]

I still have the box off the last one I bought, very simple doesn't say pci doesn't say what type says only "Lacie Firewire 400 PCI card" with a picture of the card, cost under $50. Works. I just plug my audio interface in that nothing else, works. cheap.

Miklos. [:D]

@cm said:

..all PCI-X slots are compatible for PCI 2.1 cards...

Thing is- the companies that sell these pci cards don't specify whether they're 2.1 or 1! Argh...look at this one...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Belkin-FireWire-3-Port-Software-Cable/dp/B0000YB7QC/sr=1-2/qid=1159706136/ref=sr_1_2/202-9717519-5224667?ie=UTF8&s=electronics

If you compare that Belkin one to the Sonnet Allegro version, the ends at the bottom of the card are different [*-)] ....

http://www.sonnettech.com/product/allegro400.html

HELP!!!! lol

this (belkin @ amazon) is typical PCI 1 - 32 bit 5 V - not compatible and does actually not fit to PCI-X (see the notch on the adjecent side of the bracket)

this (sonnet allegro) is typacally PCI 2.1 and compatible to PCI-X and PCI 32 bit (see the two notches - to fit in both types of slots)

two notches means it allows to be used in slots with 3,3 and 5 V
christian

Check the specs for the 1.8GHz G5 PowerMac at http://support.apple.com/specs/powermac/Power_Mac_G5_June_2004.html

What this document states is that this computer has "PCI slots Three open full-length 33MHz, 64-bit PCI slots."

@Matt Taylor said:

SATA? lol

I suggested SATA as an alternative to firewire drives - thus freeing your Mac's Firewire port for your audio interface.

forgot .. there are also PCI 2.1 33 MHz 64bit slots, the sonnet would also fit in such a slot.
christian

Ah thanks Christian...looks like the Sonnet Allegro is the one to get then.

@stevesong said:

Check the specs for the 1.8GHz G5 PowerMac at http://support.apple.com/specs/powermac/Power_Mac_G5_June_2004.html

What this document states is that this computer has "PCI slots Three open full-length 33MHz, 64-bit PCI slots."

My g5 is the single 1.8GHz ...its spec list is here I think:

http://support.apple.com/specs/powermac/Power_Mac_G5_Late_2004.html

I've bought and installed the Sonnet Allegro card...and connected my audio interface (M-Audio Firewire410) through it....am still having crackling/popping sounds. I've tried playing the VSL instruments in Logic via the inbuilt audio as opposed to using the M-Audio Firewire410...still hear crackling. I've even tested whether my external HD is the problem, and transferred all my samples to my internal HD...still hear crackling. I've tried adjusting the buffer and virtual memory settings in Logic...still hear crackling. I've bought an extra 2GB of RAM...still hasn't solved the problem.

I've tried so many things to get these VSL sounds working smoothly and I don't know what else to do now..

Come on guys...no more suggestions????? [:'(]

What kind (i.e. big) are of VSL instruments you have load?
Can you try loading same amount of Logic's EXS Factory Instruments and see if the problem still stays?


Do you get the crakles while the VSL Track is selceted?
Do you play live or playback? Still is the track selected?

If yes try to playback a region without having the VSL/EXS trasck selected

Is the proccess buffer range in the audio HW preferences in Logic set to small? Try setting it to medium or large.
Is the rewire mode in the audio HW preferences in Logic set to Live Mode? Try setting it to playback.
Open the EXS instrument with your VSL isnrtument loaded and open the Virtaull Memory Window under options. While playing/playing back do you see the "not read from disk" showing any numbers which get higher? If yes try to change the settings "disk Drive speed (Slow) and HD Recording activity (extensivce)

Also as already recomendet try to change the I/O buffer size in the audio HW preferences in Logic.

Hope this helps...

Panos

Try setting your process buffer range to SMALL (are youusing logic?) audio buffer range is fine at anything over minimum 256, but just to test out, run it at 1024 to make sure the cracking is not coming from cpu problem. Although logic cpu meters will show maybe only 10% or 20% usage, in fact, it is not coping when the buffer range is too small - and also I just found out last week for myself that there is a glitch in logic you should not set the process buffer range (which is a different setting than the audio buffer range) to SMALL and not medium or large. Give it a try.

Miklos.

Hi...I've got it working...but only by completely wiping out the internal HD and running a system restore. I reinstalled the firewire410, logic pro, and the VSL instruments (onto my internal HD). I don't hear any crackling or popping anymore..at last!!!