I,m out of PCI slots, What are my options?

[davemx]

I have a fairly new Pc, When I bought it I failed to relise the importance of PCI slots.
Now i,m stuck (****) My PC only has 2 of them
And I estimate i will need about another 2 or more.
Does anyone else have the same problem?
Did you solve the problem?

All sugestions will be a great help.

Thanks

[CMonster]

External modem.

USB.

[Imperion1]

What else are you planning to install?

Only other option than the comm ports or usb is a new mobo with 5 or 6 pci slots.

[Yar1182]

You can also upgrade you motherboard. I never heard of a motherboard with 2 PCI slots, are the rest of them ISA?

You may also look into riser cards. They allow you to put you NIC, Modem, and sound card all on one PCI slot. I read about them in MAX PC. I'm not sure if they are out yet.

[davemx]

I'll have to look into the riser cards
(they might be just what I am looking for)
Yeah its true it does only have 2 pci slots,
I guess I bought my PC blindly as i,m new to the pc world.
I,m looking to install a graphics card. (I have no agp slot)
and a Tv Tuner
That takes all my slots up, and leaves no room for the future http://www.sysopt.com/forum/frown.gif


Oh well, more comments and advice welcome
Cheers

[spidey_joe80@hotmail.com]

i read an article in pc worl once that said that you could expand pci through some sort of hub. It was expensive though. A new motherboard would be cheaper.

PS your looking for a new vid card too so definatly go for a new motherboard. plus you'l get other cool stuff like more usb if u needed them.

[This message has been edited by spidey_joe80@hotmail.com (edited 06-09-2001).]

[Brangwen]

Invest in a new motherboard. Money thrown at alternatives you will likely be disatisfied with in 2 months seems to me is better put towards board with 4-5 PCI slots and AGP.

Good luck.

Brangwen http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif

[nunyadam]

buy a new board . then either sell the extra part's ,or use them to build another cpu that you can sell or use for linux,rc5,donate to charity,ect,ect,ect......


nunya

[hotrodder]

this videocard has a tv tuner on it http://www.accessmicro.com/productinfo.php3?ProductId=V32ATPCARA

[Yar1182]

I looked into the riser card option. The one the MAX PC article was referring to was Intel's new CNR spec. Like everything else there is a spec war with companies competing to see who's spec will win. It is actually a card that replaces you network, modem, and sound card. Basically integrated OEM style BS. Not an option I like or recommend.
There are server riser cards that will allow you to create 3 additional PCI slots out of one, but they are in the upper $200 range. That's a lot of money for 2 extra PCI slots. Then there is the IRQ thing. Pretty messy.
You options have been reduced to get a new motherboard.
Anyone interested here are some links
Intel CNR Spec (http://developer.intel.com/technology/cnr/)
PCI bridged riser card (http://www.intraserver-store.com/pcibridrisca.html)