Too Few PCI Slots on New Comp...

[Pollux]

I'm building my new computer and i'm using an Abit BP Motherboard. this motherboard has 5 pci slots but here is my problem. i have one slot taken up by an ethernet card, one by my dvd decoder card, two by my sound cards, and one by my scsi adapter. i dont' know what i'm going to do when i have to get a modem but i was wondering if anybody had suggestions on a sound card that only takes up one pci slot that has digital output or anything that could help me conserve pci slots... thanks a bundle everybody
-pollux

[bigslammer]

have you thought of gettting an ISA modem. I've heard of people who actually have gotten better performance from ISA modems.

[chipbgt]

its a little pricey, but heres what I would do: get a ati video card that handles dvd decoding, a sound blaster live card, and a usb ethernet card if you have usb....just some suggestions. that would get rid of that dvd decoder card and maybe one of those sound cards you have in there.

[bigslammer]

yes that is a viable option but as someone who has an ati video card I will say that ati cards are no good for gaming. yes the dvd movies do run smoothly but that's about all I can say about these cards.

[jonathankeeping]

Wow, seems like you got a pretty full PC there. I only use two PCI slots!!! I have heard that you can buy a PCI adaptor card. This card slots into a PCI slot and then branchs into two / three extra PCI slots. This is a possibilty but you may run out of IRQ's etc... Your best bet (if you do have ISA slots) is to buy either a ISA modem, or an ISA ethernet card. These will still work just as well as the PCI cards for normal use. Hope thats of some use!!!

[CMonster]

Get an external modem. Serial or USB.

[Butchk]

I agree with bigslammer and jonathankeeping you should look into getting a ISA modem. I have three of them in use in other pcs and have had no trouble with them. In fact in one case better preformance than a PCI.

[800XL]

I run a software DVD decoder, and have even since I was running a Riva128 4meg video card. Having seen hardware decoding and software, my untrained eye saw no significant difference. An ATI video card is not required to play DVDs. TNT and V3 cards have some DVD acceleration built in as well, but even that is not required. Right now I'm running an ATI Rage128 (it was free /forum/wink.gif) and it does just fine for gaming. Of course with 516Mhz of Celeron shoving it down the framerate road and LPBDSL certainly does not hurt. The ATI hardware DVD features don't make a lot of difference in PowerDVD, the software I am using.

I think you are on the right track looking for a single sound card. The thing I am wondering is what you have now that needs two slots? The next question that springs to mind is what for? I'm just a little baffled and wondering. /forum/wink.gif

I have no real recommendations for a sound card myself. I'm still running an AWE64 so it is not something I've really looked at. Look at features you want and then check out some reviews on your choices.

[Ygor]

I wondered about the 2 sound card slots too, assumed it's th SB Live with the daughtercard.

[Alzarius]

Don't get a PCI modem. Most of them are Winmodems anyway.. And you definately won't be "win"ning any performance award with those. If you HAVE to get an internal modem, get an Isa modem. But I'd seriously suggest an external modem...

[bkehoe]

I recently got a PCI modem here (Diamond SupraExpress) to replace a blown ISA one. Bit of a mistake.

The machine it is in runs at a 112MHz BUS (Celeron 300 @ 504), and it affects the modem terribly - i.e. it stays squaking and squeeling and eventuannly only connects at 33.6. If I bring the bus back to 100MHz it runs fine, but I had no problems with my ISA modem in overclocking.

Brendan.

[This message has been edited by bkehoe (edited 11-08-1999).]

[LittleKing]

First I would assume you are not going to use the modem and nic cards at the same time. In this case you could remove the nic card and place it with the modem. Also I have seen a lot of modem and nic comflicts when they are installed together, so this might also bypass another problem later.

I also think the isa or exteral modem is a good alternative.

LK

[Pollux]

Thanks for all your responses!
I was planning on getting the SB Live! which does have a daughtercard for digital out. however it looks like the soundblaster x-gamer has digital out and only one card. anybody know any more about this? the isa modem sounds like a good idea too. thanks
-pollux

[U-96]

I just bought the CL SB 1024 Player and it has digital capability (that's what it's sucking from my CDROM anyway). It (at least the UK version does) comes with Alien vs Predator too if you like that kind of thing. /forum/smile.gif

Check their site to see if it suits your requirements. It doesn't have MIDI sockets, if that was ever a consideration, but the Platinum version has a neat gadget which gives you a whole stack of I/O holes using a front 5.25" drive bay. Neat if you are into music-making, keyboards, etc, but pricy.
Oh and they have patchy DOS legacy support (i.e. SB16 emulation) if you use a lot of old stuff.

U-96