What are secondary PCI slots?

[RyanVM]

Hello, I'm looking at buying the Asus P2B-D2 and I noticed the 6/1/1 configuration, which I really like. What I'm asking about is that it says it has 3 primary PCI slots and 3 secondary PCI slots. Does this mean that only 3 of them are busmastered or what? Thanks for your help.

Another question regarding the P2B-D2: it has 2 SIMM slots for I/O subsystem memory. What exactly does the I/O subsystem need memory for?

Here's the actual specs for the P2B-D2:
www.asus.com/products/Specs/MB/p2b-d2-Spec.asp (http://www.asus.com/products/Specs/MB/p2b-d2-Spec.asp)

Now if only I could find a place that sells them...:-)

Ryan VanderMeulen
rvand@sirus.com

[This message has been edited by RyanVM (edited 03-20-99).]

[This message has been edited by RyanVM (edited 03-20-99).]

[nimrod]

am i right but the spec suggests that it has no secondary cache itself but relies on the cache on the processor(s)

[RyanVM]

I would think that would be normal.......it is a PII MB.

BTW - While I'd still like my questions answered, I decided this board was a wee too pricey for me (it's about $900). Oh well.......

Ryan VanderMeulen
rvand@sirus.com

[smunzli]

the board you were looking at is a high level server board. scondary pci slots are non busmaster. and the i/o memory is for the raid controller that is build onto the board. it works in conjunction with the i960. $900 not a bad price for this board. just installed a simular board that listed for $2600, but had 4 PII slots.

[RyanVM]

In case you're wondering, it's the ASUS P2B-D2. I'm considering because when you factor what you'd pay seperately for an Ultra2 SCSI card, Ethernet, and possibly RAID, it's a heck cheaper than buying them seperately. Besides, unlike audio and video, Ethernet and SCSI are things that aren't upgraded often. Thanks for the input!

BTW - what performance hits are you looking at by using non-busmaster PCI slots?

Later,
Ryan VanderMeulen
rvand@sirus.com