Octane PCI Cards - Printable Version
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Octane PCI Cards - rbz - 09-25-2020
Can non-SGI specific PCI cards be used in a PCI Cage? I have a old Adaptec 2940w SCSI card that I was thinking about tossing in the PCI cage just to see if it would show up on the bus, not to use.
Would I damage anything by just popping the card in and seeing if it can be probed to see if the cage sees something populated?
I spent awhile trying to find out what PCI devices are supported and there doesn't seem to be a really good exhaustive list. Only a few are on the Octane page on HI Wiki
RE: Octane PCI Cards - GeekLucanis - 09-25-2020
http://serenityconnection.com/octane-hardware-aggregator/
RE: Octane PCI Cards - jpstewart - 09-25-2020
(09-25-2020, 09:56 PM)rbz Wrote: Can non-SGI specific PCI cards be used in a PCI Cage?
Drivers are the issue. IRIX only has drivers for the supported SGI PCI cards. But most (maybe all) of them are re-branded versions of commodity PCI cards. For example, just last week I put a generic QLogic QLA2342 dual-port 2Gbps fibre channel in my Octane. Works fine so far, because SGI sold QLogic fibre channel (and SCSI) cards. Similarly, there are generic FireWire and network cards that can be used in place of SGI's cards that are based on the same chips. But I don't think there were Adaptec SCSI drivers for the Octane.
Be forewarned that certain drivers are platform specific, though. IIRC the IP35 machines (O300, Tezro, etc.) support LSI Logic fibre channel PCI cards but the Octane doesn't because the IRIX driver for them is IP35 only. So even if IRIX supports a certain PCI card in one machine, it doesn't necessarily support that same card in a different SGI machine.
RE: Octane PCI Cards - weblacky - 09-26-2020
In terms of "testing". Many later SGIs support PCI-X (please don't confuse this with PCI Express, it's not a shorthand, it's different) cards (I know the O2 doesn't, I thought O2 was 5v only?) I thought many of the later models have dual-keyed 3.3v and 5v PCI card support. I only say this as, assuming it's a professional made PCI card...if it fits...it ships.
Which means, if you can get it into the slot, then the slot supports it and you will not do any damage to try it.
It doesn't mean it will work on Irix, but if the card can safely fit into the slot, you're not hurting anything to trying. Other then possible connector wear from removals and insertions.
RE: Octane PCI Cards - Raion - 09-26-2020
PCIe is the usual abbrev of PCI-Express - I've never seen people confuse the two.
RE: Octane PCI Cards - weblacky - 09-26-2020
I've had people argue it 3 times over the years on SGI posts (not here)...that's why I "headed it off at the pass". I've seen people mistakenly say PCIx instead of PCIe, because they see 1x, 4x, 8x, 16x on PCIe and think it's related. Didn't want that argument again...I hate it when people argue the straw man by misunderstanding acronyms.
RE: Octane PCI Cards - rbz - 09-26-2020
Thanks guys, great info here, and that other list is great to keep in the back pocket.
I will toss the 2940w in the machine tomorrow and see what happens. 🤞
RE: Octane PCI Cards - weblacky - 09-26-2020
I think I use a Adaptec 2940UW in one of my O2's to get me an external Ultra-Wide SE SCSI connection.
RE: Octane PCI Cards - jwhat - 09-27-2020
(09-25-2020, 10:42 PM)GeekLucanis Wrote: http://serenityconnection.com/octane-hardware-aggregator/
Good list there, you could also add:
Using Opcode Midi Translator and the right Serial to Mac DIN plug you can connect Midi Keyboard to Octane to use with the Synthesizer.
I will dig out the unit and cable and take a picture for posting.
Cheers from Oz,
John
RE: Octane PCI Cards - GeekLucanis - 09-28-2020
[/quote]
Good list there, you could also add:
Using Opcode Midi Translator and the right Serial to Mac DIN plug you can connect Midi Keyboard to Octane to use with the Synthesizer.
I will dig out the unit and cable and take a picture for posting.
Cheers from Oz,
John
[/quote]
Please do