Can i plug a USB2PCI Express Card into my Tyan Mobo?Direct Links Insid

[Cytomax]

Hello all i purchased the Thunder K8S Pro (S2882) motherboard a while ago to build a server running Windows 2K3 and realized that the USB 1.1 ports that the mobo came with aren't fast enough and i want USB 2.0 speeds. I checked newegg and found a StarTech USB 2.0 PCI Express Card.

My question is
Can i use this with the following mobo and which of these mobo slots should i put it in (they are all empty except for the Legacy PCI Slot).

I am very familiar with computer stuff (build em... fix em... network them... as a part time job) up until these new PCI-X stuff started coming out...Anyways... i was reading the manual for the mobo and it says (Direct link at bottom of page)

Expansion Slots
? 2 Independent PCI-X buses from AMD-
8131
? PCI-X bridge A supports 64-bit
100 / 66 / 33 MHz with two 3.3-Volt
PCI-X slots
? PCI-X bridge B supports 64-bit 133 /
100 / 66 / 33 MHz with two 3.3-Volt
PCI-X slots
? One legacy 32-bit 33MHz PCI slot (5v)
from AMD-8111
? Total of five usable slots


Here are Tech Specs for the 4 Port USB 2.0 PCI Express Card

Warranty Lifetime warranty
External Ports 4 - USB A Female
Internal Ports 1 - USB A Female
Maximum Data Transfer Rate [480 Mbits/Sec]
Industry Standards PCI Express One Lane 2.5Gb/s
Shipping (Package) Weight 0.4 lb [0.18 kg]
OS Support Linux, Windows 2000/XP/Server 2003, MAC G5 and up


I already have a 56K modem on the only Legacy PCI slot so i cant use that.

Direct Link to Motherboard PDF
http://www.tyan.com/manuals/m_s2882_102.pdf

Direct Link to StarTech USB 2.0 PCI Express Card Model PEX400USB2 - Retail
http://www.startech.com/Product/ItemSpecs.aspx?productid=PEX400USB2&c=US

One last question.. i was reading http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PCI-X and it mentioned something about being able to put Legacy PCI into PCI-X

"PCI-X is generally backward compatible with PCI, meaning that you can, for example, install a PCI card that is keyed to allow 3.3V operation in a PCI-X slot. A PCI-X card can be installed in a PCI slot provided it has the correct voltage keying for the slot and (if inserting in a 32 bit slot) nothing obstructs the overhanging part of the edge connector. PCI and PCI-X cards can be intermixed on a PCI-X bus, but the speed will be limited to the speed of the slowest card (for this reason and the voltage compatibility issue most systems with PCI-X will have a normal PCI bus as well) . PCI-X improves the fault tolerance of PCI allowing, for example, faulty cards to be reinitialized or taken offline."

Thanks in Advance
Eddie

 

[wahnula]

Cytomax,

You have a nomenclature issue...PCI-E is PCI Express, which the USB 2.0 card uses. It is a newer interface and comes in x1 (pronounced 'by one') through x16 speeds.

PCI-X is PCI eXtended, which you have on your MB. Here is a good article that explains the differences:

http://www.tomshardware.com/2005/11/23/pci_express_battles_pci/

Tony

 

[Cytomax]

Thank you wahnula youve cleared it up for me.. ill go look for a pci extended card...
Good thing i asked.. you saved me time and money.. and best of all a headache.
Eddie

 

[wahnula]

Cytomax,

Glad to have been of help. It might be a real money-saver to research if you can use a standard PCI USB 2.0 card in your MB's PCI-X slots (I think yes).

Best of luck!

Tony

 

[Cytomax]

I actually found this

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16815104216

I was hoping i can put this in my pci-X slots
Its a legacy PCI card
I think it will work but i would like a second opinion
Thanks in Advance
Eddie

 

[wahnula]

Cytomax,

Look at page 17, section 2.13 of your manual. Make sure that the jumper J41 is in the closed position to accept a standard PCI card in slot 3 or 4. You should be good to go.

Tony

 

[Cytomax]

Holy cow .. thanks again.. definitely above and beyond what i have asked.. normally i would tear the manually apart and read it all but i am in med school right now and would have definitely not read this then banged my head against the wall for a few hours and waisted so much time...
THANKS A BUNCH!
Eddie

 

[wahnula]

No problem...we don't need our future doctors going out in the world with dented foreheads...

Tony