PCI 2.3 Compatibility with PCI 2.1 devices?

Question

I see a lot of posts in the audio section with questions or users that are buying Retail SB Audigy 2ZS or other Audigy sound cards. According to the SoundBlaster site specs these are PCI 2.1 devices.

Question, are the Dell's with the 2.3 PCI also backward compatible with 2.1??? I hate to suggest to someone that they buy a sound card such as the Audigy 2ZS (which has the Dell propietary front panel headphone jack connector on the card) if they are not really compatible.

Jack

ejn63 · Answer

The 2.3 slots will work fine. The only cards that won't are 5V PCI cards (PCI 2.1 supports 5V, while 2.3 doesn't).

fireberd · Answer

That's my whole point. The cards, according to the SoundBlaster site specs are 2.1. If the Dell's with 2.3 do not also support 2.1 I would assume they are not really compatible.

ejn63 · Answer

Except for the deletion of 5V support, 2.3 is backward compatible with 2.1. The SB cards are not 5V cards, so they should work.

Creative's drivers are another matter - they're among the worst in the industry.

Dale Nihiser · Answer

fireberd

Look at the key (notch) on the pci card. If the key is rearward, then the card is a 5v signalling card and not supported by pci version 2.3.

On the otherhand, if the pci card has two keys, one forward and one rearward, then the card is considered a "universal" pci card meaning the card features 3.3v signalling (forward key) and 5v signalling (rearward key) and is supported by pci version 2.3.

This audigy2 zs is a universal pci card and should work under pci version 2.3.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ShowImage.asp?Image=29%2D102%2D178%2D05%2Ejpg%2C29%2D102%2D178%2D02%2Ejpg%2C29%2D102%2D178%2D03%2Ejpg%2C29%2D102%2D178%2D04%2Ejpg&CurImage=29%2D102%2D178%2D03%2Ejpg&Description=Creative+Sound+Blaster+Audigy2+ZS+SB0350+7%2E1+Channels+PCI+Interface+Sound+Card+%2D+OEM

The same problem is cropping up in the video section where owners are trying to install cheap Geforce 6200 pci 5v signalling graphic cards or old video capture cards in Dimension 3100s and E310s. The cards fit fine, they just won't light up.

This card is a 5v signalling card:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ShowImage.asp?Image=14%2D122%2D221%2D01%2Ejpg%2C14%2D122%2D221%2D02%2Ejpg%2C14%2D122%2D221%2D03%2Ejpg%2C14%2D122%2D221%2D04%2Ejpg%2C14%2D122%2D221%2D06%2Ejpg&CurImage=14%2D122%2D221%2D02%2Ejpg&Description=Leadtek+TV2000XP+RM+PCI+Interface+Tuner+Card+with+Remote+Control+%2D+Retail

Good Luck

Dale

Cool Master Centurion 5 CAC-T05 Mid tower case
AMD Athlon 64 3700+--->AMD Athlon 64 4000+ San Diego
MSI K8N Neo4-F Socket 939 ATX motherboard
1GB Cosair ValueSelect PC 3200 DDR 400 SDRAM
EVGA GeForce 6800GS 256Mb GDDR3 PCI Express
Maxtor DiamondMax 10 200Gb 7200rpm SATA 150 HD
Plextor 708A 8x burner
Thermaltake TR W0070 ATX 430W PSU
Logitech Optical Mouse MX310
Logitech Wingman Rumblepad
Altec-Lansing headphones w/mic
Viewsonic G90fb-2 19"
Windows XP Home Sp2(all updates)
D-Link 524 Wireless Ethernet Broadband Router

fireberd · Answer

Thanks for all the info. I'm not installing anything on my own systems. Just trying to get the info straight so I don't tell or suggest the wrong thing.

But it still comes back to the original question. Are the Dell's with 2.3 also backward compatible with the old 2.1 (5v)?

jackshack · Answer

Hi fireberd;   I think you were sleepy; Dells with 2.3 will not drive a 2.1 card if that card requires 5v signaling.  That's why the card must be a universal card or a 2.2 or later card. :smileyhappy:

Dale Nihiser · Answer

This might help. Version 2.1 pci cards support both 3.3v and 5v signalling. As long as the pci card features 3.3v signalling, pci version 2.3 will support it.

http://www.digi.com/pdf/prd_msc_pcitech.pdf#search=%22pci%20version%22

The pci cards I have experienced are pci version 2.0 and have only the rearward key (notch) meaning the card is 5v signalling only. The link above illustrates the different signalling cards.

In the video forum, members were recommending (unknowingly..myself included) the wrong video card to users of E310/3100 series Dells. Credit Speedstep for alerting us to the error.

Good Luck

Dale

Cool Master Centurion 5 CAC-T05 Mid tower case
AMD Athlon 64 3700+--->AMD Athlon 64 4000+ San Diego
MSI K8N Neo4-F Socket 939 ATX motherboard
1GB Cosair ValueSelect PC 3200 DDR 400 SDRAM
EVGA GeForce 6800GS 256Mb GDDR3 PCI Express
Maxtor DiamondMax 10 200Gb 7200rpm SATA 150 HD
Plextor 708A 8x burner
Thermaltake TR W0070 ATX 430W PSU
Logitech Optical Mouse MX310
Logitech Wingman Rumblepad
Altec-Lansing headphones w/mic
Viewsonic G90fb-2 19"
Windows XP Home Sp2(all updates)
D-Link 524 Wireless Ethernet Broadband Router

Message Edited by Dale Nihiser on 10-05-2006 07:18 PM

fireberd · Answer

'Dells with 2.3 will not drive a 2.1 card if that card requires 5v signaling' Aha! finally got my answer. thanks Jack

Locked Topics – Desktops General

PCI 2.3 Compatibility with PCI 2.1 devices?

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