Hello,

I'm considering getting an Expert3D framebuffer for my
Sun Blade1000. However the component description makes the following
note:

# On a Sun Blade 1000, do not install in PCI Slot 1 (66MHz). Install
only in Slot 2, 3, or 4 (33MHz).

I've two questions regarding that:

1. Why isn't it supported in the 66mhz pci slot?
2. What will be the performance impact of these contraints? Won't the
limited bandwidth (252mb/sec versus 504mb/sec for 66mhz pci) have
quite some impact on performance?

I hope anybody will be able to answer these questions.

Thanks in advance,
Jogchem (reverse username in email-adress to get a valid email)

"Jogchem" <toorged.j.e.r@student.utwente.nl> wrote in message
newsQcgb.111925$4o1.13628128@amsnews03.chello.co m...
> Hello,
>
> I'm considering getting an Expert3D framebuffer for my
> Sun Blade1000. However the component description makes the following
> note:
>
> # On a Sun Blade 1000, do not install in PCI Slot 1 (66MHz). Install
> only in Slot 2, 3, or 4 (33MHz).
>
> I've two questions regarding that:
>
> 1. Why isn't it supported in the 66mhz pci slot?

A hardware bug in the Blade 1000 perhaps? Silently fixed in the Blade 2000
maybe? Hey, at least that would help qualify the 2000 as being an upgrade
from the 1000, and at least slightly worthy of a new model number (Now
with 66Mhz PCI support!)

> 2. What will be the performance impact of these contraints? Won't the
> limited bandwidth (252mb/sec versus 504mb/sec for 66mhz pci) have
> quite some impact on performance?

This page suggests a "slight" impact:

http://www.sun.com/desktop/products/...rt3dspecs.html

Whereas this page for the similar Expert3D-Lite rates it at 20-40%:

http://www.sun.com/desktop/products/...lite/faqs.html

I believe I once saw a fill rate / polygon performance chart showing the
66Mhz vs. 33Mhz numbers, but I can't locate it at the moment.


-cjs

On Monday 06 October 2003 1:01 pm in comp.sys.sun.hardware Jogchem wrote:

> Hello,
>
> I'm considering getting an Expert3D framebuffer for my
> Sun Blade1000. However the component description makes the following
> note:
>
> # On a Sun Blade 1000, do not install in PCI Slot 1 (66MHz). Install
> only in Slot 2, 3, or 4 (33MHz).
>
> I've two questions regarding that:
>
> 1. Why isn't it supported in the 66mhz pci slot?
> 2. What will be the performance impact of these contraints? Won't the
> limited bandwidth (252mb/sec versus 504mb/sec for 66mhz pci) have
> quite some impact on performance?
>
> I hope anybody will be able to answer these questions.

This instruction usually applies to older model cards which were
not designed to run at the faster speed.

The fast bus needs fast cards.

--
My real address is crn (at) netunix (dot) com
WARNING all messages containing attachments or html will be silently
deleted. Send only plain text.

"Chris Newport" <me@see-my-sig.invalid> wrote in message
news:4673854.CBckQBsavF@callisto...
> On Monday 06 October 2003 1:01 pm in comp.sys.sun.hardware Jogchem wrote:
>
> > Hello,
> >
> > I'm considering getting an Expert3D framebuffer for my
> > Sun Blade1000. However the component description makes the following
> > note:
> >
> > # On a Sun Blade 1000, do not install in PCI Slot 1 (66MHz). Install
> > only in Slot 2, 3, or 4 (33MHz).
> >
> > I've two questions regarding that:
> >
> > 1. Why isn't it supported in the 66mhz pci slot?
> > 2. What will be the performance impact of these contraints? Won't the
> > limited bandwidth (252mb/sec versus 504mb/sec for 66mhz pci) have
> > quite some impact on performance?
> >
> > I hope anybody will be able to answer these questions.
>
> This instruction usually applies to older model cards which were
> not designed to run at the faster speed.
>
> The fast bus needs fast cards.

Not true. The Expert3D install docs advises installation in a 64bit 66Mhz
PCI slot on the Ultra 60 and Ultra 80. However for the Blade 1000
it specifically states not to use a 66Mhz slot.

-cjs