1 Topic by Shadow (edited by Shadow 2016-07-13 03:17:16)

  • Registered: 2015-02-14
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Topic: Multiface II PCI or Cardbuss Adaptors ?

Hello, I have a Multiface II that came with a Cardbus and power supply and I also have two PCI cards ( version 1.8 and 1.9) and I am building a new audio computer using an Asus X99 Deluxe II motherboard. The board like most others does not support PCI.
I was wondering if there are any proven Cardbus or PCI to PCIe or Thunderbolt adapters that will allow my Multiface II to work with this board without having to buy a PCIe card. I'm pretty tapped out on the new PC so would really like to find an adaptor. The Asus Deluxe has Thunderbolt and an optical port as well if that's an option. Anyway .. any help appreciated. Thanks

2 Reply by ramses (edited by ramses 2016-07-13 04:59:11)

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Re: Multiface II PCI or Cardbuss Adaptors ?

For the Multiface II also a RME PCIe card exists, costs new around €350 in germany.
This appears to me as best solution. Maybe you get one used / cheaper.
You might need to search as not every shop seems to have them in their assortment anymore.

http://www.rme-audio.de/en/products/hds … php?%C2%B4
http://www.synthax.de/de/rme-pci-expres … -card.html

BR Ramses - UFX III, 12Mic, XTC, ADI-2 Pro FS R BE, RayDAT, X10SRi-F, E5-1680v4, Win10Pro22H2, Cub14
  • Registered: 2015-02-14
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Re: Multiface II PCI or Cardbuss Adaptors ?

Hi and thanks for the response. I have been looking for a used one but there isnt much out there as the majority seems to be  PCI. I just sank over $1100 US into building a new computer so having to come up with another $500 for a device that is no longer in production isnt feeling good. The X99 platform has been out for a few years so I was hoping someone had found a solution.

4 Reply by ramses (edited by ramses 2016-07-13 18:03:01)

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Re: Multiface II PCI or Cardbuss Adaptors ?

There exist enough other mainboards with PCI slots ... look for 1150, 1151 and 2011-3 Xeon boards.

Check here and use filters

http://geizhals.de/?o=9

BR Ramses - UFX III, 12Mic, XTC, ADI-2 Pro FS R BE, RayDAT, X10SRi-F, E5-1680v4, Win10Pro22H2, Cub14
  • Registered: 2015-02-14
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Re: Multiface II PCI or Cardbuss Adaptors ?

Thanks Ramses .. I really wanted the whole research thing to be over with my purchase of the Asus x99 deluxe and 5820k ( still in sealed boxes) but I also don't want to loose my Multiface II OR have to spend another $500 on a pcie card. I like the beefiness of the Deluxe and the potential thunderbolt, etc.  I had previously researched the 6700k  but settled on more cores of 5820k as I didn't want to run into the 99% cpu load like what i do now on my Q9550 quad. I don't have a huge track count ( maybe 30 or 40 tracks) but i do use a lot of plugins.  I haven't studied any of the 6700k associated boards out there ..is there any consensus on which 6700k board, chipset, etc is the best for daw? Thanks again.

6 Reply by ramses (edited by ramses 2016-07-15 06:44:32)

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Re: Multiface II PCI or Cardbuss Adaptors ?

Maybe a Xeon based solution would have been more beneficial to you as it offers more CPU variants up to two CPU solutions. But I have no personal experience with CPUs over 8 or 10 cores, which have more cores but less single thread performance.

All that I can watch is, that Cubase 8 Pro uses all cores and threads of my E5 1650v3 CPU but the cores/threads are not fully utilized compared to rendering a video with vegas pro. I have a certain suspicion, that a CPU with more cores might be more beneficial as Cubase makes use of all Cores / threads. But those CPUs are expensive ...

But then you get other problems, that for Xeon and Chipset C612 you wont find i.e. from Supermicro a board with thunderbolt. There is only a dual CPU board available.

From ASUS I noticed a board with all bells and whistles but it costs €480
http://www.heise.de/preisvergleich/asus … 38107.html

I am also tempted to switch to this board to be able to re-use my E5-1650 und hopefully my ECC RAM ....
But this is high cost and little risk and I am not sure whether this Asus Workstation board is really "good quality" (a "no brainer"). Maybe I better stick to my current system but then without Thunderbolt.

BR Ramses - UFX III, 12Mic, XTC, ADI-2 Pro FS R BE, RayDAT, X10SRi-F, E5-1680v4, Win10Pro22H2, Cub14
  • Registered: 2015-02-14
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Re: Multiface II PCI or Cardbuss Adaptors ?

I checked on the return agreement for which I bought my board and cpu and I am too late on returning them. Ive been seeing posts such as this  https://www.forum.rme-audio.de/viewtopic.php?id=22608 where people have had good luck running their Multifaces on pci to pcie adaptors. In light of all this I think I'm going to go ahead with my present build and see how it goes. If it doesnt work, I could always sell them and aquire a 6700k and one of the 1151 boards as presented. I'll report back with the results as it may help someone else contemplating this same build. Thanks for your help!

8 Reply by beatpete (edited by beatpete 2016-07-19 16:19:21)

  • Registered: 2007-05-02
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Re: Multiface II PCI or Cardbuss Adaptors ?

My PCIe adapter still works perfectly. Because it sits up higher than a normal PCIe card I had to use a longer screw and a molex adapter for power but it's very secure and never an issue on my Asus USB 3.1 MB.
Don't forget you can always buy a RME PCIe HDSPe card too.

  • Registered: 2015-02-14
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Re: Multiface II PCI or Cardbuss Adaptors ?

Thanks beatpete, that's very encouraging to hear that it is stable in the adapter. I am hoping my version 1.9 card will work as normal without having to use the RME power adaptor or killing the card

  • Registered: 2007-05-02
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Re: Multiface II PCI or Cardbuss Adaptors ?

Just thought I'd post to say that my trusty Digiface is still working perfectly (PCI card with Startech PCIe adapter) in my new Asus Prime X570-P/Ryzen 3950x build. I think I've had this card for about 12 years and it STILL outperforms just about anything else! I especially love the multi-client drivers... Way to go RME!

11 Reply by timo.heil (edited by timo.heil 2021-01-03 18:31:49)

  • Registered: 2021-01-03
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Re: Multiface II PCI or Cardbuss Adaptors ?

beatpete wrote:

Just thought I'd post to say that my trusty Digiface is still working perfectly (PCI card with Startech PCIe adapter) in my new Asus Prime X570-P/Ryzen 3950x build. I think I've had this card for about 12 years and it STILL outperforms just about anything else! I especially love the multi-client drivers... Way to go RME!

Sounds promising. To you mean this one? https://www.mindfactory.de/product_info … 16708.html

  • Registered: 2007-05-02
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Re: Multiface II PCI or Cardbuss Adaptors ?

timo.heil wrote:

Sounds promising. To you mean this one? https://www.mindfactory.de/product_info … 16708.html

Yes

  • Registered: 2021-04-03
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Re: Multiface II PCI or Cardbuss Adaptors ?

Hi there,

I am also upgrading to a new PC (the last one I bought 12 years ago) and have the same issue, having the good old HDSP PCI card.
So, Timo, I checked out the Star Tech adaptor card that you recommended. I live in Australia so I looked for a local supplier. (link of product desription https://www.mwave.com.au/product/starte … rd-ab64902 )
There is a note: "    The PEX1PCI1 is not compatible with 32-bit 3.3V PCI cards. It is compatible with 5V or universal 3.3V/5V PCI cards only."

Now, I checked RME's website specs ( https://archiv.rme-audio.de/en/products … erface.php ) where it reads: "Short PCI 2.0 compliant PCI card, 32 bit, 3.3 V, PCI-X compatible."

Is this the same card that you are using? If so, then I will order it.


Thanks!

Roland

14 Reply by MC

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Re: Multiface II PCI or Cardbuss Adaptors ?

All our PCI cards use 5 V from the PCI bus only. All 3.3V connections are unused. So it should work.

Regards
Matthias Carstens
RME

MC's Website

  • Registered: 2021-04-03
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Re: Multiface II PCI or Cardbuss Adaptors ?

Thanks MC, much appreciated!

  • Registered: 2007-05-02
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Re: Multiface II PCI or Cardbuss Adaptors ?

Yes, that's the same card I use.