Magma P13RR-TEL user manual Urati o n, Verify your configuration

M A G M A

4, 7, 13Slot Chassis	PCI Expansion
	Host Card

				t
			u
		O
		-
	n
a
F

Co

nfi

g

urati o n

PCI Expansion	4, 7, 13Slot Chassis
Host Card

Proprietary

Expansion

Cable

4, 7, 13Slot Chassis

Proprietary

Expansion

Cable

Magma

Expansion

Cable

PCI Expansion

Host Card The Fan-OutConfiguration is the recommended solution. It typically

provides optimumperformance on most systemsbecause there are fewer PCI bridgesbetween the Computer CPU and the PCIcards.

In this configuration, you have fewer “Toll Booths” (PCI Bridges) to pass through; therefore there are fewer opportunities for concern.

For clarification, it is necessary to understand that the amount of latency caused by any PCI Bridge (even those built into a 3rd Party PCI card or the computer motherboard itself) is negligible (“nanoseconds”) and will not produce any visible effect on most systems. It is only mentioned here because on a few rare configurations which use some unique PCI cards with special software drivers, the total number of PCI buses that the data must pass through COULD make a difference. See Chapter 5 Troubleshooting for more information if you suspect this could be an issue with one of your specialty PCI cards.

Verify your configuration

Before you start installing your PCI cards (refer to Chapter 4 Install Cards and Drives for more information), you should confirm that everything is in proper working order. Refer to Chapter 3 Verify Installation for guidance in verifying the proper installation of your Expansion System. The following image shows the Windows Device Manager display when a Windows PC has 2 Expansion Systems connected in a “Fan-Out” configuration.

Windows Device Manager with 2 PCI to PCI Expansion Systems Installed

in a “Fan-Out Configuration.

44Appendix B Need More Slots?