I am looking for a device that takes a PCI card and converts it to USB. I have a PCI 16 port DVR card that I plan on using for my security system at home which will have about 8-10 cameras on it. (Yes Caledonia has a lot of crime.) I plan on using this system to as a test bed for my clients and for a little extra security. But I don't want to have to build a new computer that is very low power unless I have to. So if any body has heard of anything like this let me know or know of a computer that consumes less then 50 watts with a PCI slot. Thanks.

You're looking to add extra PCI slots via USB connector? I've never heard of this.

It might not be practically possible: http://discuss.extremetech.com/forums/permalink/522132006/522132006/ShowThread.aspx#522132006


What about adding a PCI daughterboard or something?

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Do it for the Lobster

Quote by Chops

What about adding a PCI daughterboard or something?

The laptop I have does not support it. Startech has something close http://www.startech.com/item/PEX2PCIE4L-PCI-Express-to-2-PCI-Full-Length-2-PCIe-Single-lane-Expansion-Box.aspx But for $400 I can make a PC from the ground up. Which is what I am kinda leaning towards. I am looking on Newegg for a bare bones system with low power usage as this has to connect to my solar array/batteries at 12 volts. I found a 12vdc power supply for the computer so I don't have to goto 120v and back down to 12v. I am looking at the Atom processor also so if you know of anything let me know.

Yeah, I'd recommend you just build up an Atom machine. Plenty of options on newegg. Stay away from Ion boards though as they will dramatically increase your power consumption and you don't need the video processing anyway.

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no fat chicks

Quote by skeezer65134

Yeah, I'd recommend you just build up an Atom machine. Plenty of options on newegg. Stay away from Ion boards though as they will dramatically increase your power consumption and you don't need the video processing anyway.

Actually I was looking at the ION boards the ASUS AT3N7A-I it has HDMI out which might work for me down the road to connect this system to my HDTV when ever I get one. For $150 bucks this board has everything a fast dual-core Atom 330 processor, PCI slot, 10 USB ports, 3 SATA, GBIT LAN, and built in bluetooth. I read a few reviews on it and one tested its power usage and it was lower then the Intel version. So even if it uses a little more power (if the tests were wrong) that should be fine as long as its under 50 Watts which it should even under full load.

I've got the ECS 945GCD-M(1.0) in my RAID box. This board is awesome because it feature a PCI Express x16 port, which means I can add any video card I want. ION is OK, but it's pretty weak compared to a big boy video card. It doesn't have quite as many USB ports, but everything else is the same and it's $60 cheaper. If you want to hook it up to the HDTV down the road, pick up a cheap nVidia card and you're all set.

I have to say, for being a lowly Atom processor, this thing cranks! I also enjoy that it'll run in 64-bit mode.

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no fat chicks

How long have you had it? I like having the PCI Express x16 port for expansion and its got the Intel chipset which is guaranteed to work with my DVR card that I want to use. Any down sides that you have found with this board? I see that people have over clocked it by adding a fan to it which is nice to know. Does the Bios have alot of features to it? Thanks. I am really looking into this board now.

I've only had it for a few months now. I use it on my RAID box, so it's headless and running Linux. I know the LAN doesn't work out of the box in Linux but you can compile the drivers for it. I had an old USB adapter which worked out of the box, so I just plugged that in there.

As for the BIOS, I'm not sure. I seem to recall it using the Phoenix BIOS, but I could be mixing that up with something else. I can snap shots of it if you're really interested though since I happen to have a monitor hooked up to it right now.

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no fat chicks

No it not needed. If you can over clock it it should have some options on it. Thanks.

Skeezer what case did you use for your board?

I have an old full-tower case. I needed the room cause I have 5 hard drives in there (1 for the OS, 4 RAIDed).



I especially like that the board is fanless; all those drives, the PSU and the 2 case fans blowing on the array make enough noise already; even with the fans running on 6 volts!

You need dimensions or anything?

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no fat chicks

No, I am good right now. I did not know that these fit in a full case. Thats good to know since I have a few cases laying around. Thanks for info. Newegg has them of $90 with a $18 MIR not to bad of a product for $72 and free shipping.