PCI less CPU overhead vs Firewire? po...

PCI less CPU overhead vs Firewire?

Posted on Apr 26, 2005 04:40 pm
rkruz
Member Since: Sep 02, 2004

The Echo Layla3g Audio Interface is at least $100 less then their new
Firewire version (AudioFire8).

I dont have a portable need for Firewire. Is there some technical reason to
stay with PCI?. Does the PCI version use less CPU overhead then a Firewire
would?

Any thoughts?

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zekthedeadcow
Eat Spam before it eats YOU!!!
Member
Since: May 11, 2002

Apr 26, 2005 07:11 pm

PCI is faster Firewire is portable.

It's my understanding that Firewire800 max throughput is at 100MB/sec

where PCI can have sustained throughput of atleast 132MB/sec limited by the PCI buss. A 133mhz PCI buss can do 1GB/sec which is more than enough for raw HDTV.

both of which are more than enough for 24bit 96khz audio which is 16MB/min per channel.

I think with the exception of cheap/old video cards and Disk I/O, hardware cycle use is negligable. PCI was developed to work in x86'and 466's