emusonacid!

Before I go out and drop $100+ on a SCSI/Firewire converter, I'm wondering if anybody can confirm (or deny) that it will work. (particularly, the Ratoc Systems FR1SX)

OK, a little background...

1) It's a PC, obviously. As exciting as it is to hear about all the wonderful things people do with their Apple (and I am painfully aware... my school is using fully tricked out duel-core G5s for our broadcasting/film program), I'm looking for specifically PC answers. Even more specifically PC WinXP answers.

2) I don't have a free card slot on my motherboard at the moment. While in a perfect world I would install a lovely SCSI controler card in my PC, I can't do it without replacing my motherboard (which I'd rather not get into attempting... due to attrociously bad luck and an unwillingness to tempt fate).

3) I have a (recently acquired, used) e6400 'classic' (NOT-ULTRA!) running EOS 4.62

4) For reasons I'm not willing to discuss (ok, it's purely superstition... I've had bad luck with some USB, but never anything but bliss with Firewire), I'm looking for a Firewire solution, not USB.

So... can anybody help?

I think either USB or firewire, you're out of luck... gotta make some sacrifices, either free up a slot or manually sample, simple as that.

Well, the two PCI slots are currently taken up by my sound card (not dropping that one) and my wireless network card (and current practical living arrangements prevent me from dropping that one... a network cable running the length of the house just isn't an option).

However (and here's where things get interesting), I've discovered I have two free PCIe x1 (that's PCI express x1, and slots shorter than regular PCI, which Adaptec seem to just call PCIe... the video card uses PCIe x16, the extremely long slot, which Adaptec seem to refer to as PCI-X).

Any of you know if somebody out there makes a PCIe x1 SCSI card? Adaptec seem to make PCIe cards for the high end RAID stuff, but only PCI and PCI-X cards for those with lower needs...

Are Adaptec the only (North American) people making SCSI cards? Am I just hopeless clueless? Has the answer been lurking under my nose the whole time? (oh wait, that's just my beard...)

I know how you feel about USB, but everyone makes USB wireless adapters. I have one (dlink dwl-122), it gets the job done and works with both mac and pc. Then just go and pick up a cheap, used PCI SCSI adapter... you don't need anything fancy. Like a 2920 or 2940, oh, did you realize you will need a bunch of cables and a SCSI terminator too?

Hmm, yes... OK, if I understand this SCSI thing correctly, the e6400 can handle terminating the SCSI chain internally on its end, and I assume a PC SCSI card can handle it internally on that end, and there's nothing else on the chain, so I'm in the clear as far as terminators. No SCSI drives in my PC, but there's the SCSI drive in the e6400 (which I've got to assume is terminated properly itself). Yes, obviously I'm going to need a cable (until somebody invents/perfects wireless SCSI), which will have to match the appropriate port format on each end (the E-mu's a Centronics 50-pin). Kick me if I'm getting this wrong...

Yeah, I've been reading TweakHeadz' page a bit for the last week or so.

Actually, that USB wireless network adaptor idea appeals... my current wireless has been acting like crap lately (and not that nice, store bought crap... just regular garden variety crap... or sidewalk variety crap).

Anyway, thanks for the replies.