pci open half length

[LORI]

i know help is out there. i'm building a system 1st time using an
abit sa6-r motherboard. i want to use sound blaster live platinum 5.1
the system requirements calls for a open half-length pci 2.1 compliant slot. are these components compatible? will i be able to use the sound
blaster with the abit motherboard?

[bassvax]

I could be way out on a limb...but I think "half-slot" is the norm for us home users...at least according to this http://www.geek.com/sysup/sysup052000/upques209.htm
I personally had not heard the reference before I saw your post. I just did a search on Yahoo for "pci half length slots". I just installed the Platinum 5.1 on my ASUS a7v133 mobo which is similar to yours. I didn't run across the half reference though. Anyways, it fit my pci slot(s). Maybe someone else can explain the evolution of the pci card which is, I guess, why they went from 14" to 7". Happy building http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

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Jerry

[LORI]

Thanks Jerry for the info. I went to soundblaster for info
on the platinum 5.1 and under system requirements is says
open half-length pci 2.1 compliant slot. So I'm assuming
the slots on the motherboard are full length 14" and the
card is half-length 7". I'm gathering up info on components,
then making sure everything is compatible, and I ran across
this. Again Thank You

[Paleo Pete]

The PCI slots on the motherboard are actually about 3 1/2" to 4" long, I haven't measured. The cards themselves vary in overall length, but most are about the same size as ISA slots, the connector tab on the bottom is the main difference, it's further from the edge of the board than ISA slots, and the metal tab that fits the vertical slot on back of the case is off to the side so it won't work in an ISA slot, so you don't put it in the wrong place.

14" or full length cards were the older 8 bit variety found in XT/AT machines. Some of those were also made in half-length form, to avoid getting in the way of other internal components or drive bays, that's where the term half-length comes from. I've never heard of PCI being referred to as half-length either, but I think it's probably a generic term for all cards that general size. Some ISA cards were also full length, but not many.

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[Randy_tx]

Although I'm not familiar with the motherboard you are using.....If it is new and the Soundblaster PCI card is new.......it's gonna work fine. The "1/2 slot" may be referring to the Sound Blaster card not having the second "slot" on it.....but it still fits nicely.

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"As hard as a rock & dumb as a brick"...Windows CEMeNT