PCI Express is the new standard that will replace PCI. The new PCIExpress interface ... more
effectively quadruples the amount of availablecomputing bandwidth resulting in faster music downloads smootherstreaming video and lightning-fast access to mass-st...
Postage & Packaging: £4.39 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
PCI Express is the new standard that will replace PCI. The new PCIExpress interface ... more
effectively quadruples the amount of availablecomputing bandwidth resulting in faster music downloads smootherstreaming video and lightning-fast access to mass-st...
Postage & Packaging: free Super Saver Delivery Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Advantages: Simple setup, manages itself Disadvantages: Very occasional low signal
Following on from my review of the Belkin wireless router, this is the piece of kit at the other end of the link. The PCI Desktop Card is whats required to allow the PC to communicate with the router.
This product cost me £25 when I bought it. I was interested in the Belkin wireless router, so I played safe and used the same manufacturer for both items that would allow the router and my PC talk to each other.
--Whats in the box--
On opening the box, there were no real surprises. There was the PCIcard, the antenna, a quick installation guide and a CD which contained the drivers and a full manual.
--Installation--
On reading the quick installation guide, it was apparent that the software had to be installed before the card was plugged in. The reason for this was because, when the hardware was detected, the software would ...
Advantages: Advantages: Cheap, all in one solution Disadvantages: No manual overide or audio support
stops autoscanning and lets you use the currently selected PC.
The Belkin claims support for scrolling mice but I did find sometimes one PC would start up without recognising this facility if it wasn't the currently selected one when booting up and in extreme cases, wouldn't recognise the keyboard and mouse at all. Previous KVM's I've used send the PC fake 'There's a keyboard and mouse here' messages when not selected and it seems this unit does not, which is a pity.
Conclusion
The Belkin2port KVM is a well built unit that works nicely and provides a great way to save desk space and the cost of a second monitor, keyboard and mouse. The long leads are useful and despite the niggles with scrolling mice and the lack of manual switch. I'd say this unit is worth considering at this price if you can live with those shortcomings ...
Advantages: Cheap, all in one solution, audio support Disadvantages: No manual overide
of leads in to each PC. The F1DL102P has PS/2 leads for the keyboard and mouse but a USB version is also available. The audio support is limited to a single stereo jack and microphone input but given the market this is aimed at, I can't really see the lack of multi-channel audio support to be a problem.
The monitor, keyboard and mouse are then connected to the KVM to complete the set up. One bugbear is that like the vast majority of KVMs, this Belkin unit has cables going in one end and out the other making it difficult to place on a desktop without having cables hanging out everywhere. However, there is no reason why you can't just tuck it out the way out of sight as it has no parts you'd normally need to access. The leads were of a generous length allowing some room to manoeuvre on PC placement.
Features
As noted, the Belkin supports ...
Product Information for "Belkin SATA II RAID 2-Port PCI Express Card" »
General
MPN
F5U197EA, F5U251EA
Device Type
Storage controller (RAID) - plug-in card
Interface Type
PCI Express x1
Storage controller
Controller Interface Type
Serial ATA-300
Data Transfer Rate
300 MBps
Supported Devices
Hard drive
Channel Qty
2
Max Storage Devices Qty
2
Expansion / connectivity
Interfaces
1 x storage - Serial ATA-300 - 7 pin Serial ATA ( external )
1 x storage - Serial ATA-300 - 7 pin Serial ATA ( internal ), 2 x storage - Serial ATA-300 - 7 pin Serial ATA ( internal )
Compatible Slots
1 x PCI Express x1
Miscellaneous
Works with Windows Vista
Software and devices that carry the Works with Windows Vista logo have been tested for baseline compatibility with PC's running.
Software / system requirements
Software Included
Drivers & Utilities
OS Required
Microsoft Windows 2000 / XP, Microsoft Windows Server 2003
Manufacturer warranty
Service & Support
Limited lifetime warranty
Service & Support Details
Limited warranty - lifetime
Manufacturer's product description
PCI Express is the new standard that will replace PCI. The new PCI Express interface effectively quadruples the amount of available computing bandwidth, resulting in faster music downloads, smoother streaming video, and lightning-fast access to mass-storage devices. The Belkin SATA II RAID 2-Port PCI Express Card offers the perfect solution for users who want to add Serial ATA II ports to their computers. The Card is designed to take advantage of the additional bandwidth and features provided by the new PCI Express I/O interconnection standard. Now you can download multiple large files at the same time without worrying that your computer will freeze, crash, or slow down to a trickle. The PCI Express Card future-proofs your computer with technology so advanced that it exceeds the processing-speed capability of many devices currently on the market. Installing the PCI Express Card now will give you device-upgrade expansion room for many years to come.
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