Generally having physical slots does not add much/ any power draw unless they are occupied. I have seen enough machinery controlled via custom PCI boards that the decision somewhat makes sense. I do think the X10SAT makes more sense to get, but since they have the same base motherboard design, and I have a SAE my sense is that they are in production.Patrick,
The X10SAE has PCI slots. PCI slots are legacy, and I wonder if they "bloat" the mobo? What do you think about that? I mean, if I buy a mobo with serial and parallel ports, wouldnt those ports need additional chips and hardware that bloats the mobo? Sure, the Thunderbolt connection requires new chip and hardware, but that is not legacy. I would like a clean and lean mobo, with no bloat. So, would PCI slots that are never used, bloat the mobo, suck power, etc? Anyone has thoughts on this?
Serial and parallel controllers take barely any transistors or power now, especially if unused. The only real "bloat" would be the traces and connectors on the board, something ATX has plenty room for with a UP design.Patrick,
The X10SAE has PCI slots. PCI slots are legacy, and I wonder if they "bloat" the mobo? What do you think about that? I mean, if I buy a mobo with serial and parallel ports, wouldnt those ports need additional chips and hardware that bloats the mobo? Sure, the Thunderbolt connection requires new chip and hardware, but that is not legacy. I would like a clean and lean mobo, with no bloat. So, would PCI slots that are never used, bloat the mobo, suck power, etc? Anyone has thoughts on this?