Audio and Sound Card Solutions for the Mac Pro (PCI-Express), Mac OS X Internal Solutions / Audio Quality in Mac Pro / End of PCI / Options

[gramarye]

The Mac Pros' expansion slots are only limited to PCI-Express. Having this limitation, does this minimize the possibilities and options out there for the audiophile market?

PCI at its end?
There is a fact that PCI, alone, provides plentiful bus bandwidth for audio cards, and that implementing a PCI-Express card would be "overkill." Another words, PCI-Express would provide too much of the power and speed for what audio cards really need or are capable of. Furthermore, it is also stated that PCI slots are appearing less in the market and will soon be replaced by PCI-Express (and PCI-Express 2.0). The Mac Pros already eliminated PCI for about 2 years now, and currently adapts the PCI-Express 2.0 technology on all its respective expansion slots.

Audio Quality in Mac Pro
Is the Audio quality (input + output + analog + digital) in the Mac Pro, rated decent or well? (I'm curious to know the same as well as the MacBook Pro.)

External Solution vs. Internal Solutions
I understand a lot of external solutions has taken over in this market, do you think internal solutions will be defunct in the near future?


Please share any PCI-Express solutions you may admire/want/have. Or just brands and products to consider. Aren't others curious to know what kind of audio solutions they can upgrade their Mac Pro with? For me specifically, I'm interested in a compatible card for my Audio/Video Production Workstation.


I strongly believe this is a valid discussion that emphasizes much potential as audio and technology continuously develops. And of course, this is open to everyones' viewpoints.

[gramarye]

RME:



http://www.rme-audio.de/en_products_overvi...ess_list#intern

[Midi of Lager]

RME:



http://www.rme-audio.de/en_products_overvi...ess_list#intern

I'd love to know if there are any converters for the old pci-x cards... I'm in the market for a new computer, but don't really want to fork out a whole swathe of cash for a new sound card. what d'ya reckon?