Intel SandyBridge... I don't get it.

[Lennart Sorensen]

On Thu, Jan 27, 2011 at 04:32:46PM -0500, D. Hugh Redelmeier wrote:
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open-loop_controller
> 
> The controller gets no feedback from the controllee so it doesn't know
> for sure that its commands have had the desired effect.  IR remotes
> are only open-loop because they assume that the human can monitor the
> results and correct for failures.  An IR blaster cannot observe the TV
> screen or set-top-box display to see if the commands were registered.
> 
> Is firewire control of the STB yield feedback to the controller?

Hmm, good question.  I have never had firewire fail.

> Another question:
> 
> I bought a firewire controller just for controlling a couple of STBs.
> The controller has one ordinary FW connector and two 9-pin connectors
> ones for 800MHz firewire (I think).
> http://www.dynexproducts.com/products/computers/DX-PCI2PF.html
> I guess that I need a 9-Pin to old-fashioned FW converter or cable.

I think you can get an FW800 to FW400 adapter cable that just ignores
some pins.  I have never used FW800 at all.

> Is that correct?  Are such cables common?

Probably.  Never looked.

> TV stuff.
> 
> [I've just ordered DDR3 RAM, so I'm getting committed to this
> project: nothing I currently have would accept DDR3 DIMMs.]

It's always good to stick with ram from the tested list from the
motherboard.  Sometimes things are incompatible.

> Are USB3 ports (as on the socket 1156 I'm looking at, (when used as
> USB 2 (for the Hauppauge HD PVR) likely to be less CPU intensive than
> ordinary USB2 ports?

USB3 only helps for USB3 devices.  USB1 and 2 have no concept of
interrupts, and hence always poll.

> A big honking motherboard looks to be cheaper.

Sure, if it exists anymore.

-- 
Len Sorensen
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