It just came to my attention that computer architecture is transitioning from the PCI interface to the PCI Express interface.
This supports my contention that Firewire (IEEE 1394) and USB 2.0 are the preferred methods for connecting high-quality, high-resolution audio interfaces to computers.
While I have two RME Multifaces (the original, not the Multiface IIs shown in the link) that use dedicated PCI cards, this means that if I purchase a new computer with a PCI Express interface, I’ll have to purchase two new PCI Express interface cards for the RME Multifaces — and hope that RME makes it at the time I need it. Many users have expressed satisfaction with their Digital Audio Labs CardDeluxe.
This sounds a lot like the Zefiro Acoustics ZA-2 ISA card that is languishing in a Dell Dimension XPS PII 333 MHz machine.
My recent foray into an audio interface via IEEE 1394 was the MOTU 828 MK II. So far, I am happy and it’s finding uses in the studio as well as the remote notebook-centric applications I originally acquired it for.
I would think that a good audio interface might last longer than a good PC, so consider this approach.