Specifications

18 Chapter 1: Introduction
Data transfer
Under optimum conditions, Matrox Solios can exchange data with the Host at a
peak transfer rate of up to 1 Gbyte/sec. For Matrox Solios XCL and XA, these
conditions include using the board in a 133 MHz PCI-X slot. For Matrox Solios
eCL and eA, these conditions include using the board in a x4 or x8 PCIe slot with
at least 4 active lanes; the eCL-B and eA Single boards can use a x1 PCIe slot. If
Matrox Solios XCL and XA are used with a conventional 3.3 or 5V PCI slot, the
maximum transfer rate is reduced (132 Mbytes/sec for a 32-bit PCI slot, 266
Mbytes/sec for a 66 MHz 32-bit PCI slot, and 532 Mbytes/sec for a 66 MHz
64-bit PCI slot).
Although the Matrox Solios boards do not have an integrated display section,
images can be transferred either to any available Matrox display board or a
third-party display board in the computer.
Important Note that transfer of image data to a display board might require intervention
from the Host CPU, depending on your computer’s architecture.
Documentation conventions
This manual refers to all Matrox Solios boards as Matrox Solios. Matrox Solios
eCL/XCL refers to the single-Base, dual-Base/single-Medium, and single-Full
versions of Matrox Solios XCL and Matrox Solios eCL. In addition, Matrox Solios
eA/XA refers to the Quad, Dual, and Single versions of Matrox Solios XA and
Matrox Solios eA. When necessary, this manual distinguishes between the boards
using their full names. Also note that, when the term Host is used in this manual,
it refers to the host computer.
❖ Note that unless otherwise stated, the information in this manual reflects the most
recent versions of the boards available at the time that this manual was written
(refer to Appendix C: Major revisions of Matrox Solios boards).