> Having worked on a few ISA interfaces, I am assuming PCI would be the
> same in the following respect:  Use buffers/line-drivers wherever you
> can, to protect your poor PCI bus!
> Starting with a dedicated PCI controller IC might be a boon in the
> end, too.

More than a boon - pretty much essential.
PCI is orders of magnitude more complex than ISA. Just at the
hardware level the interface uses the reflection on the bus to get a
valid logic level and the plug-in board is only allowed one inch (IIRC)
between the connector and the bus receiver/driver.
Bridge chips will package most of the interface up for you and your
circuit will live in its own little (logical) world. It's do-able but way
out of the realms of a few logic chips on a home etched PCB.

Steve.

======================================================
Steve Baldwin                Electronic Product Design
TLA Microsystems Ltd         Microcontroller Specialists
PO Box 15-680, New Lynn      http://www.tla.co.nz
Auckland, New Zealand        ph  +64 9 820-2221
email: steveb@tla.co.nz      fax +64 9 820-1929
======================================================

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