Backwoods,
Do your research.!
IF the PCI buss is flakey on the newer MB's (and I "think" there are issues),
the 9652 could go the way of the 9632.
If you are "married" to ADAT the raydat (the raydat is PCI-e; IIRC) would be the way to go.

Tom

Thanks for the information gentlemen.

I can see it's a bit of a deep subject and I'm in over my head really. I'm going to visit a mate tonight who knows audio back to front (and has a PT HD homestudio) and try and glean some tips and tricks from him.

That thing about ADAT compromising 24bit is something I was not aware of Mike. Just looking at the plethora of cards out there now where do you think it is all going ? I was tempted to just spring for an Apollo but then you read firewire is on the way out and of course it just has to be FW800 for the Apollo and only MAcs have Thunderbolt etc etc ad nauseaum. Probably I'll get some exterior USB device that can take ADAT- I see the new Roland Studio capture cannot.

That UFX unit looks to be a bit of a beast Tom. USB and Firewire too, you've got all bases covered! 

Probably will pass on this HDSP 9652 in light of the doubts cast on it's future in this thread. The guy who owns it is trying to play "hardball" with the breakout cables too which is a bit weird! But in this economic climate who can blame a guy :)

Back, there is nothing wrong with adat 24 bit something with the 9652.
it is all just digital data. 

It is all hard to figure out though. 
I'll sell you mine if you want it. $300.
Let me know.

Thanks for the offer Timidi.

I decided to take a punt and bought the one I first saw. If it needs be that I move to a legacy OS in order to make it work- so be it. I'm 97 percent audio/ %3 midi anyway so moving back to a 32 bit machine will not be an issue.

Thanks for the insights guys- I have been on a bit of a learning path here today.

FYI, for using with a 64-bit OS, the one to get is the later "HDSP" 9652 version. The earlier "DIGI"  or "Project Hammerfall" 9652 versions never got 64-bit drivers.

the one to get is the later "HDSP" 9652 version

+1