Intel D525MW. Need 2nd LPT Port. Mini-PCIe OK?

Also I don't want to use the Mesa boards, because I want the DB25 connection for the Gecko's.

You could connect DB25 connectors to Mesa card headers, it's only wiring.
The 7i43 gives you a much better solution than twin parports for about the same cost as than MiniPCI card.

I have a D510MO and I am not at all sure that the MiniPCI slot is a true slot, or whether it is really for WiFi cards only.

rantonides wrote:

I found a flexible pci extender that might make it so I can fit a conventional PCI card in my case.

The flexible one should be OK, I am using one to connect a 5i23 to my D510MO motherboard. I had no luck with any of the solid over-the-board riser cards I tried, both of them prevented the computer from booting. There is supposedly a working right-angle riser available, but I have not managed to track it down.

I'm trying to stay away from the custom mesa to DB25 cables because I will be building a large number of these systems and want to eliminate potential assembly mistakes.

If the quantities are high enough then you could possibly have some small PCBs made up with box headers on one side, DB25 on the other, and the correct track layout for the pinout you need. It would probably cost about $25 for 10 boards. (that is the price for 10 off 50mm x 100mm boards at Seedstudio, who I have used once with good results)

PCW wrote:

Theres also the possibility of using the 5I25 (DB25 I/O FPGA card) if you need more performance

That looks pretty neat. Do you also have a pre-built 34-pin header to DB25 adaptor for a second DB25?

For controlling two G540s from EMC2 that looks absolutely ideal.

Here is a link to the page:
www.mesanet.com/fpgacardinfo.html