Crisp Posted July 2, 2011 Share Posted July 2, 2011 Just a quick question out of the blue if anyone could answer for me, are PCI-E slots all mix and match? I've got a Micro-ITX Motherboard (AsRock E350M1) which comes with a large X16 PCI-E slot (for a Graphics Card) as shown below... but was wanting to get a Wireless Networking card for it. Would a X1 or X4 Network card fit this X16 slot? Obviously a X16 card wouldn't fit a X1 / X4. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1009570-are-pci-e-slots-mix-match/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
+PeterUK MVC Posted July 2, 2011 MVC Share Posted July 2, 2011 On 02/07/2011 at 17:51, SCRISP said: I've got a Micro-ITX Motherboard (AsRock E350M1) which comes with a large X16 PCI-E slot (for a Graphics Card) as shown below... but was wanting to get a Wireless Networking card for it. Would a X1 or X4 Network card fit this X16 slot? Yes. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1009570-are-pci-e-slots-mix-match/#findComment-594122720 Share on other sites More sharing options...
+LogicalApex MVC Posted July 2, 2011 MVC Share Posted July 2, 2011 PCIe slots can go anywhere the board maker thinks makes sense. They attempt to align them with standard case ports, of course. But PCIe is designed in "lanes" so all cards work in all slots. They just get less bandwidth if they are put in a slot with less lanes than they desire. Most boards lock off the slots so only the cards with the same lane size fit, but if you cut the back wall off an X1 slot it will run an X16 card just fine (just slower). This isn't all that concerning since most boards only have 1 x16 lane anyway (even when they have multiple x16 size slots) as they usually down clock lanes depending on what is plugged into them. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1009570-are-pci-e-slots-mix-match/#findComment-594122724 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew S. Posted July 2, 2011 Share Posted July 2, 2011 Your picture answers your own question :p Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1009570-are-pci-e-slots-mix-match/#findComment-594122736 Share on other sites More sharing options...
articuno1au Posted July 2, 2011 Share Posted July 2, 2011 On 02/07/2011 at 18:02, Frazell Thomas said: PCIe slots can go anywhere the board maker thinks makes sense. They attempt to align them with standard case ports, of course. But PCIe is designed in "lanes" so all cards work in all slots. They just get less bandwidth if they are put in a slot with less lanes than they desire. Most boards lock off the slots so only the cards with the same lane size fit, but if you cut the back wall off an X1 slot it will run an X16 card just fine (just slower). This isn't all that concerning since most boards only have 1 x16 lane anyway (even when they have multiple x16 size slots) as they usually down clock lanes depending on what is plugged into them. Although technically correct, it's kind of like hacking your leg off and attaching an arm to it. It fits right, and it kinda works, but just not properly.. x16 refers to the number of lanes (as stated above). Thus x16 can run x1, x2, x4, x8 and x16 channel hardware. You can theoretically do it in reverse, and run a x16 card in an x1 slot.. However most systems rely on all of the pins being powered to run, thus although technically it's true, it's not even a little true :p Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1009570-are-pci-e-slots-mix-match/#findComment-594122738 Share on other sites More sharing options...
+LogicalApex MVC Posted July 2, 2011 MVC Share Posted July 2, 2011 On 02/07/2011 at 18:07, articuno1au said: Although technically correct, it's kind of like hacking your leg off and attaching an arm to it. It fits right, and it kinda works, but just not properly.. x16 refers to the number of lanes (as stated above). Thus x16 can run x1, x2, x4, x8 and x16 channel hardware. You can theoretically do it in reverse, and run a x16 card in an x1 slot.. However most systems rely on all of the pins being powered to run, thus although technically it's true, it's not even a little true :p What are you talking about? Technically true, but not even a little true? I'm not sure sure I understand your point... The PCIe standard is designed to allow devices to run in any slot and allowing longer slots with more pins to allow more lanes. As you can see referenced on Wikipedia... Not to mention the numerous examples of people actually doing it... http://www.techpowerup.com/forums/showthread.php?t=110528 http://www.overclock.net/overclock-net-folding-home-team/439190-great-news-pci-e-x1-folding.html http://www.invisiblerobot.com/pcie_x1/ http://blog.zorinaq.com/?e=53 There is no limitation except that most consumer motherboards close off the end of the slots to only allow cards with lower lanes than their slot to be plugged into them. But like I said, the physical width of the lane doesn't translate into how it really works. My motherboard has a ton of Physical PCIe lanes slot wise, but can't deliver anywhere near that in reality. This board has a total of 65 physical PCIe lanes while the P45 can't deliver anywhere near all that bandwidth at the same time. The Mobo automatically shuts off lanes as those slots fill up. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1009570-are-pci-e-slots-mix-match/#findComment-594122826 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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