Solved GA-Z87-HD3 motherboard and PCIe slots sharing lanes?

[ownedandout]

I was reading the Spec for the GA-Z87-HD3 and it says -

When it says - "The PCIEX4 slot shares bandwidth with all PCI Express x1 slots. All PCI Express x1 slots will become unavailable when a PCIe x4 expansion card is installed."

Does this mean that if I plug any card into the x4 slot that both the PCI Express x1 slots won't work or only if I plug a x4 into that slot?

For example if I put a x1 card into that slot would I still be able to use both the x1 slots?

When it says that they "share bandwidth" does that mean that they share the same physical lanes between the slots? and when you put a card in (e.g. into the x4 slot) it cuts of the lanes reaching the slots further down?

Any help would be appreciated,

Thanks

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Even if you put an x1 card in the x4 slot, you will lose the x1 slots. Many boards share PCI-e lanes with several slots and even services such as USB. e-SATA, and Wi-Fi. The most common scenario is only x16 being shared with two x16 long slots. If only the top one of the two are used, it will run at x16. However, if both are used, both will run at x8. If you put an x16 GPU in the top slot and a 1x card on the other shared slot, the graphic card will run at x8.

 

[ownedandout]

Even if you put an x1 card in the x4 slot, you will lose the x1 slots. Many boards share PCI-e lanes with several slots and even services such as USB. e-SATA, and Wi-Fi. The most common scenario is only x16 being shared with two x16 long slots. If only the top one of the two are used, it will run at x16. However, if both are used, both will run at x8. If you put an x16 GPU in the top slot and a 1x card on the other shared slot, the graphic card will run at x8.

hmm, I asked this question in another forum and they said that I would be able to put a x1 card in the x4 slot and the 2 x1 slots would still work.

If I did the above would that not leave 3 lanes available for the other 2 slots?

Thanks for the help.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

No. However, feel free to try it.

 

[madcratebuilder]

This review may help.

 

[fireberd]

One other issue, not directly related to your question, is the PCI slots. On almost all new motherboards, the PCI slot is not a true "PCI Bus" slot but is "bridged" to the PCIe bus. Many PCI boards either will not work or work properly in the bridged PCI slots. This is a major issue on recording forums I visit as many have some "old reliable" PCI audio recording interface hardware and they are finding it does not work in new motherboards.

 

[GeneO]

I'd check it. I know with my Asus, if I put a x4 card in that slot, the other 3 single lane PCI-e slots become unavailable, but if I put a single lane card in, the 3 single lane slots are available.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

I'd check it. I know with my Asus, if I put a x4 card in that slot, the other 3 single lane PCI-e slots become unavailable, but if I put a single lane card in, the 3 single lane slots are available.

Curious. That usually doesn't happen. Usually, if you put even a 1x in a slot that's rated for so many lanes, it will tie up all those lanes even though using only one of them. That's something to store away in my memory banks.

 

[ownedandout]

Thanks for the responses everyone. I have just tested it and it worked.

I put a x1 USB 3 controller in the x4 slot and then a x1 Wi-Fi adapter in a x1 slot and both worked fine.