Solved Question on PCI-E Slots

[Staragox]

I haven't had to use an expansion slot, since back when PCI slots were around (that long ago).

I am trying to figure out about PCI-E slots. I have a 2011 motherboard (Gigabyte 890FXA-UD5 Rev 3.0). It supports PCI-E standard 2.0.

What I want to know is, and I am a bit confused about. If I buy something like a USB 3.0 expansion card, that provides additional USB 3.0 slots for my computer and requires a PCI-E slot. Can I plug this into a PCI Express x16 slot? Or are those just for graphic cards? Also the expansion card has a connector that is the size of PCI Express x1 slot. I want to know even if the connector is small enough for a PCI Express x1 slot, if I can plug it into a PCI Express x16 slot? I thought I read somewhere that this would work, but I want to double check first.

So my questions are (but please read the above before answering):

1) Are PCI Express x16 slots only for graphic cards?

2) Can you plug an expansion card that has a connector the size of a PCI Express x1 slot into a PCI Express X16 slot? From what I can tell, it will fit, but I want to know if it will work, and I read somewhere else that you could do this, but I want to make sure and double check that what I read was correct before I try.

 

[SIW2]

1) Are PCI Express x16 slots only for graphic cards?

No

2) Can you plug an expansion card that has a connector the size of a PCI Express x1 slot into a PCI Express X16

Yes


Thinking of something like this?
https://www.amazon.com/FebSmart-Sel...+to+usb3+card&qid=1566796791&s=gateway&sr=8-7


You might not need to use the pcie x16 slot, depending on what else you have got on your board.
According to the specs, you have several

1. 2 x PCI Express x16 slots, running at x16 (PCIEX16_1, PCIEX16_2) (Note 2)
2. 1 x PCI Express x16 slots, running at x8 (PCIEX8) (Note 3)
3. 1 x PCI Express x16 slots, running at x4 (PCIEX4)
4. 2 x PCI Express x1 slot (All PCI Express slots conform to PCI Express 2.0 Standard.)
5. 1 x PCI slot

(Note 2) For optimum performance, if only one PCI Express graphics card is to be installed, be sure to install it in the PCIEX16_1 slot; if you are installing two graphics cards, it is recommended that you install them in the PCIEX16_1 and PCIEX16_2 slots.
(Note 3) The PCIEX8 slot shares bandwidth with the PCIEX16_1 slot. When PCIEX8 is populated with a PCI Express graphics card, the PCIEX16_1 slot will operate at up to x8 mode.


Why not use one of the 2 x PCI Express x1 slots?




Looking at the specs, you have plenty of sata3 , but no internal connector for usb3, so a card might be cost effective.
GA-890FXA-UD5 (rev. 3.0) | Motherboard - GIGABYTE Global

 

[iko22]

2) Yes, it will work as a PCIe x1 device, and the unused PCIe lanes will be ignored by the controller.

1) Some x16 slots are dedicated for graphics and SLI/Crossfire configurations. This just means that your computer will get better performance from installing graphics card(s) in these slots.

 

[Staragox]

I have a Nvidia GTX 580 graphics card, that I originally bought at full price. Since then I been on disability, and haven't been able to replace it. The graphics card takes up 2 slots, so it blocks atleast one of the x1 slots, if not both. I have to check. That is why I was wondering about the x16 slots. Also I can still run, even most modern games, atleast the ones I enjoy playing (like strategy games and RPG games) at decent graphics settings.

I thought you could plug a x1 PCIE device into a X16 slot, but just wanted to be sure before buying one and trying, so that is why I posted this thread. This motherboard had so many ports on it, even though it is old age, it even had a couple of USB 3.0 ports and e-SATA ports. So didn't really need to use a PCIE slot, until recently when I am adding a lot more USB 3.0 devices to my computer. And yeah I tried a USB 3.0 hub, but I have had random disconnects if I stick too many devices on it, or bandwidth problems with multiple hard drives. So wanted to add a PCIE card to expand my old computer to get some more life out of it.