pci-e revision question.

Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast

  1. Posts : 21
    windows 10
       #1

    pci-e revision question.


    I cannot find a definitive answer to a query I have:

    I am looking to add a larger nvme drive to my main PC. Doing so will mean pulling the smaller nvme drive. Having no where else to install the old nvme drive, I was hoping to use a pci-e adapter and place it into an old system. Whether it can be booted or not is not the concern right now.

    The old system's motherboard is a Gigabyte EP45 UD3P. The pci-e slots are revision 2.0. The slot I would be hoping to place the adapter into is a x16 sized slot wired as a true x8 slot.

    What I was hoping to do was to buy a x8 pci-e 3.0 adapter for the nvme drive and plug it into the x8 pci-e 2.0 slot.

    I have heard mentioned using a 'switch' adapter card to be able to achieve the speed the driving is capable of (or something close), in a scenario such as this. What I want to know is if that is necessary. Can a pci-e 3.0 x8 nvme adapter card plugged into a pci-e 2.0 x8 slot allow a x4 nvme drive it's full speed? Or, would the drive be limited to only x4 speed on the pci-e 2.0 interface?

    Either way I intend to install the drive in the old system because even limited on pci-e 2.0 I am led to believe it will still be faster than SATA II.

    I realize this is not a 'Windows" specific question but a hardware question; I have simply come to trust people's knowledge here and this is usually the first place I turn. If this question is unfit for this forum, my apologies. Please let me know and I will delete it.

    Thank you.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 5,048
    Windows 10/11 Pro x64, Various Linux Builds, Networking, Storage, Cybersecurity Specialty.
       #2

    Hi.

    Wow. PCIe 2.0 is really old.
    The device would run no faster that that 2.0 speed.

    Hope this helps.

      My Computer


  3. Posts : 56
    WINDOWS 7, 8
       #3

    There comes a point at which it just isn't cost effective to run new hardware on an old PC. Old PCs are good for checking emails, light browsing, maybe watching videos online or very, very light gaming. You can still do your income tax on them or even build a website. NVMe is for performance. Standard M.2 SSD is about the max for PCIe 2.0 and even then, in most cases, it would still be overkill. As much as you may love your well-aged unit (and believe me, I love those old units too) you still can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. If you want to start shelling out that kind of coin for additional hardware I suggest looking at some new system boards. Just a suggestion. What you are talking about here constitutes ancient. I'd still keep the PC though. It's a classic in it's own right. GA-EP45-UD3P (rev. 1.1) Overview | Motherboard - GIGABYTE Canada
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 5,048
    Windows 10/11 Pro x64, Various Linux Builds, Networking, Storage, Cybersecurity Specialty.
       #4

    SCANNERMAN said:
    You still can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.
    Great! New one for me.

      My Computer


  5. Posts : 1,050
    windows 10
       #5

    Hello,

    Compared to sata II you will have a better speed of transfer, 2.000 GB/s in writing/reading, but less than a pci express 3.0 x4, 3.938 GB/s in writing/reading.

    But there is one thing you need to know it's not sure you can boot nvme ssd with your old motherboard! I don't know exactly what the motherboard must have to be able to boot the nvme ssd with a pci-E card. I've seen it in this forum several times from about several months to over a year ago. The NavyLCDR person will be able to tell you why. I don't remember why.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 4,453
    Win 11 Pro 22000.708
       #6

    "Whether it can be booted or not is not the concern right now."

    Why not? Most of us would want to use a fast SSD as an OS drive.

    You may be aware of the fixes for that: modified BIOS or Clover. Releases . CloverHackyColor/CloverBootloader . GitHub

    It isn't everyone who tries to stick an M.2/NVME SSD onto a motherboard from 2008.
      My Computers


  7. Posts : 21
    windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #7

    Compumind said:
    Hi.

    Wow. PCIe 2.0 is really old.
    The device would run no faster that that 2.0 speed.

    Hope this helps.

    Well, I already read that and was hoping for more details.

    - - - Updated - - -

    SCANNERMAN said:
    There comes a point at which it just isn't cost effective to run new hardware on an old PC. Old PCs are good for checking emails, light browsing, maybe watching videos online or very, very light gaming. You can still do your income tax on them or even build a website. NVMe is for performance. Standard M.2 SSD is about the max for PCIe 2.0 and even then, in most cases, it would still be overkill. As much as you may love your well-aged unit (and believe me, I love those old units too) you still can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. If you want to start shelling out that kind of coin for additional hardware I suggest looking at some new system boards. Just a suggestion. What you are talking about here constitutes ancient. I'd still keep the PC though. It's a classic in it's own right. GA-EP45-UD3P (rev. 1.1) Overview | Motherboard - GIGABYTE Canada
    With respect, this "old PC" was a gaming rig in its day and it still does things fast enough now. In fact, it always boots even faster than my current main system. If I had to, I could go back to gaming on it were that necessary. This system is much more capable than a browser box or a tax machine. Sure If I want to crunch video data or play AAA modern games, I had better be prepared to wait or do with lesser graphic settings. Way back I had a Revo-drive in it and it ran excellent. I have no intention of dumping this machine just because its old. Adding a fast hard drive extends its usability, period.

    I really wish people would more carefully read what is written because the simple point is being missed: "I am looking to add a larger nvme drive to my main PC. Doing so will mean pulling the smaller nvme drive." The overall point is I am going to have an nvme drive sitting on a shelf doing nothing.

    I did not ask your opinion on whether I should or should not add a nvme drive to the PC. I asked a very specific set of questions. I appreciate your opinion but it helps me not at all. I simply want to know from someone who has knowledge for fact of what will happen for speeds if the OP is carried out.

    What coin? An adapter costs $20 but switched ones cost hundreds. I don't believe I will spend hundreds on this old pc but $20 is nothing.

    - - - Updated - - -

    itsme1 said:
    Hello,

    Compared to sata II you will have a better speed of transfer, 2.000 GB/s in writing/reading, but less than a pci express 3.0 x4, 3.938 GB/s in writing/reading.

    But there is one thing you need to know it's not sure you can boot nvme ssd with your old motherboard! I don't know exactly what the motherboard must have to be able to boot the nvme ssd with a pci-E card. I've seen it in this forum several times from about several months to over a year ago. The NavyLCDR person will be able to tell you why. I don't remember why.
    Yes I know this as I have read much on the subject but thank you for confirming it.

    Yes I can boot from it but that is not a subject for this post:
    "Whether it can be booted or not is not the concern right now."

    - - - Updated - - -

    bobkn said:
    "Whether it can be booted or not is not the concern right now."

    Why not? Most of us would want to use a fast SSD as an OS drive.

    You may be aware of the fixes for that: modified BIOS or Clover. Releases . CloverHackyColor/CloverBootloader . GitHub

    It isn't everyone who tries to stick an M.2/NVME SSD onto a motherboard from 2008.
    You even quote what I said and yet you still persist. If I am bothering to post: "Whether it can be booted or not is not the concern right now.", could it be that is not something I am not seeking to know at this time? Could it be I stated that so the replies would be focused on what I actually wanted to know, that I am unable to confirm after many hours of reading?

    Thank you for the link. I am aware of Clover. In fact, discovering it initially is what prompted me the idea of placing the nvme drive in the old pc.

    What do you and others the world over have against older hardware? Without it you wouldn't be on this forum. Just because it doesn't allow you to max the graphics out in games or preform video editing at the fastest speeds, does not invalidate it. By the way, though I don't know how many frames I was getting, this system ran many games including GTA V well enough to enjoy them. The advances from then till now in computers have been stagnant in my opinion. If companies producing components weren't deliberately hording the flow of technology released each year, I believe computers would be insanely fast now compared to this old PC of mine. They are not. As I have a more modern system (6700-based cpu) at the same work station, I can tell you the difference in real world performance between these two systems is not nearly as large as it should be. Obviously newer systems are faster but when I compare by usage between my two systems, it is not night and day differences. Fast hard drives make the biggest difference on any PC.
    Last edited by Popyacap; 22 May 2022 at 14:52.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 5,048
    Windows 10/11 Pro x64, Various Linux Builds, Networking, Storage, Cybersecurity Specialty.
       #8

    Popyacap said:
    What do you and others the world over have against older hardware? Without it you wouldn't be on this forum.
    Absolutely nothing. If you want to stay on top on the latest technical trends and appreciate a new and better user experience it might be best to invest in a new system.
    Some of your present components may still be useful.

    Personally, I buy at the high end of the curve so that the system will last me longer, giving a much better ROI (Return On Investment.)

    It is what it is.

      My Computer


  9. Posts : 4,453
    Win 11 Pro 22000.708
       #9

    Popyacap said:
    (snip)

    You even quote what I said and yet you still persist. If I am bothering to post: "Whether it can be booted or not is not the concern right now.", could it be that is not something I am not seeking to know at this time? Could it be I stated that so the replies would be focused on what I actually wanted to know, that I am unable to confirm after many hours of reading?

    Thank you for the link. I am aware of Clover. In fact, discovering it initially is what prompted me the idea of placing the nvme drive in the old pc.

    What do you and others the world over have against older hardware?
    I was mostly curious as to what your intention was. I wasn't trying to ask for an essay.

    Old hardware? I mostly try to talk people out of sinking much money trying to upgrade old systems. That doesn't really apply here, as your expense would only be for an inexpensive M.2 to PCI-E adapter. I've used one myself.

    If you weren't using existing parts, I would have suggested that a SATA SSD would be the best choice. It wouldn't benchmark as fast, but it would be compatible without any extraordinary measures, and it would be a major upgrade over a spinner.

    I won't offer an insincere apology for offending you.
      My Computers


  10. Posts : 1,050
    windows 10
       #10

    Popyacap said:
    I have heard mentioned using a 'switch' adapter card to be able to achieve the speed the driving is capable of (or something close), in a scenario such as this. What I want to know is if that is necessary. Can a pci-e 3.0 x8 nvme adapter card plugged into a pci-e 2.0 x8 slot allow a x4 nvme drive it's full speed? Or, would the drive be limited to only x4 speed on the pci-e 2.0 interface?
    There shouldn't be switch pci express cards for 1 ssd on sale. For several m.2 ssds on the same card it exists, for example for 2 m.2 ssds, each m.2 ssd will have a x4 port, so on a 3.0 x8 card, each ssd is at full speed, on a 2.0 x8 card , each ssd will beat half their maximum speed.

    As I'm not sure a "switch" pci express card doesn't exist, wait for other people.
    Last edited by itsme1; 22 May 2022 at 16:49.
      My Computer


 

  Related Discussions
Our Sites
Site Links
About Us
Windows 10 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows 10" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

© Designer Media Ltd
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:08.
Find Us




Windows 10 Forums