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Using a PCIe x1 card in a PCIe x16 slot
Here is something I recently found out. I have tired this and it works.
You can use a PCIe x1 card, or a PCIe x4 card in a PCIe x16 slot. They work fine. So if you think you are short of PCI-e slots, you may not be. A shorter PCIe card works fine in a longer slot.
On PCIe X1, X4 and X16 slots, the first 18 pins are all wired the same, so as long as the PCI-Express card fits in the PCI-Express slot, it should work.
This is not the case for the legacy PCI (32-bit, non-express) slots, that are not PCI-Express. Those are not compatable with PCIe cards.
Picture of assorted PCIe and PCI slots.
The top four slots, in the picture above, are, from the top to bottom,
PCIe x4 slot , PCIe x16 slot, PCIe x1 slot and another PCIe x16 slot. A PCIe card that can physically fit in any of these slots will work, even if it doesn't fill the entire slot.
The bottom, 5th slot, is a PCI legacy (32-bit) slot. PCIe (express) cards will not work in this slot. It only accepts legacy PCI cards.
Here is the PCI-Express page on Wikipedia showing pinouts, etc.
PCI Express - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
YouTube Video showing PCIe X1 card in a PCIe X16 slot.
x1, x4 pci Cards Fit Into x16 pci-e Slot - YouTube
Here are links to discussions on this subject at Tom's Hardware.
"Can I install a PCI-e x1 Wireless network card in a PCI-e x16 slot?"
http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/...-x16-slot.html
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/205984-33-card-slot
http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/...-x16-slot.html
Last edited by Antilope; 07 Sep 2015 at 08:34.