Do I have a PCI slot issue? Asus Z97-A

Jonny Guitar · 25 Jan 2015 at 09:26

Hi,

I've just got a new custom built PC with Asus Z97-A motherboard.
It came with a Ralink PCI wi fi card in the lowest suitable slot on the board and showed in the devices as working but did not find networks and it's LEDs did not light.
On advice of my build people, I moved it to a higher slot and it then worked straight away, LEDS lighting too.

So do I need to worry that there's something up with the first slot?, or is it something to do with it being a PCI and not a PCI-E card?,

I'm new to this stuff coming from Macs, can someone put my mind at rest, cheers!

stulid · 25 Jan 2015 at 10:53

The lowest available slot on that board is a PCI-E slot.

If the card is PCI and not PCI-E it will not work, it shouldn't even fit the slot and you case correctly.

Jonny Guitar · 25 Jan 2015 at 12:15

PCI slot issue on Asus Z97-A board?

Hi, thanks so much for the reply, just to clarify I should have said the first available slot from the bottom that the card fit into, I've attached a pic

So it was first at 1- showed in devices as operational but no networks detected and no LEDS on.

Than at 2, all worked.

Is this as it should be?

thanks again J

stulid · 25 Jan 2015 at 12:17

Should work in both those without issue.

Swapping from one to the other should have no effect on the card.

So either the slots faulty or could have dirty/dust in it maybe, or cpu cooler could be over tightened causing poor contact to the pins.

Jonny Guitar · 25 Jan 2015 at 12:17

Doesn't look like pic link worked, I'll try again

Jonny Guitar · 25 Jan 2015 at 13:14

Thanks Stulid for the replies, I'll look into it and maybe test with another card,

Cheers

Orcvader · 25 Jan 2015 at 15:33

http://dlcdnet.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb/LGA1150/Z97-A/e9378_z97-a_ug_v2_for_web_only.pdf

On page 31:

When using PCI cards on shared slots, ensure that the drivers support “Share IRQ” or that the cards do not need IRQ assignments. Otherwise, conflicts arise between the two PCI groups, making the system unstable and the card inoperable

And it seems PCIe slot 1 shares with the PCI slot 2 (bottom one), could be one reason why it's not working.

tjrwelch · 25 Jan 2015 at 18:40

Few questions on motherboard installation

deleted

Jonny Guitar · 25 Jan 2015 at 18:49

Again thanks for replies, I've had a close look at the slot and I think I can see the issue, one of the tiny pins missing, could this be what's causing the limited functionality?

stulid · 25 Jan 2015 at 19:31

Yeah, that doesn't look right at all.