Is there such a thing as a PCI-e 2.0 x1 slot? I ask because...

jaybee

jaybee

jaybee

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10 Jul 2008
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I see motherboards (like mine) that have specs that state:

1 x PCI-e 2.0 x16 slot
2 x PCI-e x1 slot
1 x PCI slot

Now, I know the x16 slot is a version 2.0 one, but in my manual and on moest websites, they state the x1 slots to just be "PCI-e x 1" slots with no mention of the version. Are we to assume that these are NOT version 2 slots and that the motherboards would mix the two versions on the same board? Or do we assume these are also version 2 slots but just x1 i.e. 1 lane?

Why should you care?

Because....

There's a big difference. Version 1 PCI-e supports 250MB/s data rate, where as version 2 PCI-e supports 500MB/s data rate (doubled). This is important for people who want to utilize the x1 slots in purchasing sata expansion cards for servers. With version 1, you could get a 2 port sata expansion card and max out two sata 2 HDDs. But with version 2, you could max out 4 on the one card (assuming they sell 4 port cards).

If the above does not make sense I can explain in more detail, but the question is, what is the data rate of my PCI-e x1 slots on my Asus P7H55-M board or any other H55 chipset board, or any modern day mobo for that matter where the main x16 slot is advertised as 16x version 2.0.


Cheers!
 
They are all PCI-E 2.

The spec for my motherboard, MSI P67A-GD65:

• 2 PCI Express gen2 x16 slots
• 3 PCI Express gen2 x1 slots
• 2 32-bit v2.3 master PCI bus slots
• Support 3.3v/5v PCI bus interface

And if you had looked up the specification for your own motherboard:

1 x PCIe 2.0 x16
2 x PCIe 2.0 x1 (2.5GT/s, gray slots)
1 x PCI
 
Last edited:
Surveyor said:
They are all PCI-E 2.

The spec for my motherboard, MSI P67A-GD65:

• 2 PCI Express gen2 x16 slots
• 3 PCI Express gen2 x1 slots
• 2 32-bit v2.3 master PCI bus slots
• Support 3.3v/5v PCI bus interface

And if you had looked up the specification for your own motherboard:

1 x PCIe 2.0 x16
2 x PCIe 2.0 x1 (2.5GT/s, gray slots)
1 x PCI
Click to expand...

LOL now you told me! Thanks Surveyor, but I did look them up. I have the manual and board entire packaging right in front of me! lol The motherboard manual states simply that they are "PCI-e x 1 slots". But thanks, where did you find that info? This is good news.
 
Cheers matey, a quick google for my board name and "2.5" linked me to the above specs. I should have known to go to the Asus main website. Doh. I was going to say, mixing two versions of PCI-e on the same board seemed odd. All sorted. Thanks. :) Just trying to finalise all of my little questions and things to find out about before I build my big unraid server. :)
 
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