PCI-e 4x Limtation

Also why would a graphics card company want to reduce the size of their potential market by alienating users with an 8x board. It would give them no advantage whatsoever. Just curious.
 
smids said:
No, I think it means it needs a mechanical 16x slot, though electrically would run at 8x.
Click to expand...

Ok that clears things up. Didn't realise there was a physical difference in slots. Forgive my ignorance.
 
Cairnsey said:
Ok that clears things up. Didn't realise there was a physical difference in slots. Forgive my ignorance.
Click to expand...
There isn't (between two the same, in general).

All PCIe slots are as such: there are mechanical specifications i.e. the number of lanes in the slot e.g. a 16x is the long slot, an 8x is shorter, 4x shorter still and 1x the smallest.

Now, the 16x slot can run electrically at 16x, 8x, 1x etc i.e. in a 16x slot you can put ANY length PCIe card and it will run. This is the difference between electrical and mechanical specifications in a PCIe slot. Hope that clears it up :).


Some slots are customised though - e.g. like the ASRock - it is mechanically 16x i.e. the biggest slot, but only has 4 electrical lanes.
 
I moved from an Asrock Dual-VSTA to a DS4 with a 7600GT, same graphics card, ram, C2D etc in both systems. My 3DMark06 score increased by about 120 points.
 
Eh! This has got me a bit comflumexed??? I read about someone somewhere running an 8800 in a Asrock dual vsta. Anybody had a go on this forum?
 
Cairnsey said:
It would run at 4x PCI-e
Click to expand...

the significant question being: would this still be adequate for most current games (at least this tide you over until you could perhaps afford a new board)?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom