PCI express lite?

[ives]

Hi,
I've been given a motherboard with a PCI express lite slot and was wondering how it compares to a PCI x16 slot.
I think the PCI express lite slot is x4.

Does anyone know if there is a big performance difference?

thanks
Ives

 

[millsy888]

find out the make of the mobo, and look on the manufacturers website. Will probably give you as list of compatable cards.

IIRC pci-e lite runs at 4-8x instead of the usual 16x

 

[ives]

but is there a big performance deficit?

 

[Darg]

Negligible on low end cards. High end cards can see 3-5% drop. 8800GTX might drop as much as 10% on a 4X PCI-E lane.

 

[-Nick-]

i thought 8800's required 16x and wouldn't run on less?

 

[LoadsaMoney]

i thought 8800's required x16 and wouldn't run on less?

Thats BS, they will work on less than 16x.

 

[ives]

thanks Darg.....I'm thinking about putting a 7600GT in there.
Would that show much deficit compared to , say a PCIEx16?

 

[Chris Beard]

http://tomshardware.co.uk/2007/03/27/pci_express_scaling_analysis_uk/
(link in conclusion for 2004 artical with lower power cards).

Short answer is yes it will make a difference but not enough to justify the expense of a new board for just a 7600gt.

 

[Darg]

2-3% drop for 7600GT on a 4X PCI-E slot I reckon.

I had mine in my Asrock boards 4X slot and it still ran everything great.

 

[ives]

thanks Darg...that's good news