PCI Express

[Wykydtron]

How do I tell if my Motherboard uses PCI-E 1.0, 1.1, or 2.0?? All it says in the manual and box is PCI-E 16x.
Does that mean its just 1.0?

[Sea]

go to "start", then click on "run...", type in "dxdiag" and click "OK"

then, with the new window that appeared, select the "display" tab.

I don't know how that will help you but it sure will be amusing when you're done with the steps and find out it was all for nothing.

Hah, no seriously, do the steps.

[KeystoneMan]

Any chance yo could post a tech link to your Mobo?

Im not gear head, but anything PCIe backward compatible? I know a PCIe x1 will fit in a PCIe16 slot, but not vice versa. Its just not compatible with PCI slots, like the ones for your network card.

[rabb1t]

The only thing you need to worry about is if it's 1.0 or not. It is very likely more current than that, as 1.0 apparently only went into the very early PCIe boards right around launch. If it's more current then 1.0, then any PCIe v2 (or even v3) graphics card will work with it, it will just be capped on speed.

Think about it like someone who absolutely obeys the speed limit. A car from the 20s has no trouble at all obeying a 60 MPH limit, but if you get into a Formula 1 you are just gimping your travel time by only going 60 MPH when it can go 120 (or whatever they go).

Remember to check your power supply as well. You'll have to check the watts and amps rating. Open up the case (with the system shut down) and look at the sticker on the side. Watts are clearly marked, but to find amps add up the positive numbers on the 12v lines. (Ex: 12v1 - 17, 12v2 - 17 = 34 amps total.) For most current gen graphic cards you'll want a minimum of 400 watts (450+ for higher end ones) and around 26 amps.

[Wykydtron]

Nah, I managed to figure it out thanks though.

Most of these video cards I'm looking at say that PCI-E 2.0 works with normal PCI-E 1.0, though my friends tell me they actually don't?

EDIT: I'm no expert on computer parts really, I'm pretty sure my Mobo is PCIe 1.0..I've read the manual, and looked it up on the site, all it says is PCIe x16, and thats about it.

I just decided I'd buy a new one, but then I have to buy a new power supply to go with it :S

[rabb1t]

From what I hear not with a flat 1.0 slot. Again, nearly all slots are 1.1 or newer. Note that most do not advertis as anything but a 1.0 slot. You have to get into the super technical details to find out if they are actually 1.1 or 1.2 or whatever rated. It's only the truly flatly rated 1.0 that you need to worry about, not the "this board is 1.0 compatible" reference you see on the box. Check through the manual.

You should also be able to check the motherboard manufacturer's site. They should list if they are compatible with PCIe v2 cards.

[Wykydtron]

Yeah, I'm looking at video cards on Tigerdirect.ca, like ALL the ones that I want are PCIe 2.0, and as far as I know my motherboard I currently have is PCIe 1.0, so I doubt if I bought any of these video cards that I want, that they'd work with my motherboard.

That's why I figured I'd just buy a new motherboard..then theres the problem that I don't know really how to put it in, and if it'll work with the cords I got, etc etc, like I said I'm not too good on all the computer parts and stuff.

[marach]

did you buy a PCI-E board within 5 months of the standard release:

Yes: its a 1.0 board sorry no luck here
No: its probably a 1.1 board you can run 2.0 cards

[rabb1t]

No: its probably a 1.1 board you can run 2.0 cards

And again, it is important to note that if it is such a board, which the vast majoirty are, it will only show "PCIe v1", not 1.1. So you really have to look very carefully through the manufacturer site or manual and check.

Don't just say 'well, it only says 1, so it must be 1' and give up. In fact, I'd say it might not even be worth your time and just go ahead and get the 2.0 GPU and try it and see if it works, and if it doesn't, then worry about it and do the research. I really wouldn't worry about the compatibility. It should be a non-issue.

[Wykydtron]

Yeah I just went ahead and bought a new one, and other stuff. I've needed to upgrade for a while so I got more RAM, new video card, new processor, new PSU, and new motherboard.

[rabb1t]

What'd ya get?

*hopes for things that weren't bad choices* :o