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This article is for informational purposes only
and no longer being updated by Seagate.
Identify a 📉 variety of PCI slots
Identify a
variety of PCI slots.
Peripheral Component Interconnect, or PCI, is the most common way
to attach 📉 add-on controller cards and other devices to a computer motherboard. This
type of connector originated in the early 1990s, and 📉 is still in use today. Presently,
there are three main PCI motherboard connectors (usually referred to as "slots".)
64
bit PCI
32 📉 bit PCI and PCI-X
PCI Express (PCI-E)
Each PCI slot type looks different,
and accepts different devices. Placing a PCI card in 📉 the wrong slot will damage the
card, and can potentially destroy the entire computer.
64 bit PCI:
LaCie no longer
manufactures any 📉 products compatible with this slot. It was not common on PCs, but all
G4 and G3 Macintosh computers used them. 📉 This slot can be identified by its three
segments, with the shortest segment found in the center.
32 bit PCI and 📉 PCI-X:
LaCie
makes several expansion cards that use this connector. The difference between the
normal 32 bit PCI slot and PCI 📉 X is the medium-length slot on the left side. Only PCI-X
has this final segment. Additionally, 32 bit PCI cards 📉 will function properly in a
PCI-X slot, but PCI-X cards do not work in a standard 32 bit PCI slot.
Virtually 📉 all PC
motherboards have at least the 32 bit PCI slot. Macintosh G5 used PCI-X until the
change to the 📉 liquid-cooled hardware versions. Apple can look up a G5 serial number to
determine if PCI-X slots are available, or if 📉 the new PCI-E card must be used,
instead.
These slots can be differentiated from the 64 bit PCI by the organization 📉 of
the segments. The small segment is first, instead of in the center.
PCI Express
(PCI-E):
Most computers made after 2005 (including 📉 Macintosh) come with PCI-E slots.
These can be difficult to identify, as the length of the slot can vary. These
📉 variations are called "Lanes", and are usually referred to by a number followed by an x
(1x 8x 16x, etc.) 📉 The picture shows a 16x PCI slot. A 1x slot begins with the same
small segment, but is followed by 📉 a second small segment. More lanes generally amount
to greater interface speed. Most PCIx cards are 1x or 4x (with 📉 the notable exception of
video controllers, which are virtually always 16x cards.
A 1x PCI-E expansion card will
fit into a 📉 16x slot. The physical size difference will leave the rest of the slot
unoccupied, but this is normal.
This slot can 📉 be differentiated from others
(particularly 32 bit PCI) by its physical size. All connectors on a PCI-E slot are
noticeably 📉 smaller, and it is set farther into the motherboard than other PCI slots.
