PCIe slots allow your motherboard to connect with your PC’s most critical components and
provide key functionality. They also supply 🔑 you with numerous customization and upgrade
options when you’re ready to venture beyond preloaded features like graphics and
storage.
If you’re 🔑 looking to build or upgrade your PC or simply want to learn more
about the basics of PC hardware, it’s 🔑 wise to start with PCIe. In this article, we’ll
explain the basics of this piece of tech and offer an 🔑 outline of the popular upgrade
options and components you can add to your setup.
What is PCIe or PCI Express?
PCIe is
🔑 short for “peripheral component interconnect express” and it’s primarily used as a
standardized interface for motherboard components including graphics, memory, 🔑 and
storage.
PCIe gets the “peripheral component interconnect” part of its name because
it’s designed to handle point-to-point connections for non-core 🔑 components.
Manufacturers added “express” to distinguish the new standard from older PCI standards,
emphasizing the substantial performance improvements over previous 🔑 iterations.
PCIe
slots and cards
A PCIe or PCI express slot is the point of connection between your PC’s
“peripheral components” and 🔑 the motherboard. The term “PCIe card” and “expansion card”
simply refers to hardware, like graphics cards, CPUs, solid-state drives (SSDs), 🔑 or
HDDs, you may add to your device through PCIe slots, making both catch-all terms for a
variety of components.
What 🔑 are the standard PCIe sizes?
While different sizes and
configurations do exist, most users will only encounter four primary size
specifications. 🔑 The size represents the number of direct connections provided by either
a PCIe slot or card.
PCIe x1
PCIe x4
PCIe x8
PCIe x16
These 🔑 connections are typically
called lanes and, in most cases, the more you have, the better your hardware can
perform. To 🔑 maximize efficiency, high-performance devices tend to rely on PCIe x16
almost exclusively. This makes them especially useful for competitive gamers 🔑 or anyone
working with visuals.
These components typically don’t have too much hidden baggage,
though it’s always important to check the 🔑 specs if you aren’t sure about something. Not
all PCIe ports offer the same number of available ratings, even if 🔑 they appear to be
physical matches.
How PCIe generation impacts speed
Historically, updates to PCIe
doubled transfer rates and used multiples of 🔑 8 since generation 3.0. New generations
also offer double the bandwidth versus previous versions, dramatically increasing the
amount of data 🔑 that can be transferred per second. Your benefit is maximized when using
ports and cards of the same generation.
With PCIe 🔑 4.0, bandwidth capacity is 64
gigabytes per second at a rate of 16 gigatransfers per second (GT/s). For users with
🔑 aging devices – those manufactured several years prior to the latest version – there is
great potential for improvement with 🔑 newer tech.
PCIe has seen substantial changes over
the years, with big improvements to efficiency and the addition of more incidental
🔑 features. In 2024, the turnover on new updates looks quicker than ever. For the
consumer, this all should translate into 🔑 better hardware performance as new generations
are introduced.
Popular uses for extra PCIe slots
While the options for upgrades and
add-ons depend 🔑 on your PC’s motherboard, most consumer desktop devices ship with extra
PCIe slots. They present a host of different opportunities 🔑 for upgrades, with some
being extremely niche and others applying to just about every user. Here are several
popular options.
1. 🔑 Add or upgrade your dedicated graphics and sound cards
Upgrading
your PC’s graphics potential is a great PCIe project for numerous 🔑 reasons. If your PC
has integrated graphics, adding a discrete graphics card can dramatically improve the
visual output. Simply choose 🔑 your preferred graphics card from NVIDIA or AMD, and
install it in the best-rated available PCIe port.
Upgrading a busted or 🔑 lower-quality
sound card is another easy way to improve your multimedia experience through PCIe. If
you’re swapping out a malfunctioning 🔑 component, you should notice an immediate
difference. In most cases, installation involves deactivating the existing audio and
adding your new 🔑 sound card.
It’s worth noting that installing a new sound card isn’t
always as necessary as a new graphics card. In 🔑 fact, you may just need the right audio
accessories , like new speakers or headphones, to experience a top-shelf audio
🔑 experience. Check out your existing hardware specs and do a little research before you
choose to upgrade.
2. TV tuner cards 🔑 and video capture cards
TV tuner cards and video
capture cards are another media-related application, though these days most cards
combine 🔑 both functions. You can use tuner cards to allow your PC to receive
conventional TV signals, though some cards have 🔑 applications beyond video, including FM
radio access.
As for video capture cards, they provide a more dynamic form of record
functionality. 🔑 They’re increasingly popular these days with the prevalence of streamers
and competitive gamers. With video capture functionality or a dedicated 🔑 card, it’s easy
to produce high-quality video of gameplay or whatever entertainment you deliver to your
audience.
All of these applications 🔑 are frequently bundled for convenience, often in a
variety of combinations. If you want to tick a few boxes off 🔑 at once, make sure you
shop for a card that supports all three functions; TV, radio, and video capture.
3. Add
🔑 WiFi and fax functionality
Many PCs and laptops already include wireless internet
connectivity , but a standalone WiFi card can be 🔑 particularly useful in a few
scenarios. For example, it’s a great way to supplement a weaker signal when you’re
experiencing 🔑 router or connection issues . You can even use it to bypass a
malfunctioning or inconsistent built-in system altogether if 🔑 you prefer.
You can also
add a modem card to your setup. Sure, most of us aren’t looking to add a 🔑 new phone line
or dial-up internet connection, so you may be wondering: when would I ever need a modem
card 🔑 ? There are plenty of potential applications, especially if you’d like to enjoy
fax functionality for business or private use.
4. 🔑 Storage and RAID controller cards
One
extremely common use of PCIe slots is upgrading or adding new local storage. Mounting
an 🔑 SSD on your motherboard through a PCIe connection allows for higher efficiency, and
it’s ideal for those with large data 🔑 files who need capacity and speed.
You can also
use extra PCIe connections to mount a RAID controller that can manage 🔑 your complete
storage array. RAID arrays are a great way to upgrade your storage across the board.
Some of this 🔑 functionality is built-in with many modern motherboards, so you may not
always need it for your situation. Read more about 🔑 RAID arrays in our HP Tech Take
article here.
What to expect from the next generation of PCIe connections
The largest
and 🔑 latest PCIe standard is PCIe 4.0, but it won’t get top billing for too much longer.
Version 5.0 was unveiled 🔑 in 2024 and is due for implementation in 2024, making it
technically the most up-to-date PCIe standard. While 4.0 provides 🔑 bandwidth capacity of
64 GB/s at 16 GT/s, 5.0 can deliver 128 GB/s at 32 GT/s.
We shouldn’t expect to see
🔑 PCIe 6.0 released until 2024 or later in terms of full-on implementation, but it’s
already in development. It’s expected to 🔑 match typical generation changes, offering
double bandwidth capacity at 256 GB/s at a rate of 64 GT/s. That means performance 🔑 is
on the up, and moving more quickly than ever when it comes to PCIe technology.
Can I
mix and match 🔑 cards and slots?
One of the most important things to remember about PCIe
is how to handle compatibility. With PCIe connections, 🔑 you can hook up smaller
connections to large ports. You can also connect larger connections to smaller ports.
But using 🔑 two different size configurations to complete contact can have some negative
consequences.
In particular, these connections suffer from a substantial decrease 🔑 in
bandwidth. Placing a larger card in a smaller port has a higher negative impact on the
quality of your 🔑 experience, but you can still see less than optimal performance the
other way around as well.
In conclusion
PCIe formats are changing 🔑 faster than ever, and
the performance gains with each update are substantial. As a result, it has never been
easier 🔑 to fine-tune and improve your experience with relatively simple hardware
upgrades or add-ons.
Curious to learn more about PCIe? The standard 🔑 is developed and
maintained by an organization called PCI-SIG , which offers loads of information about
compatibility and community support.
And 🔑 if you’re trying to master all things PCIe, it
won’t hurt to learn more about motherboards, too. Be sure to 🔑 check out our article
titled What Does a Motherboard Do ? for a comprehensive guide on this piece of tech.
🔑 Then, you can read through our guide on How to Choose a Motherboard for shopping tips.
