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.
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
