Adding a second PCI Express slot to a Mini-ITX motherboard?

[Deleted member 1218011]

I have a Mini-ITX motherboard, so I have only one PCI Express slot. I would need a second one though, are there any adapters/converters that would allow me to add an extra one?

 

[rolli59]

I have never come across one. It would be better just to get another board. Looks like mITX is not your correct form factor.

 

[Someone Somewhere]

No.

What do you need to put in the second slot? You can get many mITX boards with WiFi/Bluetooth built in.

 

[Deleted member 1218011]

No.

What do you need to put in the second slot? You can get many mITX boards with WiFi/Bluetooth built in.

I would need to put a RAID controller in it. The current one already has an extra NIC in it.

 

[Someone Somewhere]

Yeah... if you need more HDDs than the board can handle, m-ITX really isn't for you.

How much do you need the extra NIC?

 

[rolli59]

mITX boards are what they are, limited expand ability and just come with the essential expansions. If the motherboard raid is not enough I suggest replacing the board with at least a mATX board.

 

[Deleted member 1218011]

Yeah... if you need more HDDs than the board can handle, m-ITX really isn't for you.

How much do you need the extra NIC?

Quite a bit actually, since ESXi does not support the built-in one.

This is a test lab, I was just wondering how far I can take a mini-ITX build in this scenario, but apparently not much

 

[Deleted member 1218011]

mITX boards are what they are, limited dependability and just come with the essential expansions. If the motherboard raid is not enough I suggest replacing the board with at least a mATX board.

In which way are they less dependable?

 

[rolli59]

mITX boards are what they are, limited dependability and just come with the essential expansions. If the motherboard raid is not enough I suggest replacing the board with at least a mATX board.

In which way are they less dependable?

That was misprint auto correction! Been fixed now to expand ability!

 

[Deleted member 1218011]

mITX boards are what they are, limited dependability and just come with the essential expansions. If the motherboard raid is not enough I suggest replacing the board with at least a mATX board.

In which way are they less dependable?

That was misprint auto correction! Been fixed now to expand ability!

Ahah ok makes more sense now 😀

 

[rolli59]

LOL happens!

 

[GoGreenElectricsLtd]

I have a Mini-ITX motherboard, so I have only one PCI Express slot. I would need a second one though, are there any adapters/converters that would allow me to add an extra one?

Yes, is the answer to your question !. I found one on Ebay... here it is. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/262371498163 It connects to your motherboard via the SFF-8643 connector, which most of the new Mini ITX boards have.

There are also PCIE nultiplex boards available, but they reduce the band width. So a single PCIEx16 becomes 4 x PCIEx4. However, if you want to use one of the slots for a PCIE SSD, your far better just getting one of the Intel 2.5" versions with an adapter which connects directly to the SFF-8643.