Question Can I place a GPU and SSD on the same PCIe x16 (16GB/s) slot using a splitter?

[Surban]

I have the following old PC from 2010:

Dell Studio XPS 8100
Intel DH57M01 motherboard
Intel Core i7-870 @ 2.93GHz, 4 cores, 8 logistical processors
BIOS version: A05 (July 8, 2010); Legacy Mode
4 x 4GB DDR3 1333MHz ram (max)
Windows 10

It has the following PCIe ports:
Gen2 x1 slot bi-directional speed – 500 MB/s
Gen2 x16 slot bi-directional speed – 16 GB/s

GTX 750 TI: I feel like my GPU wouldn’t be happy being on the x1 slot given the 500MB/s bandwidth.
SSD: My SSD might be a little happy on the x1 slot given than I only have SATA II (300 MB/s) so the x1 slot will give me better speeds.

My question is:
I don’t think my 750 TI is capable of using the full 16GB/s bandwidth, so instead of putting my SSD on the x1 slot can’t I use a splitter and place it on the x16 slot as well? Even at a 50% split I would get way better speeds than on the x1 slot and when the GPU isn’t being used, I would get even more than 50% allocation from the slot.
Or am I wrong in my assumption and it would throttle my GPU? (The most I ever play is like Skyrim or Witcher 3, even those rarely.)

Also, my BIOS doesn’t support UEFI, so I guess I would have to learn how to use Clover to boot my OS from the PCIe SSD.

 

[Lutfij]

Welcome to the forums, newcomer!

Simple answer, no!

What is the make and model of the SSD? Instead of worrying, spending on workaround, just call it a day with a 2.5" SSD and have the GPU on the first PCIe slot. Your platform in 2023 is practically a museum piece(it needs to be retired, instead of any money being dropped onto it).

 

[Surban]

Welcome to the forums, newcomer!

Simple answer, no!

What is the make and model of the SSD? Instead of worrying, spending on workaround, just call it a day with a 2.5" SSD and have the GPU on the first PCIe slot. Your platform in 2023 is practically a museum piece(it needs to be retired, instead of any money being dropped onto it).

Thank you for the warm welcome!

I haven't bought an SSD yet, might just buy something similar to Samsung 970 EVO Plus 2TB.

I know I won't get the full speed from the SSD but will be way better than my current HDD or using it on the x1 slot no?

Yeah, I was only planning on putting $200 into it max, $120 for the SSD and $80 for any adapter, so not too much money. Buying a new PC is out of the budget at this moment.

You're right, a 2.5" SSD would be the easier solution. But figured I would ask the question in case I could get more speeds with relatively little spend!

 

[Surban]

Another form helped me realize the following:

My motherboard probably is much too old to support bifurcation since it doesn't even support UEFI.
Active PCIe switching splitters are very expensive and not worth it on this old PC.

You're right, SATA II SSD is probably the best and easiest and cheapest solution.

My follow up question:
Would I notice a performance difference between a SATA II SSD (300MB/s) and using the x1 PCIe slot (500 MB/s) since I can use the second x1 slot for a USB 3.0 port, they would compliment each other better?

 

[USAFRet]

Another form helped me realize the following:

My motherboard probably is much too old to support bifurcation since it doesn't even support UEFI.
Active PCIe switching splitters are very expensive and not worth it on this old PC.

You're right, SATA II SSD is probably the best and easiest and cheapest solution.

My follow up question:
Would I notice a performance difference between a SATA II SSD (300MB/s) and using the x1 PCIe slot (500 MB/s) since I can use the second x1 slot for a USB 3.0 port, they would compliment each other better?

He did not say "SATA II".

In fact, it would be hard to find one of those today.

SATA III SSD, 2.5" format.
Samsung 860 EVO or Crucial MX500.

Leave the PCIe slot out of this completely.

 

[Surban]

He did not say "SATA II".

In fact, it would be hard to find one of those today.

SATA III SSD, 2.5" format.
Samsung 860 EVO or Crucial MX500.

Leave the PCIe slot out of this completely.

Yeah they don't make Sata II SSDs anymore, I just meant as in my speed is limited to Sata II.

Okay, seems like the PCIe isn't worth the hassle even for the speed bump on paper.