PCI Express 16x graphics card in physical 8x slot

[verybigfurrymonster]

Hi,

I got an ultra cheap server from ebay for gaming purpose and when I opened the case, I was shocked to only find 8x and 1x pci express slots.

I was disappointed and thought that I couldn't use my graphics card in it but after doing some research I found that it should work.

I was lucky enough to have a board where the end of the 8x slot is open so I could fit my 16x card and it works fine.

I m a bit worried though because if the cards moves a bit, the PCI pins might get misaligned. Would it damage the card and mobo if that happens while the pc is powered on?

Thanks

 

[Chugalug_]

It will work just fine, if the card is reasonably sized the PCIE slot shouldn't be an issue at all, an 8x slot provides more than enough bandwidth.

 

[mnw48]

there is an issue with power being provided to a physical 8x slot only being 25w and 16x slots provide 75w (info from similar forum post who quoted the pci-e specifications) and a complex method of using riser card that have a power connector to the PSU to get around it.
but i think if your graphics card has additional power connector(s) this should be more than enough