pci2 vs pci express

[giwatcher]

I have an hp 5700 sff and wish to add a video card. The user manual says there are 2 pci express 2 slots and 1 pci express 1 slot. The motherboard has pci ex-1 stamped next to the indicated short black slot and matches the user manual description. The 2 cream colored slots say on the motherboard pci2, not pcie 2 or pci x 2.
This seems to be in conflict with the user guide unless these terms are synonymous. Is pci2 the same as pcie 2 or pci x 2 or pci ex 2? A google serach asking this exact question did not clarify. Obviously, I need to know so I don't buy a card that doesn't fit.

 

[Wolfshadw]

You have one PCI-Ex1 slot and two PCI (version 2) slots which are not PCI-E slots. If you were to get a graphics card, it would have to be compatible with your PCI-Ex1 slot (generally not worth the money). Ideally, you'd be looking for something like this HIS Radeon HD5450 which is both half-height (low-profile and fits within your case) and has a PCI-Ex1 interface. Not that this is a great gaming card, it's better than the on-board graphics of your system.

-Wolf sends

 

[giwatcher]

You have one PCI-Ex1 slot and two PCI (version 2) slots which are not PCI-E slots. If you were to get a graphics card, it would have to be compatible with your PCI-Ex1 slot (generally not worth the money). Ideally, you'd be looking for something like this HIS Radeon HD5450 which is both half-height (low-profile and fits within your case) and has a PCI-Ex1 interface. Not that this is a great gaming card, it's better than the on-board graphics of your system.

-Wolf sends

Thank you so much for that info. May I ask a follow up question? The part you suggested is out of stock, but I see a good price on a pciex2 card. Will it fit the pci-ex1 slot as backwards compatible, perhaps losing some speed potential but still working as well as a true pci-ex1 card? Also, the specs say 400w power supply recommended, and mine is 240v. Is that a valid concern?

This machine has 2g ram with 2 empty ram slots with specs indicating 4g max. It is a 32bit system. Does 32bit allow 4g ram? Seems like maybe 32 bit maxes at 2g ram?

 

[Wolfshadw]

I think you are referring to the version of PCI-E. The current version is PCI-E 3.0. The card you're looking at is PCI-E 2.0 which is fully backwards compatible. However, the x1 and x16 refers to the length of the connector (that which is inserted into the motherboard expansion slot). While you can install a PCI-Ex1 card into a PCI-Ex16 slot, you cannot normally install a PCI-Ex16 card into a PCI-Ex1 slot.

The power supply is going to be a concern. Graphic card manufacturers always seem to inflate the minimum wattage recommended for the entire system, but in your case, I think a 240watt power supply may be pushing things a bit.

A 32-bit operating system will have a maximum of 4GB or addressable memory space. Part of the 4GB of space is reserved for the system, so while you can have 4GB installed, you will only see between 2.7 and 3.3GB of available memory.

-Wolf sends

 

[giwatcher]

I think you are referring to the version of PCI-E. The current version is PCI-E 3.0. The card you're looking at is PCI-E 2.0 which is fully backwards compatible. However, the x1 and x16 refers to the length of the connector (that which is inserted into the motherboard expansion slot). While you can install a PCI-Ex1 card into a PCI-Ex16 slot, you cannot normally install a PCI-Ex16 card into a PCI-Ex1 slot.

The power supply is going to be a concern. Graphic card manufacturers always seem to inflate the minimum wattage recommended for the entire system, but in your case, I think a 240watt power supply may be pushing things a bit.

A 32-bit operating system will have a maximum of 4GB or addressable memory space. Part of the 4GB of space is reserved for the system, so while you can have 4GB installed, you will only see between 2.7 and 3.3GB of available memory.

-Wolf sends

Thanks.