What cards can use PCI Express x8?

[Dayle McNeela]

Not Graphics Cards, but maybe sound cards or Wi-Fi cards? Need wi-fi but dont want massive antennas? (My PCI Express x1 Lane is blocked by graphics card)

I only have 2 PCI Express x8 slots available

 

[nukemaster]

Both sound and WiFi cards do not need x8 bandwidth.

You can use a x1 or 4x card in a x8 slot(my sound card is in an x4 slot and it is an x1 card).

Just ensure that slot is not shared with the video card slot or it will make the video card reduce to x8 as well(they split x16 to get x8 on 2 slots on some boards.).

PCI-E SSD's can use the extra bandwidth of an x8 slot.

 

[Dayle McNeela]

Both sound and WiFi cards do not need x8 bandwidth.

You can use a x1 or 4x card in a x8 slot(my sound card is in an x4 slot and it is an x1 card).

Just ensure that slot is not shared with the video card slot or it will make the video card reduce to x8 as well(they split x16 to get x8 on 2 slots on some boards.).

PCI-E SSD's can use the extra bandwidth of an x8 slot.

Can you have a look at the ASRock Z77 Pro4-M and make sure a x1 PCI card will fit in the x8 slot without making my gpu perform lower?

 

[nukemaster]

Ok from the manual for the board it looks like your slots are like this

Starting at the top
1- x16 - Install the video card here
2- x1 slot(covered by your video card in almost all cases)
3- x16 slot that only runs at x1 speed(install your x1 card here if you wish)
3- x16 slot that only runs at x4 speed(I recommend installing your card here because it will give the video card more space to get air)

From the manual Page 22

22
2.6 Expansion Slots (PCI Express Slots)
There are 4 PCI Express slots on this motherboard.
PCIE slots:
PCIE1 (PCIE 3.0 x16 slot) is used for PCI Express x16 lane width
graphics cards, or to install PCI Express graphics cards to support
CrossFireX
TM
function.
PCIE2 (PCIE 2.0 x1 slot) is used for a PCI Express x1 lane width card,
such as a Gigabit LAN card or SATA2 card, etc.
PCIE3 (PCIE 2.0 x16 slot) is used for PCI Express x1 lane width graph
-
ics cards.
PCIE4 (PCIE 2.0 x16 slot) is used for PCI Express x4 lane width graph
-
ics cards, or to install PCI Express graphics cards to support CrossFi
-
reX
TM
function. And for installing ASRock Game Blaster.