Question What components need 16x 16 PCIe slots as opposed to 8,4, and 1

[spikeysonic]

What components need 16x 16 PCIe slots as opposed to 8,4, and 1

How important is it to have all four slots the full 16 speed and lenght.

If it just grpahics cards? how about audio and video capture, 4 way SSD and thunderbolt cards or others.


etc

 

[Karadjgne]

An x16 slot is really an x4 by 4 slot. Each of the x4 has its own power, ground, data etc. A gpu not only has serious power needs requiring all 4x of the slots, but massive data i/o needs as well.

A pcie NVMe add on only requires x4, but can fit inside an x16 slot. My usb3 multi card adapter works on x1, but fits an x16 slot. Gpus used for mining do not have the data needs of a gpu used for video output, so will work in an x1 (open ended) slot.

So your answer will vary depending on the exact piece of equipment in question, some only require x1, some x4 and some x8 or x16, it can change.

 

[DeauteratedDog]

Very few devices need x16 and I think you named them: Graphics Cards, multi-channel video capture cards, multi-nvme SSD adapters, maybe some very high end RAID adapters.

Thunderbolt, multiple-multigig ethernet cards, most video capture cards don't usually need more than x4 or x8.

How important are lots of x16 slots? Not very, except in a few specialized workstations.

What application are you concerned about?

 

[spikeysonic]

Was planning on using the system for a range of content creation from editing and visual effects 3d animation, podcasting, cad etc.... trying to work out which motherboard to go for and whats important and what dont need so much. Obviously having all four pcei slots as full 16 speed makes the most sense, but not if only a video card uses them all, especially if all other addons use usb as then it would make more sense to go for one wit more usb ports etc


Been trying to decide between the ASUS ROG Strix,AS Roc Taichi or creator, Gygbyte Designaire and MSI creator or if the ASUS zeneth is worth it for a threadripper 3 trx40 system .


None of them have everything so its what is needed and the most useful feautrewise and what is not and never gonner be used

 

[Karadjgne]

Well that also depends on your ram needs too then, and just what you expect out of the gpu's because even the Zenith runs x16/x8 pcie slots. You'd need to swap to intel HEDT mobo's to get the full x16/x16 out of those slots and the opportunity for more than 128Gb of ram.