Question on PCI x1 & x16

[gleno747]

I have this sound card pluged into a PCIe x1 slot which is just under my graphics card. I don't feel that my graphics card is getting enough air to it as there is about 3mm of space between the fan and the sound card. I have a PCI x 16 slot lower down on my mother board and I tried putting the sound card in this slot.

pdt_17275.jpg

But this little bit stops it from going into the slot. I was just wondering whether I could cut this off so it could fit.

Any help is appreciated, Thanks
Glen

[arizonachris]

I would not suggest cutting. That tab is there for a reason. Let's look at the video card issue. Why do you think it's not getting enough air? And why not move it to the other PCI-E 16x slot?

If it's an Nvidia card, go to Majorgeeks.com and download the EVGA Precision Tool. It will not only monitor card temps but allow you to manually increase the fan speed above what Auto does (which is never right as far as I'm concerned)

[_o_OOOO_oo-Kanawha]

I would like to add that PCI-e slots are not compatible wih PCI slots.
Your sound card is desinged for the PCI-Express interface and would neither fit nor work in the slots of ordinary PCI interface standards.
That tab is there for a reason, to prevent users form inserting it into the wrong slot and blowing up their computers!

You touched upon a tacky subject, poor motherboard design, especially slot configuration. In prefer a motherboard which has a PCI-e x1 slot ( the smallest one) above the main vidiocard PCI-e x 16 slot. I also prefer not to have any slot directly below that said main PCI-e x 16 slot. All powerful videocards are double height and require two slots in the backplane thus blocking the PCI(-e) connector directly below the main PCIe x 16 slot.

If you are looking into a SLI/Crossfire setup then I would prefer the two main PCI-e x 16 connectors to be three slots apart. This allows your videocards more breathing space.

[GaryG]

One more tip...

If that other "x16" slot is actually PCI Express, using it will probably kick both X16 slots into 8 bit mode and probably slow your frame rates.

Note, it would have assisted support if you had also listed your motherboard make and model.

GaryG