What's the difference between PCI-e 1 and PCI-e 16

N

ngc1967

New Member
I am just buying a new desktop PC. It is pre-built with the motherboard containing 1 x PCI-e x 16 Slot and 2 x PCI-e x 1 Slots (all are spare).

As I want to add a Wi-Fi card (PCI) and a front panel card reader (3.5") with 4 USB 3.0 inputs, there are different ways to achieve this.

I have already bought a Wi-Fi card which will connect to the PCI-e 16 but if I do that I only have two PCI-e 1 slots left for the Card reader/USB 3.0.

I am still within the timescale to send this back if it is better to use the PCI-e 16 for the card reader/USB 3.0 and either get a Wi-Fi card for the PCI-e 1 slot or even an USB Wi-Fi adaptor.

Which is the more efficient/fastest input to use for each?
 
They're all the same speed. The x16 is more for video cards, but you can still use PCI-e x1 and x4 cards in an x16 slot.

Also, I'm confused as to what kind of wireless card you got. You say PCI originally, but then say PCI-e. They are NOT the same interface and won't work together.
 
Thanks for the replies. This shows my lack of knowledge!!

I have bought a Tendra N300 wireless card which has a long line of contacts with a gap about two thirds along. I was assuming this was a PCI-e 16 so if it turns out to be a PCI card, will it work in the PCI-e 16 slot. I must admit that I thought PCI was another name for PCI-e 16

I will check on the actual type when I get home from work
 
ngc1967 said:
I have bought a Tendra N300 wireless card which has a long line of contacts with a gap about two thirds along. I was assuming this was a PCI-e 16 so if it turns out to be a PCI card, will it work in the PCI-e 16 slot. I must admit that I thought PCI was another name for PCI-e 16

I will check on the actual type when I get home from work
Click to expand...

As I said in my previous post, PCI-e and PCI are NOT the same. They ARE NOT compatible together. If you have no PCI slots in your computer you will need to get a PCI-e card.
 
Thanks for the reply again.

I have just checked the adapter and it is actually a Tenda 11N Wireless PCI Adapter.

Looking at the spec of the PC which I am just about to get (Zoostorm) the ASUS motherboard only has PCI-e slots (2 x 1 slot and 1 x 16 slot) so it seems that I have the wrong piece of WiFi equipment. It was only £9 so if I can't return it I will try and ebay it to get what I can as it is still unopened.

It's a learning curve as I didn't know of the differences between the various types and the non compatability issues etc.

What I will do now is to buy the front panel card reader with the front USB 3.0 inputs. One version I have seen will connect to a PCI-e 1 slot.

Then I will get a mini USB wireless adapter and plug that into one of the USB 2.0 inputs on the back of the PC.

I will then have one PCI-e 1 and one PCI-e 16 spare for future use.

Does that sound a logical way forward?
 
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