Computers & Tablets

[Garmansniper]

Hello, 

I was wondering if anyone could solve my problem....I would like to get a new Gfx Card For my PC Desktop And I have been using a PCI Nvidia Card. I was wondering if I could use a PCI express 2.0 Card In that slot... I am not to sure if I have a PCIe Card slot and do not know how to find out... Can anyone please help???

[hockeycanuckjc Community Veteran]

For anyone that needs to figure out the bus type on their motherboard visit www.bustype.com and then compare the chart to what is in your computer.

[laney1025]

Depending on how new your computer is and what brand, you could conceivably have both a PCI slot and a PCIe slot. Go check out your MB to see exactly what you have and go from there.

[Zy52zy]

Hey,

I have had  the same problem. I recently bought a PNY 8800GT which is a pci express 2.0. I think it is also called x16 sometimes. Anyway most computers that support an express card usually support 2.0. What kind of computer do you have. Like what brand and model. I actually have a 2005 Compaq and was worried about the same thing. I found out that if you are getting the computer from bestbuy it lists the motherboard type required. Usually it needs an AMD or Intel. Either way if you have a fairly new computer you probably have no problem, you still may want to call Bestbuy if it is compatible. Make sure your power supply is good enough. I had to spend an extra 60$ on one. Also be prepared for a 50$ installation fee if you plan on getting it installed at Geek Squad.

[theconnman2]

2.0 is a new feature and some computers(even new) dont have them

[hockeycanuckjc Community Veteran]

A good portion of PCI-e 2.0 cards are  backwards compatible with the x16 format.

[u_hsen]

PCI Express 2.0 (aka pci-e 2.0) offers the g92 graphics card chipset as opposed to the PCI Exress x16 (aka pci-e x16) takes the g80. G92 chipset is faster than the old g80 chipset. there fore the graphics cards are faster.

the pci-e 2.0 slot is slight faster than the pci-e x16

now here is the scenario. if you have a pci-e x16 and you put in a pci-e 2.0 graphics card, you will be capped (limited) by the pci-e x16 speed. if you have a pci-e 2.0 and you put in a pci-e x16 card, you will be capped at the pci-e x16 speed. to get the full potential of the pci-e 2.0 speed, you need to make sure you have a pci-e 2.0 speed and a pci - e 2.0

will you be able to tell the difference between the pci-express x16 and pci-express 2.0? no not at all.

Are they compatible with each other? yes.

if your computer is from 1998-2003 it will have the AGP

if your computer is 2003 to early 2008 it will have the pci-express x16

if your computer is 2008 to present it will have the pci-express 2.0

these is just rough estimate. it was in 2004-2005 when they started to phase out the AGP and in 2007 and 2008 where they started rolling out the pci-express 2.0.

it will be better if u can provide your make and model of your computer and we can determine which one do you have.