TECH Q: Can I plug a PCI express 2.0 card into a PCI express X4 slot?

[Mulambo]

Sirs:

My mobo (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157121) has a PCIE x 16 and an "AGI Express" slot (PCIE x4)

Neither of these is PCIE 2.0.

The manual says it supports crossfire, showing an example w/ 2 radeon hd 2600xt cards.

Can I put two 3870s in there, or does my puny second slot (lol) mean I can't or that the performance increase would be negligible?

Thanks,

Skree

[Viluin]

I think it's possible. Both slots (I think) will work at 4x speed though, which will considerably lower its performance. Even two 16x slots tend to bottleneck a dual-card setup a bit.

[Mulambo]

So the dual-card setup probably wouldn't be worth it unless I upgrade my motherboard, I guess.

Maybe i'll get PhysX :P

[stalwart]

yes. just cut off the part that doesn't fit.

[Mulambo]

HURR, the slots are physically identical.

[GlacierFreeze]

I think it's possible. Both slots (I think) will work at 4x speed though, which will considerably lower its performance. Even two 16x slots tend to bottleneck a dual-card setup a bit.

Pretty much what he said.

I'd get a dual 16x mobo if I were you. And no, don't get PhyX.

[Mulambo]

And no, don't get PhyX.

that was a joke :P

Thanks for your input though.