Connecting PCI-E 3.0 to PCI-E 2.0.

[Vozella]

I'm going to get a graphics card that has PCI-E 3.0 16x.

What if I get a motherboard that only supports PCI-E 2.0 16x?

 

Will it matter? Can I still connect it? Will it be slower compared to a motherboard that supports PCI-E 3.0? Should I go for a PCI-E 3.0 instead?

[MLGNOSCOPEHEADSHOTGETREKT]

It won't work

[Jaybird]

i dont think you can put a new tech in an old slot. only old tech in a new slot. 

[Briggsy]

is google down?

[DnL]

I think you can still connect it but the graphics card will run if it was a PCI-E 2.0 16x. You will get less performance that way so you should get a PCI-E 3.0 motherboard.

[IP man]

It will be slower yes, but it will work.

[typographie]

@Vozella

Ignore the first 2 trolls, It'll work flawlessly, not slowdown at all. It'll work perfectly.

This. I'm running a GTX 770 (PCIe 3.0 compatible) in an i5-750/P55 system. Yes, it works fine.

[harrynowl]

It won't work

i dont think you can put a new tech in an old slot. only old tech in a new slot. 

PCIe versions are all back and forward compatible with each-other. In the same way that SATA 1.5G, 3G and 6G can all be used on the same port.

 

Of course the PCIe device will run at the speed of the slower part of the communications bridge (e.g. 2.0 lanes and 3.0 graphics card means 3.0 graphics card runs at 2.0 speeds).

[Vozella]

I ended up asking other people because I was unsure about the responses. I learned that it does slow it down, but only less than one percent, so it's unnoticeable.