MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK - can I remove Avermedia's "streaming agent card" and use slot for something else ?

[the_xlr8r]

MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK motherboard - Avermedia Streaming Agent slot?

 

Ok, so i have never ever used the streaming agent (sad i know) but hey , nobody's perfect.

 

Anyways.... since day one i disabled it and forgot all about it....until now.

 

After I removed the Killer Wifi / BT adapter from the board (because it caused more hassle than its worth!).... I thought Id take a nosey at where the Avermedia Streaming Agent was on the motherboard, and discovered that it is in fact (a Mini PCIe socket !!) mnnnnn! interesting....! (its located just under the 1st PCIe slot#1).

 

Yeh...I thought I was now a "just gained an extra slot" winner, but sadly not...

 

The socket does say "MINI PCIe" beside it, but i soon found that a standard mini pcie card, doesnt fit ?

 

Let me show you what i mean. Here is a photo of a generic mini pcie adapter (on the left) and a streaming agent card (on the right) . 

 

Notice the pins/contacts are matched but the outside edge is 1mm off , as is the notch (i.e bigger on the Avermedia card) ?

 

So.... my question is.... Can i make use of the slot for any other device ?  or..... has MSI (& Avermedia) have gone out of there way to ensure we all cannot use the slot for anything (other than their stuff).... ?

 

Has anyone ever tried to use this slot themselves. ? I would like to make use of this slot (i.e. Mini Pcie to USB 3.0 or PCIe riser slot or , just something rather than be 'empty') ....

 

would love some feedback on this as I can find absolutely nothing about it on the interweb!!, many thanks

 

the_xlr8r

 

(pics)

Generic Mini PCIe card alongside Avermedia Mini PCIe Card

 

Photo of Avermedia Streaming Agent card slot on MSI X99A Gaming 9 ACK

 

Close-Up image

 

 

 

[AbydosOne]

10 minutes ago, the_xlr8r said:

Notice the pins/contacts are matched but the outside edge is 1mm off , as is the notch (i.e bigger on the Avermedia card) ?

The picture you show is comparing the bottom of the Avermedia to the top of the other mPCIe card. If you lay the Avermedia on top (same side up as the mPCIe), do the pads line up then? Are you sure the mPCIe card is correct/standard?

[the_xlr8r]

21 minutes ago, AbydosOne said:

The picture you show is comparing the bottom of the Avermedia to the top of the other mPCIe card. If you lay the Avermedia on top (same side up as the mPCIe), do the pads line up then? Are you sure the mPCIe card is correct/standard?

Hi thanks,

 

if you look closely you will notice the notch is slightly bigger (and lower) on the avermedia card and also the top and bottom edge is also slightly off. (see updated pic)

 

I might file the notch a little bigger on the generic adapter (left) card , and try again....

 

theoretically though , is what I'm attempting doable ?

 

[AbydosOne]

13 minutes ago, the_xlr8r said:

if you look closely you will notice the notch is slightly bigger (and lower) on the avermedia card and also the top and bottom edge is also slightly off. (see updated pic)

Flip the Avermedia card along the Y-axis (in the photo) so that you're looking at the top of both connectors in the same direction (instead of comparing top of one to bottom of the other) and see if they line up.

[the_xlr8r]

17 minutes ago, AbydosOne said:

Flip the Avermedia card along the Y-axis (in the photo) so that you're looking at the top of both connectors in the same direction (instead of comparing top of one to bottom of the other) and see if they line up.

well well well....while you were replying i checked what you said and your are right , i was looking at it incorrectly

 

I then went and pinched my wife's nail file and went to work on the notch.....

 

2 mins later, after a nervous reboot.....  this looks quite nice indeed ..... And...nothing went bang!