PCIe Ports

[misteralexander]

Hi -- I'm not very familiar with PCIe slots and I don't really understand what "x4", "x8", or "x16" means -- or if each of those is a different slot style ...

 

I'm hoping someone with more knowledge can help me understand if this product:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08BC11XW8

 

Should plug-in without an issue on this motherboard:

https://rog.asus.com/motherboards/rog-strix/rog-strix-trx40-xe-gaming-model/spec

 

I think so, because the motherboard says it has "1x PCIe 4, x4" and when I google image that, the size of the slot looks similar to the card on Amazon.

 

Would really appreciate an expert tell me their opinion.

 

THANK YOU!

[YoungBlade]

It should fit, according to the product page, the card uses a PCIe 3.0 x4 link. PCIe is backwards and forwards compatible, so a PCIe 3 card will work just fine in a PCIe 4 slot.

 

https://www.gigabyte.com/Motherboard/GC-TITAN-RIDGE-rev-20#kf

 

The x4, x8, and x16 refer to the number of PCIe lanes that the slot/device have/use. However, there are also differences in slot length, and sometimes the x4 or whatever can refer to that. You can have slots that are x8 or x4 electrically but that are the size of a x16 slot. It just means that while a x16 card will fit and function, it won't have the full 16 lanes of bandwidth.

[BobVonBob]

Yes the card will fit, but it won't work. Almost all threadripper motherboards don't have a thunderbolt header, and that is required for thunderbolt cards to work. You'll need to get a motherboard that specifically supports thunderbolt like the Gigabyte Designare if you need thunderbolt on threadripper.

[Jtalk4456]

1 hour ago, YoungBlade said:

It should fit, according to the product page, the card uses a PCIe 3.0 x4 link. PCIe is backwards and forwards compatible, so a PCIe 3 card will work just fine in a PCIe 4 slot.

 

https://www.gigabyte.com/Motherboard/GC-TITAN-RIDGE-rev-20#kf

 

The x4, x8, and x16 refer to the number of PCIe lanes that the slot/device have/use. However, there are also differences in slot length, and sometimes the x4 or whatever can refer to that. You can have slots that are x8 or x4 electrically but that are the size of a x16 slot. It just means that while a x16 card will fit and function, it won't have the full 16 lanes of bandwidth.

to second this, here's the spot where that card would fit. 

Spoiler

Not sure about the thunderbolt and headers side of things like @BobVonBob was saying, but for physically fitting, that's the spot

[misteralexander]

1 hour ago, BobVonBob said:

Yes the card will fit, but it won't work. Almost all threadripper motherboards don't have a thunderbolt header, and that is required for thunderbolt cards to work. You'll need to get a motherboard that specifically supports thunderbolt like the Gigabyte Designare if you need thunderbolt on threadripper.

Thanks man!  Saved me the hassle of a return!