Alienware Graphics amplifier modding

[Ryanmj666]

So, I recently received an alienware graphics amplifier to go with my (still being shipped) alienware 13 and I noticed that the usb hub appeared to be plugged into a backwards PCI-E x4 slot. So, first is that actually PCI-E? and if it is, would it actually work with anything (PCI-E sata adapter, thunderbolt sata adapter, ssd, ect)? 

[iamdarkyoshi]

isnt that just a regular PCI connector?

[Senzelian]

So, I recently received an alienware graphics amplifier to go with my (still being shipped) alienware 13 and I noticed that the usb hub appeared to be plugged into a backwards PCI-E x4 slot. So, first is that actually PCI-E? and if it is, would it actually work with anything (PCI-E sata adapter, thunderbolt sata adapter, ssd, ect)? 

That is PCI without the awesome express

[GlassBomb]

As other have said, it's a normal PCI (non-e) connector.

 

For the love of Linus. Do not try and connect a PCIe device into a PCI (or the other way around) into this slot. If you turn it around and give it enough force (and willpower) it will work, just don't do it...

[Ryanmj666]

That is PCI without the awesome express

Really? It's so much smaller than pci, I have a bunch of old pci cards that have way bigger connectors

[Oberon.Smite]

Good old PCI, from 2000.

 

1992

[Senzelian]

Really? It's so much smaller than pci, I have a bunch of old pci cards that have way bigger connectors

Just as with PCI-E there are different lengths.

PCI-E also has 4x, 8x and 16x slots.

[Uwillparish]

Good old PCI, from 1992.

FTFY

[pas008]

that looks shorter than pci (non e)

 

flipped over pci-e 8x slot? same amount of pins?

[boeonoz]

On ‎6‎/‎27‎/‎2015 at 6:14 AM, pas008 said:

On ‎6‎/‎27‎/‎2015 at 1:26 AM, Senzelian said:

(That is PCI without the awesome express

that looks shorter than pci (non e)

 

flipped over pci-e 8x slot? same amount of pins?

 

On ‎6‎/‎27‎/‎2015 at 1:26 AM, Senzelian said:

That is PCI without the awesome express

Sorry to dig old thread... Just looing around and saw this, I cannot let this pass. How in the world that "Best Answer" is PCI

 

This is sure not a PCI since pin doesn't even match, the pin in picture match PCI-E x8.

 

And also PCI will never have enough bandwidth cover the link between GPU and Alienware Amplifier port.

Vertical board is thunderbolt controller I/O or direct PCI-E with USB3 Input - Connector PCI-E x8 - Horizontal board is GPU - PCI-E x16

 

From my theories, Alienware Graphic Amplifier GPU run only around x8 (Max) and if their Proprietary port is base on Thunderbolt 2 then this should be suffice since it only around PCI-E x4 speed.

But

"The Alienware Graphics Amplifier port uses “raw/unmuxed/filtered” PCI Express Gen3 (Gen2 for the Alienware 13 R1) lanes when connected to the Alienware notebooks, Alpha R2, X51 R3 –that is a direct PCI Express connection to a desktop graphics card. This type of connection is the same that is used on desktop computers –direct PCI Express."

So this maybe PCI-E direct connection but it cap by x8 (which maybe x4 instead).