What kinda stuff can I populate this slot with?

[Gravemind]

 

tl;dr got an empty PCI-e(?) slot and wondering what kinda stuff I can slot into it. The other PCI's are taken up by my GPU. I've got some money now, and having an empty slot feels kinda wrong. Besides an SSD, sound card, fan hub, or networking card, what can I put in there? Are there USB 3.0 hubs that can go there? Any ideas please.

 

Note: It's an Asrock 970m Pro3 mobo.

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157582

[Electronics Wizardy]

What do you need?

 

For most users you don't need anything. Network drives really aren't needed for most people(you know if you need it). Id go external if you need better sound(you probably don't).

[BlueChinchillaEatingDorito]

Just now, Gravemind said:

 

tl;dr got an empty PCI-e(?) slot and wondering what kinda stuff I can slot into it. The other PCI's are taken up by my GPU. I've got some money now, and having an empty slot feels kinda wrong. Besides an SSD, sound card, fan hub, or networking card, what can I put in there? Are there USB 3.0 hubs that can go there? Any ideas please.

 

Note: It's an Asrock 970m Pro3 mobo.

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157582

You can put USB3.0 cards for sure. Thunderbolt cards are also available. That's about. 

[Electronics Wizardy]

1 minute ago, BlueChinchillaEatingDorito said:

Thunderbolt cards are also available

Not on this board, you need board support and no am3+ boards have support.

[Gravemind]

1 minute ago, Electronics Wizardy said:

What do you need?

 

For most users you don't need anything. Network drives really aren't needed for most people(you know if you need it). Id go external if you need better sound(you probably don't).

There's nothing I really "need" was just wondering what can go there that might be generally useful, unusual or simply neat.

[manikyath]

Just now, Gravemind said:

There's nothing I really "need" was just wondering what can go there that might be generally useful, unusual or simply neat.

if your desktop isnt lacking anything, anything you put there will be useless.

[Egg-Roll]

I personally own a 4 port SATA/raid card (forget which exactly).

 

There is this USB 3.0 card which has 4 ports and there is one cheaper (50% less) for 2 ports. No idea if they actually function as a fully loaded 3.0 tho.

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815114010

[Gravemind]

If I put a USB 3.0 hub in there, what kinda power would I expect per hub? I wonder if it'd charge stuff like phones faster than my wall wart. For only that small slot I wouldn't expect much.

[Electronics Wizardy]

1 minute ago, Gravemind said:

If I put a USB 3.0 hub in there, what kinda power would I expect per hub? I wonder if it'd charge stuff like phones faster than my wall wart. For only that small slot I wouldn't expect much.

If your goal is to charge stuff get a wall adapter, it won't charge any faster.

 

Also with a usb 3 card you can't get the full usb 3 speed as the pcie 2 x1 slot is slower than usb 3.

[Gravemind]

1 minute ago, Egg-Roll said:

I personally own a 4 port SATA/raid card (forget which exactly).

 

There is this USB 3.0 card which has 4 ports and there is one cheaper (50% less) for 2 ports. No idea if they actually function as a fully loaded 3.0 tho.

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815114010

Neato. 900ma per port isn't terrible. Beats dragging my phone charger across the room.

[Egg-Roll]

1 minute ago, Gravemind said:

If I put a USB 3.0 hub in there, what kinda power would I expect per hub? I wonder if it'd charge stuff like phones faster than my wall wart. For only that small slot I wouldn't expect much.

In the link I gave above it states this:

"Each USB port supplies maximum +5V / 900mA power output to USB device."

So it won't fast charge anything, unless you are using a old 500 mA wall charger then sure it'll charge faster

[Gravemind]

Just now, Electronics Wizardy said:

 

 

Also with a usb 3 card you can't get the full usb 3 speed as the pcie 2 x1 slot is slower than usb 3.

Ah thanks was just about to ask about that. So at best it'd be like... USB 2.5 from what I can gather

[Electronics Wizardy]

1 minute ago, Gravemind said:

Ah thanks was just about to ask about that. So at best it'd be like... USB 2.5 from what I can gather

its usb3, just speed limited.

 

What do you need usb3 for anyways? It won't charge faster. Id just get a wall usb charger for that.

[dalekphalm]

13 minutes ago, Gravemind said:

-snip-

 

tl;dr got an empty PCI-e(?) slot and wondering what kinda stuff I can slot into it. The other PCI's are taken up by my GPU. I've got some money now, and having an empty slot feels kinda wrong. Besides an SSD, sound card, fan hub, or networking card, what can I put in there? Are there USB 3.0 hubs that can go there? Any ideas please.

 

Note: It's an Asrock 970m Pro3 mobo.

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157582

That is a PCIe 1x slot.

 

You can put any PCIe 1x card in there. There are lots.

 

Here's a few examples:

https://www.pocnetwork.net/technology-news/top-uses-of-the-pcie-1x-slot-on-your-motherboard/