Are there versions of PCI-E that allow power-down and/or are hot-pluggable?

[VirtualLarry]

Didn't servers used to have hot-pluggable PCI slots?

I was thinking, why didn't they implement a power-down feature for PCI-E? If they did, then they could enable hot-plugging by simply disabling the slot, and removing the card, and then plugging a new one in, and powering it back up.

Plus, they could enable "switchable graphics" on the desktop. You could power-down those power-hungry GPUs completely, if you wanted to, and then re-enable the onboard.

Seems like a major oversight to me.

 

[rumpleforeskin]

Plus, they could enable "switchable graphics" on the desktop. You could power-down those power-hungry GPUs completely, if you wanted to, and then re-enable the onboard.

.

This was my 1st thought when i heard about SB intergrated GPU, but sadly after watching anands interview this is not going to happen due to having a seperate physical DVI output on the GPU and the Intergrated graphics.

Shame really as i would have enjoyed the cost/energy saving from running my desktop from the onboard while still maintaining the gaming performamce from a discreet card.

 

[dac7nco]

The servers here (Intel) have physical DIP switches to throw when you're removing a PCIe device. They are marked 0-10, and there are 11 PCIe slots - no PCI/PCI-X.

Daimon