Pci Express x1/x4 video cards?

[Mr Bob]

I need a video card for my system that will support DVI. It will be plugged into a 2nd monitor that will only be used to read text and view a program gui. If my MB supported onboard video, I would be perfectly happy using that. So that can give you the idea of the expected quality.

I've never used or researched anything relating to pci express x1 or x4 video cards, so I have no clue at all what I should be looking for.

Suggestions?

 

[Stumps]

IIRC Matrox have a G550 in PCI-E 1x

 

[Mr Bob]

I searched for that, looks like that card is $100+

 

[bluemax]

Yes, but that's all there is. Period.

You have a standard PCI slot you can use? There are PCI cards with DVI....

 

[WobbleWobble]

You can plug in a PCIe 16x card into the 4x slot.

 

[bluemax]

Originally posted by: WobbleWobble
You can plug in a PCIe 16x card into the 4x slot.

I knew about 8x, didn't know about 4x! Sure it limits bandwidth, but it'll still be better than almost anything PCI. Not bad.... :thumbsup:

 

[WobbleWobble]

Originally posted by: bluemax

Originally posted by: WobbleWobble
You can plug in a PCIe 16x card into the 4x slot.

I knew about 8x, didn't know about 4x! Sure it limits bandwidth, but it'll still be better than almost anything PCI. Not bad.... :thumbsup:

Some 4x slots on some boards are actually only 2x, which can limit bandwidth even more. It's still very usable, but it does impact performance. I've tested it before, my benches are somewhere in the video forum.

 

[Mr Bob]

Well, I do have one PCI slot left, but I would much rather leave that for something that ONLY works in PCI slots.

The MSI Neo4 Platinum motherboard has 1 x1 and 1 x4 slot that are not being used.

So you guys are saying something like this will work in my x1 or x4 slot? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102447

 

[AndrewL]

This is a stupid question but can a pci-e x16 be used in an x1 slot (I highly doubt it, and the bandwidth would suck even if it did)? And if so would that be higher bandwidth than a regular pci solution?

 

[bluemax]

Originally posted by: Mr Bob
Well, I do have one PCI slot left, but I would much rather leave that for something that ONLY works in PCI slots.

The MSI Neo4 Platinum motherboard has 1 x1 and 1 x4 slot that are not being used.

So you guys are saying something like this will work in my x1 or x4 slot? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102447

Definately not. PCI and PCI Express are two different beasts.

You might be able to use some kind of PCI-e16 graphics card in a 4x or 1x slot, but it may require a lot of tweaking, too.....

 

[WobbleWobble]

I know from experience that a PCIe 16x card will work in a 4x slot without any tweaking. It won't physically fit in a 1x slot though.

bluemax is correct, the card you linked above is a regular PCI card and not a PCIe card.

 

[Canterwood]

Originally posted by: WobbleWobble
I know from experience that a PCIe 16x card will work in a 4x slot without any tweaking. It won't physically fit in a 1x slot though.

AFAIK, a geforce 8800 requires an x16 PCI express slot to function.

Not that you'd put it in anything less tbh.

 

[potato28]

Theres a Sapphire x1300 on Newegg, PCI-E 1x with DVI. Im too lazy to find it... happy hunting....

 

[microAmp]

Originally posted by: potato28
Theres a Sapphire x1300 on Newegg, PCI-E 1x with DVI. Im too lazy to find it... happy hunting....

Not a Sapphire, but HIS, here.

Damn, was wishing it would be well under a $100 too.

 

[bluemax]

Now THAT is a good find! Beats that Matrox card by a long shot!

 

[Mr Bob]

Sounds like I should just go with this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814145009