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PCI, PCI X, PCI Express... Confusing

M

Mayfriday0529

Diamond Member
Which ones will be able to still work with each other, I have a standard PCI card now, will it work with PCI X? will PCI Express be only for Video card, do they even fit in the slots or are they totally different.

 
unless you are talking a server motherboard, you will not ever see PCI-X
as for PCIe, they are completely not physically compatible...

Josh
 
It's pretty easy, it's 3 completely different slots sharing the 'PCI' (Peripheral Component Interconnect) in their name.
 
Originally posted by: JustAnAverageGuy
PCI - Current desktop

PCI X - Server

PCIe - Future
Click to expand...
And PCIe = PCX, to add to the confusion.

Originally posted by: SocrPlyr
unless you are talking a server motherboard, you will not ever see PCI-X
Click to expand...
Mac desktops have PCI-X.
 
Originally posted by: Eug
Originally posted by: JustAnAverageGuy
PCI - Current desktop

PCI X - Server

PCIe - Future
Click to expand...
And PCIe = PCX, to add to the confusion.

Originally posted by: SocrPlyr
unless you are talking a server motherboard, you will not ever see PCI-X
Click to expand...
Mac desktops have PCI-X.
Click to expand...

good point about the Macs i forgot about them...
 
Originally posted by: Eug
Mac desktops have PCI-X.
Click to expand...
True. but the G5 is basically a workstation machine, which is not too far removed from a server. It's the exception rather than the rule.
 
Yeah i saw the Macs have PCI X so guessing desktops by see it soon of motherboards people buy. anyone have links to pictures on the different slots types what they look like and how to tell?

i read online also that PCI X is backward compatible with regular PCI but then some say no or wont fit or depends on voltage?
 
This reminds me of the EMS / XMS days. Can YOU remember which is extended and which is expanded? 😉
 
Okay, here's my thoughts on this issue.
Your average PC has PCI 2.1 compliant slots - that is 32 bit 33MHz 5V signaling.
Certain workstation and server boards (760MPX and Xeon) have had PCI slots that supported 64 bit and 66MHz. These would use 3.3V signaling and be compatible with all PCI 2.2 compliant cards (They have three notches instead of two)
PCI-X is 64 bit 133MHz and compatible with all PCI 2.2 compliant cards.
PCIe (Which used to be called PCI Express) has nothing to do with PCI-X and is not backwards compatible with anything.

Personally, I'd rather have had PCI-X slots but hey what do I know right? Migrating to the next-gen platform is going to kill my soul when I leave my SuperTrak SX6000 behind. 🙁
 
Originally posted by: TerryMathews
PCIe (Which used to be called PCI Express) has nothing to do with PCI-X and is not backwards compatible with anything.

Personally, I'd rather have had PCI-X slots but hey what do I know right? Migrating to the next-gen platform is going to kill my soul when I leave my SuperTrak SX6000 behind.
Click to expand...
It's possible to have PCIe and PCI-X on the same mobo.
 
Originally posted by: Eug
Originally posted by: TerryMathews
PCIe (Which used to be called PCI Express) has nothing to do with PCI-X and is not backwards compatible with anything.

Personally, I'd rather have had PCI-X slots but hey what do I know right? Migrating to the next-gen platform is going to kill my soul when I leave my SuperTrak SX6000 behind.
Click to expand...
It's possible to have PCIe and PCI-X on the same mobo.
Click to expand...

It's possible to have just about any combination of anything on a mobo. Except VLB or MCA but that's another whole ball of wax.

I've got my fingers crossed that the industry doesn't throw caution to the wind and we get PCIe boards with legacy PCI slots onboard, but I've got my doubts.
 
Originally posted by: TerryMathews
I've got my fingers crossed that the industry doesn't throw caution to the wind and we get PCIe boards with legacy PCI slots onboard, but I've got my doubts.
Click to expand...
The prototype boards have had both PCI and PCIe.

It would be rather strange to release all boards with no legacy PCI support, since 99% of add-in boards out there are PCI.
 
PCI-X can be 33, 66, 100, or 133MHz, all 64-bit. 32-bit cards will work unless they're so old that they're 5V rather than 3.3V, in which case they won't even go in, being keyed differently. Of course, 33MHz cards can kick a 66MHz or greater bus back to 33MHz for all cards.

My mom's PowerMac G4 with a 400Mhz CPU and SDRAM was not exactly a workstation/server machine even at its release, but it does have four PCI-X slots. The top one is 66MHz (for the video card) while the others are 33MHz. Sounds to me like two PCI busses, which you can also find in the Athlon 760MPX chipset.
 
Originally posted by: sm8000
PCI-X can be 33, 66, 100, or 133MHz, all 64-bit. 32-bit cards will work unless they're so old that they're 5V rather than 3.3V, in which case they won't even go in, being keyed differently. Of course, 33MHz cards can kick a 66MHz or greater bus back to 33MHz for all cards.

My mom's PowerMac G4 with a 400Mhz CPU and SDRAM was not exactly a workstation/server machine even at its release, but it does have four PCI-X slots. The top one is 66MHz (for the video card) while the others are 33MHz. Sounds to me like two PCI busses, which you can also find in the Athlon 760MPX chipset.
Click to expand...

HA! I had that exact same sawtooth!
 
Originally posted by: sm8000
The sawtooth has an AGP slot. This one doesn't, therefore it is the Yikes!
Click to expand...

Oh, really? I didn't upgrade it except for the ram and that was some time ago. I wonder if mine only had the 32 bit PCI slots...
 
If they're long PCI slots they're 64-bit, any system. Just have to check the docs on their bus speed (33/66/100/133MHz).
 
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