Regular PCI cards in pci express?

micrometers

Diamond Member
Nov 14, 2010
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Like the title says. I want to put a regular pci wifi card into a pci express slot. can this work.
 

pantsaregood

Senior member
Feb 13, 2011
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It won't "poof and kaboom" because it won't fit. The slots are physically different, keyed differently, and they don't even align the same way.
 

mikeymikec

Lifer
May 19, 2011
20,401
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It won't "poof and kaboom" because it won't fit. The slots are physically different, keyed differently, and they don't even align the same way.

That's why you have to plug it in the other way around and remove the metal bracket, duh :p
 

ericloewe

Senior member
Dec 14, 2011
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If it's half-height, you could get a PCIe-PCI bridge. I doubt it's worth the cost and hassle over a PCIe adapter, though.
 

Insert_Nickname

Diamond Member
May 6, 2012
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That is possible, you just need an pci-e to pci adaptor card. Like this one:

http://eu.startech.com/Cards-Adapters/Slot-Extension/PCI-Express-to-PCI-Adapter-Card~PEX1PCI1

Its only for half-height pci-cards. I severely doubt if its worth the hassle though, its cheaper to just to get a new pci-e wireless card.

One thing you might consider is getting an external, movable antenna to improve signal reception.

http://www.konigelectronic.com/en_us/computer/networking/WiFi+Antennas/1116940

(only an example...)