Why do most newer motherboards have only 2 or 3 PCI slots?

[dognabbit]

Why do most newer motherboards have only 2 or 3 PCI slots? Is there a reason for it?

I need more.

2 TV tuner cards
RAID Card
Sound Card
modem card
ethernet card

is what I have now.

Ethernet comes built in on most motherboards but if it ever fails. SOL.
Sound Card is usually better than onboard sound.
Never know when you may need a modem, but I can do without.

I must have RAID card, and 2 TV tuner card. And I want my sound card too.

I'm sure a lot of people are in my situation but they don't make them like they used to!

Well anyways can someone recommend some motherboards with 5 or 6 PCI slots for both Intel and AMD. (Haven't decided which cpu yet.)

Thanks

 

[cpacini]

You would probably be better off buying a SLI board and PCIe raid and tv tuners. That would leave you with enough free pci slots for your soud card, although you really dont need to buy an ethernet card, many boards have 2 ports built in so there isnt much need for a third nic.

 

[Sunbird]

Because most motherboards now have 1 or 2 PCIe x1 or x4 slots too and that cuts down on the space for PCI slots.

There are a few AMD motherboards like the MSI K8N Neo4-f or Platinum and the Foxconn nForce4 NF4UK8AA-8EKRS that have 4 PCI slots...

 

[dognabbit]

Originally posted by: Sunbird
Because most motherboards now have 1 or 2 PCIe x1 or x4 slots too and that cuts down on the space for PCI slots.

There are a few AMD motherboards like the MSI K8N Neo4-f or Platinum and the Foxconn nForce4 NF4UK8AA-8EKRS that have 4 PCI slots...

What is PCIe all about?


Also are these good motherboards?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813123250

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131541

 

[cpacini]

Originally posted by: dognabbit

Originally posted by: Sunbird
Because most motherboards now have 1 or 2 PCIe x1 or x4 slots too and that cuts down on the space for PCI slots.

There are a few AMD motherboards like the MSI K8N Neo4-f or Platinum and the Foxconn nForce4 NF4UK8AA-8EKRS that have 4 PCI slots...

What is PCIe all about?


Also are these good motherboards?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813123250

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131541

Regardless of whether those are good boards are not, there is really no point in buying an AGP based board any more. AGP is a (mostly) dead technology.

Text

 

[SynthDude2001]

I only have three PCI slots myself...of course, I also have an AGP slot, two PCI-E slots and an expansion CPU upgrade board slot. But, my PCI slots are all full and have been from the day I got the motherboard...two for my HDTV tuner (with its DVI daughtercard), and one for my Audigy 2. The main problem is, motherboard manufacturers are pushing PCI-E so heavily and seem to be getting rid of PCI as soon as they possibly can - but there are a lot of devices that don't even exist in PCI-E form yet, making the slots useless for a lot of people (other than x16 for graphics of course). I'm not aware of any decent sound cards for PCI-E yet, and you're completely out of luck if you want an HDTV tuner so far...

 

[Capt Caveman]

As many of said, you can get PCI-E TV Tuner and RAID cards. Also, most newer motherboards have two onboard NICs. And if those go, you can always go USB for a network connection(wired or wireless).

Currently, I have a PCI TV Tuner, X-Fi XtremeMusic, USB Wireless G Network Adapter and use onboard RAID 0 and 1.

 

[aidanjm]

I agree that it is very irritating. The number of PCI slots is getting smaller (on new motherboardS) but add in cards that use PCI express are rare at the moment. E.g., it's hard to find a PCI express TV tuner card, PCI express sound card, etc.


One solution is to switch to external usb powered devices. I.e., USB TV tuners, USB soundcards, etc.

I am looking forward to the DVB-T version of this product, which will have 4 digital TV tuners on a single PCI-express x1 card:

"The ultimate DVB device - DNTV Live! QuattroS - four DVB tuner device (PCI-e) with analogue inputs and FM Radio - ETA 13 May 2006" - Specs

 

[Regs]

It's their way of inducing you to buy a more expensive motherboard with everything installed onboard. Like SATA, LAN, Sound, Modem, RAID, Firewire, USB etc..

 

[Henny]

On board ethernet is no more likely to fail then any thing else on the MB. It's a small portion of a MB's design.

On board sound is as good as add in sound cards these days.

Raid controllers are also onboard these days.

You're always better off using an external HW modem like a USR 5686E. (about $20 on Ebay).

My system has no add in cards. Everything is onboard including video.