[TOOLS] PCI-e versus PCI-e Graphic slots

[McLauchlan, Kevin]

Aha!
Very informative post, and exactly the detail and emphasis I was looking for.   ... and much better than you first attempt...  :-)

See?
You throw out a challenge to this list, and there's almost _always_ somebody knowledgeable just waiting to /p/o/u/n/c/e/  er... respond.

Thanks muchly,

Kevin
(whose experience as an electronics tech predates PCI-e by decades)

> -----Original Message-----
> From: techwr-l-bounces+kevin.mclauchlan=safenet-inc.com at lists.techwr-l.com
> [mailto:techwr-l-bounces+kevin.mclauchlan=safenet-inc.com at lists.techwr-
> l.com] On Behalf Of ASTeC
> Sent: Wednesday, April 16, 2008 13:17
> To: techwr-l at lists.techwr-l.com
> Subject: Re: [TOOLS] PCI-e versus PCI-e Graphic slots
> 
> (second try ;-)
> 
> Hello,
> 
> Before working as a Technical Communicator, I worked for several years
> as an electronics engineer. In my last job, we developed PCI-e boards.
> 
> So, if a slot is defined as graphics, it means only a graphics board can
> be plugged and used in it. In fact, it is not so much a hardware
> limitation than a software one (BIOS in fact). A PCI-e board must
> identify itself once plugged in a slot. So the motherboard can detect
> the add-on board type, its functions and characteristics and configure
> itself accordingly.
> 
> As the most probable board that will be ever used in this slot is a
> graphics board, the motherboard manufacturer limits its BIOS to such a
> board detection and support. Time to market and design reduction cost,
> as usual :-(
> 
> I could talk longer about motherboards and BIOS design "shortcuts" ;-)
> By the way, most PCI-e slot under-wired are not even compliant with the
> PCI-SIG standards.
> 
> IMPORTANT REMARK: according to the PCI-SIG specification, a slot as well
> as a board are required to work ONLY as x1 and their maximum
> configuration. Thus a x4 board inserted in a x16 slot for example must
> work in a x1 configuration but not necessarily in a x4 configuration as
> the slot may work only as x1 and x16 (depending on its design).
> 
> Regards,
> 
>     André
> 
> ASTeC a écrit :
> > ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

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