5 useful PC upgrades for your unused PCIe slots
December 17, 2024

5 useful PC upgrades for your unused PCIe slots

1. PCIe graphics card

If your desktop has at least an mATX motherboard or larger, you’ll likely have access to multiple PCIe slots.

If so, the top slot is probably running PCIe x16, which means 16 lanes of data, which is ideal High bandwidth plug-ins such as graphics cards. If you have a second slot, it will probably run on PCIe x8. That’s only half the speed, which is why the top slot should always get the GPU. Some smaller PCIe slots run at x1 or x4, which are suitable for low-bandwidth add-in cards (see below).

Thiago Trevisan/IDG

But everyone already has a graphics card, right? In fact, the PCIe plug-in that most people know is the graphics card, and some people even think that the PCIe slot is the graphics card. only For GPU.

There was a time when multi-GPU setups were the next big thing in gaming, but those setups haven’t been around for a while now. Nvidia’s SLI technology for connecting GPUs is No longer supported.

But that doesn’t mean you can’t use Second high-performance GPU on your computer for other non-gaming purposes. Graphics and 3D applications, as well as video editing software such as DaVinci Resolve, can effectively use multiple GPUs to improve performance.

In fact, resource-intensive tasks are now the best use cases for multiple GPUs. But for gaming or streaming, don’t even think about adding a second GPU. You might think that more is better, but it’s often more trouble than it’s worth, not to mention the extra space and PCIe slots it takes up from other potential PCIe plug-ins.

Thiago Trevisan/IDG

If you decide to add a second GPU to your system, there are some important considerations to note. For starters, on most ATX motherboards, having two GPUs may result in each GPU only running at max x8 speeds, even when plugged into an x16 slot. Only a few select workstations or higher-end models can do more.

Also, if you have two GPUs for video editing or 3D rendering, pay close attention to cooling. Today, GPU coolers have become so large to accommodate their powerful performance that a blower-style approach may be best for multi-GPU setups. Top GPUs are at the greatest risk of reduced airflow, which can lead to insufficient airflow and overheating.

Thiago Trevisan/IDG

If you water-cool your GPUs, you can even use more than two GPUs (if your motherboard supports it). Some applications can take advantage of two or more GPUs, and a thinner form factor coupled with water cooling can minimize the risk of overheating.

2024-12-16 16:40:36

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