Unleashing the Power of PCIe Slots: Beyond the Graphics Card

For PC enthusiasts and power users, the allure of a spacious desktop tower with an ATX motherboard remains strong, even as smaller form factors gain traction. These larger systems offer unparalleled expandability, and at the heart of this lies the secret weapon: PCIe slots. If you’ve ever built a PC or peeked inside a gaming rig, you’ve undoubtedly encountered these slots. While often associated primarily with graphics cards and their sometimes-frustrating retention clips, PCIe slots are far more versatile than many realize.

Their utility is nearly limitless, offering a gateway to enhanced power and functionality that many users overlook. With the advent of PCIe Gen 7 promising even faster performance for gaming and workstation setups, understanding and utilizing these slots is more important than ever.

Let’s explore some of the most valuable card types to plug into your PCIe slots and how to maximize their potential.

Most desktop PCs with mATX or larger motherboards boast multiple PCIe slots. Typically, the top slot operates at PCIe x16, providing the highest bandwidth ideal for demanding devices like graphics cards. A second slot often runs at PCIe x8, half the speed, making the top slot the prime location for your GPU. Smaller slots running at x1 or x4 are designed for lower-bandwidth add-in cards.

Beyond Gaming: Multiple GPUs for Professionals

While the graphics card is the most recognizable PCIe occupant, and some mistakenly believe it’s the only purpose of the slot, there’s more to the story. Remember the buzz around multi-GPU setups for gaming? Those days are largely gone. Nvidia’s SLI technology for linking GPUs is no longer supported.

However, a second high-performance GPU can still be valuable for non-gaming applications. Graphics-intensive and 3D applications, as well as video editing software like DaVinci Resolve, can effectively leverage multiple GPUs for significant performance boosts.

Resource-intensive tasks are the ideal use case for multiple GPUs. But for gaming or streaming, a second GPU is usually more trouble than it’s worth. Beyond the extra cost, it consumes valuable space and PCIe slots that could be used for other enhancements.

If you choose to install a second GPU, be mindful of several factors. On most ATX motherboards, two GPUs will likely operate at x8 speeds, even in x16 slots. Only select high-end workstation models offer more bandwidth.

Thermals are also a critical concern. Modern GPU coolers are massive, and a blower-style cooler might be necessary for multi-GPU setups to prevent overheating of the top GPU due to restricted airflow.

Water cooling can potentially accommodate more than two GPUs, assuming your motherboard supports it. With thinner form factors and efficient heat dissipation, water cooling minimizes overheating risks when using multiple GPUs for compatible applications.

Unleash Storage Potential with PCIe NVMe Cards

After graphics, storage is arguably the most impactful use for spare PCIe slots. Ultra-fast PCIe storage cards have emerged, catering to both gamers and workstation users. Some NVMe PCIe add-in cards can run at x16 and support up to eight NVMe drives in an array for phenomenal performance.

With modern games easily exceeding 100GB, ample storage space is no longer exclusive to video editors and data hoarders.

If you have available PCIe slots, consider adding a PCIe storage card. Even a single-drive PCIe NVMe card provides a substantial boost in high-speed performance while occupying minimal space.

Some high-end motherboards, like the ASUS ROG Hero series, even include a PCIe NVMe card for added storage capacity. By fully utilizing your motherboard’s PCIe allocation, you can unlock significant storage gains with impressive performance.

Internal PCIe storage offers a cleaner solution than external drives, eliminating cable clutter and freeing up physical space. Portable SSDs are convenient but require cables and take up desk space, while PCIe storage remains hidden and efficient.

Furthermore, internal PCIe storage is significantly faster. Even the fastest external drives top out at 40Gbps (5,000MB/s) with Thunderbolt 4 or USB4. In contrast, ubiquitous PCIe Gen 4 drives reach a theoretical maximum of 8,000MB/s, and PCIe Gen 5 drives can hit a blazing-fast 14,000MB/s.

PCIe storage isn’t limited to NVMe. Other SSDs and storage types are compatible and can be configured in RAID setups for data backups, providing a cost-effective alternative to Thunderbolt or USB-C based solutions.

If you’re considering a PCIe storage card, the Asus Hyper PCIe 4.0 expansion card (supports four Gen 4 NVMe drives) and the Asus Hyper PCIe 5.0 expansion card (supports up to four Gen 4 or Gen 5 NVMe drives) are excellent choices. Always verify motherboard compatibility before purchasing any PCIe card.

Reviving Audio with PCIe Sound Cards

While many might consider sound cards obsolete, they still serve a purpose in niche areas like professional audio work and specialized gaming sound setups. Even the Apple Mac Pro emphasizes PCIe slots for audio and video professionals.

A PCIe sound card provides high-quality audio that may surpass motherboard audio capabilities. These cards often feature extra inputs and surround sound support and are less susceptible to audio interference due to their separation from the motherboard.

PCIe sound cards are typically small, making them suitable for smaller PCIe slots and leaving larger lanes for high-bandwidth cards.

Despite their niche status, discreet sound card options persist. Audio professionals rely on pro-grade PCIe audio cards for their workflows. Audiophiles can enhance their audio experience with a PCIe sound card.

High-end PCIe audio interfaces, such as the HDX PCIe Core Card by Avid Pro Tools, are designed for real-time mixing and processing in extensive audio projects, justifying their premium price.

For audiophiles, there are consumer-oriented options like the Creative Sound Blaster Audigy FX PCIe 5.1 sound card and the enthusiast-class Creative Sound BlasterX AE-5 Plus hi-res gaming sound card, offering an effective way to utilize unused PCIe slots.

Capture and Stream with PCIe Capture Cards

A capture card processes external audio/video sources for recording, editing, or streaming. For example, capturing footage from a camera or gaming console in real-time.

PCIe slots are ideal for capture cards because their high data speeds can handle high-resolution, high-frame-rate video without bottlenecks. The Elgato 4K Pro is a popular PCIe capture card among gamers for recording and streaming their gameplay.

While USB capture cards exist, internal PCIe capture cards offer lower latency, higher resolution and frame rate support, and save desktop space. They are an invaluable addition for gaming content creators.

Capture cards are also essential for professionals. The DeckLink 8K Pro G2 capture card by Blackmagic Design excels in capturing 8K footage at high frame rates in professional formats, with 12-bit RGB 4:4:4 video and full Rec. 2020 color.

While consumer-grade alternatives are available, PCIe solutions offer the best features and specifications for professional applications.

Expanding Connectivity: USB and Network Cards

If you still have empty PCIe slots, consider adding more USB ports with a PCIe USB expansion card or a Thunderbolt PCIe card (if supported by your motherboard).

Alternatively, a PCIe network card can enhance connectivity. Even with built-in Wi-Fi on most modern motherboards, PCIe network cards offer cost-effective Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capabilities, potentially eliminating the need for Ethernet. The TP-Link AX3000 PCIe card, supporting Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2, is a budget-friendly option.

Numerous PCIe network cards cater to various speed requirements. You might also consider upgrading to Wi-Fi 7 with a card like the TP-Link BE9300 PCIe, a tri-band adapter supporting both Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4.

In conclusion, PCIe slots offer a wealth of opportunities to upgrade your PC and unlock new capabilities. If your motherboard has available PCIe slots, explore these options to maximize your system’s potential.