PCI-E X16/X1 question

A google and a search here didnt turn up much info about the subject. Where
is a good description of the PCI-E requirements, functions, attributes, just plain
info, advantages/dis-advantages?

I'm getting a new PC and it has one of each - PCI-E X16 and PCI-E X1 slots.
Outside of being new tech, i dont know very much about PCI-E (like does it
require a larger power supply).

thank you,
savagcl

 

Steve R Jones,

Thank you for that info and description, well done.

Let me impose a little bit more (and really show my ignorance about PCI-X),
If i bought a PCI-Express graphics card, I could use the PCI-X slot for improved
graphics speed? Going out on a limb, would this slot have any effect on SATA
HD's (i think not since SATA has its own port(s) but it dont hurt to ask).

thanks again for the info.
savagcl

 

Clif, you are going to ditch the Gateway...Hurray!!
Sounds like you have some good plans in mind for building your own.

Information I was reading a little while back was that PCI X / PCI Express was being used with older CPU/RAM technology since they were a little uncertain about combining it with the new CPU/RAM technology available. If you are interested in a better CPU/RAM combination you may find better with a motherboard that has AGP and the standard PCI.

Graphics cards are being produced in both PCI X and AGP with the same grahics chip (GPU) and so far there is little difference between them. Graphics cards should be released in the future that will take better advantage of the "Express" system.

The upgradability of the CPU and RAM may be limited on PCI Express motherboards at the moment, eg. not being able to use 64 bit or "dual" RAM.

Anyway, thought I would point that out. Maybe you should take it into consideration when thinking about future upgrades.

If you see a motherboard you like, do a search on the model number and "review ". Don't get one that has only JUST been released, since it may prove to be a "lemon ". Check search results on the model number for hardware forum questions, that should give you an idea if it may have "faults" (if it is a board from a popular manufacturer there may be many basic questions). These are the type of things I would do. I think getting a good motherboard is the basis of a trouble-free system and something to build on in the future.

Places I use for info:
www.tomshardware.com
www.motherboards.org

Matt

 

Whoa-up, Mattman,

Your ahead of me by a long shot.
I dont think i have the smarts, time or patience to build a PC (but it does sound
like a good idea).
Actually, i'm getting another gateway system. This will be my six system i
bought from them. I know i'll be able to upgrade or swap any card in the system
without having to worry (to much) about compability.

I'm on a laptop right now since my daughters graphics card went out last
night. Just right out of the blue - a blank screen is shown, not even the BSOD,
(she has a cheap graphics card anyway). Will get her a decent nVidia card
today and plug it in. At least i hope its the graphics card, hard to tell with just
a blank screen.

Thanks Mattman for the info and you have a great day,
savagcl

 

Can you clarify that some more for me, Matt? I don't understand.

The feeling I get from the uber-geek community is that someone would be pretty brain-dead not to buy a board with PCI-E slots even though I have heard that it offers no real performance gain over AGP 8x at this time. Keep in mind that I only "understand" AMD.

My only knowledge of Intel, is that it's simply a facility that pollutes the air and is an incredible drain on the water table about 10 miles from where I currently live.

Gary

 

Off the subject but - in my continuing search for the ultimate PC - dont buy an
FPD 1830 monitor from anyone.

Well, it wasn't the graphics card or the cable. The monitor went bust. I
understand (from another forum) that the FPD 1830 monitors are buggy. Others
are having similar problems, a few flickers then a blank screen. Gateways
repair price = $350.00 if not within warranty, or they will be glad to sell you a
new one for $300.00!!!!!

savagcl

 

Hi Gary, I suppose what I am saying is not to neglect the other main areas. Is the motherboard going to be compatible with upcoming technology? Example, will it support the new dual-core processors? If you get an AMD 754 64bit or Sempron based board it won't. Intel have released all sorts of different models, what support/upgrades will they have in the future? All boards being released now should support DDR2 RAM, but it is worth checking about that. It looks like SLI graphics technology is only going to be for hard-core gamers or will it become the new standard and PCI X16 based boards will be left in a backwater? (This is pure speculation). You need to consider the number of PCI X1 slots and standard PCI slots. There have not been a great deal of PCI express cards released so far, so you will need to use the old technology a while longer. Yes, PCI Express is the way it is going to go, but I would say to new board/PC buyers...don't get stuck saying "Gee, I wish this board could support dual-core processor technology" or "Drat, this board only supports DDR RAM ".

Clif, how can I tempt you into building your own? Please consider it a little while longer. Maybe even selecting the parts and having it built for you. You are too much of a "tinkerer" to be chained to a pre-built system that is basically restricted so that upgrades have to be made by getting a whole new system.

Matt

 

Mattman,

Thanks for your confidence in my abilities!

While i would like to build my own (someday i hope), it seems a little out of
reach right now (family emergency - daughter has breast cancer). It seems like
a good idea for the future. My best buddy also wants to build himself one so
maybe i can use him as a testing base.

One thing i do like about the gateway's are that upgrades to most things are
fairly easy (unless i hit a snag like the SATA that is). My daughter and her
husband plus 2 grandkids get my old "hand me down" systems (mainly so i can
get a new one ). I'm running out of family to pass them on to tho.

One day tho!!!

have a good one, Mattman,
savagcl

 

Clif, sorry to hear about your daughter's condition. My thoughts are with you and with her.

It may not be the time to think about it, but what about building two with your buddy (at least it will be an excuse for a beer together ). Read
through some "motherboard manuals ". All the instructions should be there and should not be much different from your upgrading experiences.

Hope everything goes well.
Matt
PS You had better do your research and get your new machine...otherwise I will keep badgering you!

 

Mattman,

Havent had a drink in 18 years (so far!).
Finally figured out that i could spend my money for things that didn't give me
a headache.

Not a bad idea to do 2 systems. Will have to think about it.

Take a look at my msg in General Discussions (title: which system is best).

clif

 

Also sorry to hear about your daughter and hope that all goes well. As a positive note my sister had breast cancer about 6 years ago and came through it very well. It's not like it was 10 or 15 years ago.

As an add on to Mattman's attempt at getting you to build your own system consider this... To have had my system custom built it would have cost me (at a guess) around $1200.00. To build it myself it cost me around $500.00. Building it yourself you can end up with a much stronger system for much less weight loss to your wallet.

To give you an idea of what you can save consider what I got for my $500.00. Remember that I've had this system for quite a while so the processor isn't the fastest out there!

Asus Mother board
AMD Athalon 1GHz. processor
512meg PC-3200 Ram
ATI 9200 video
Soundblaster 24bit Live audio
creative modem
120gig Maxtor drive
ATI Remote Wonder Pro
ATI TV Wonder Pro
52X CD burner
16X Dual layer DVD burner

Some of the above, such as the video and DVD, were added after the initial install but are still included in the $500.00 total.

 

Wow, that is a pretty good hunk of change you saved by DIY!
How long did it take you to complete the build - start to finish (including
research time)?

Thanks for the thought about my daughter. The surgery is over and it went well.
She looked like h*ll in the recovery room but is bouncing back nicely. She still
has to go through Kemo and have the plastic surgery re-construction done.

But insurance will cover "most" of it, including wigs. Her hair will fall out but will
grow back after Kemo is done. Like i said, my daughter is a real trooper and
bounces back quickly. Her moral is good and thats half of the battle.

savagcl

 

How long it took to build my system is hard to say as I'm still building it...

With me it's always an ongoing process. I'm always upgrading something.

But to actually answer your question. If everything is sitting in front of me and I'm starting with an empty case with just a power supply in it I would say I could have it ready to plug in in about an hour, roomie says it takes me less but I don't want to underestimate.

Research time is hard to say as I've developed a liking for certain hardware so my research time is cut down. As a recommendation it's hard to go wrong with the following brands:
Asus motherboard
AMD Processor
ATI Video
Soundblaster Audio

Really all it takes is to mount the motherboard and drives, hook up the power plugs and cables and pop in the cards.

Actually the longest time spent in building a system is installing windows, drivers and software, not actually building the system.

As a thought... Actually, when I build a system, I will initially just put in the video card. I add the other cards after windows is installed. I don't want windows to find my hardware. I would rather add the cards after windows and then cancel out of the found hardware wizard and use the install CD that came with each card. Saves 'cleaning things up' after windows installs the wrong drivers.

 

Makes sense to me, guy.

savagcl