Expansion Cards

(OBJ 3.5)

Motherboard Connectors (review video for motherboard breakdown of all ports)

Expansion Cards - used to add functions or ports that are not supported by default as an integrated part of the motherboard

PCIe (PCI Express) or (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express) - connects to the bus to get data to and from the motherboard for external devices; replaces former versions (PCI-X, 2.0 and AGP)

• PCIe bus is determined by motherboard and its form factor
• PCIe x16 - used for video graphics cards (faster)
• PCIe x1 - used for networking cards, storage cards, other input/output devices (slower)
• All PCIe slots provide 25 watts of power by default
• Specialized graphics card slots can provide up to 75 watts of power
• Up-plugging = putting smaller card into a larger slot (ex. small x1 device into a x16 slot)
• Down-plugging = larger card into a smaller slot (x16 card into an x4, x8 or x1 slot) NOT RECOMMENDED
• x1 and x16 more common in modern motherboards; not so much x4 and x8

Legacy expansion buses:

• PCI - the first 32-bit expansion card
  • Supports only a max bus speed of 33 MHz or 133 MBps
• PCI-X - introduced as a 64-bit expansion card with 133 MHz bus
  • PCI-X 2.0 could push 266 MHz up to 533 MHz
  • PCI and PCI-X used for networking and audio cards; not fast enough for graphics
• AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port) - dedicated port for video graphics cards

Mini PCIe (Mini PCI Express) - standard PCIe card with smaller form factor; can be plugged into things like laptops for things like networking or providing cellular modem

Expansion Card Types

• Video cards (Graphic adapter) - gives quality signal for monitors
  • Dedicated graphics cards for gaming, video editing, design etc
  • Dedicated graphics cards will usually fit with x16 slots and contain a GPU
  • High speed memory embedded into card
  • Graphical ports like Thunderbolt, HDMI, Display Port
• Capture cards - takes video signals and processes them inside the computer
  • Used for recording footage and security devices
  • Allows you to take input from something that is not a CPU like a console, convert signal directly into a feed that can be streamed over the internet
  • Same can be done for things like security cameras
• Sound cards - gives better output through audio
  • Most motherboards today have a good enough setup to support 5.1 output and dedicated sound cards are typically unnecessary
• Network interface cards (NIC)
• Riser Card - special type of expansion card that goes into a dedicated slot on the motherboard; essentially an installable circuit board that provides more expansion slots