Stupid question: Some motherboards do have slots declared as "x8 (in x16). What happens if I put a 1-slot x16 graphics card into these. Will this work for e.g. Plex transcoding?

 

Thanks.

 

It will work with speed limited to x8. Since no GPU can saturate PCIe 3.0 x16 anyway, there is no real life difference.

 

Currently, true x16 only matters with storage applications.

Thanks a lot. 

 

I have a follow on question to this. Wondering if someone could help. I have a server coming with the following motherboard https://www.supermicro.com/en/products/motherboard/X10SRH-CF

 

It has 1 PCI-E 3.0 x4 (in x8)

1 PCI-E 3.0 x8 (in x16)

2 PCI-E 3.0 x8

1 PCI-E 2.0 x2 (in x4)

1 PCI-E 2.0 x4 (in x8)

 

I already have a GTX1650 installed in the 1 PCI-E 3.0 x8 (in x16). I wanted 2 GPUs. One for transcoding in a Plex docker and 1 to pass through to my windows VM.

 

Problem is, the only other PCIe slot is the 2 PCI-E 3.0 x8. Is it possible to fit a low profile GPU card in here?

It depends how much space you have.

 

You can get a hard (PCB) PCI-E X8 to X16 riser, to let you put a half height GPU in a full height slot though you may need to make or modify the rear bracket from a blank so it sits properly.

 

You could get a flex riser cable and mount the card elsewhere (if you have a space). If you can't get a x8 to x16 you could just mod a x8 x8 or x16 to x16.

 

A little hacky but you can carefully cut/melt the plastic from the back end of the PCI-E socket so a larger card will fit.

 

Very hacky, cut down the gold finger on the GPU to X8.