PCI Express

[Emerald Hawk]

Hey everyone,

I was playing around with the idea of putting together a new system, but had some questions about PCI Express. I apologize in advance if they are simplistic.

1) Can I plug old PCI cards into PCI Express slots with an adapter?

2) The motherboard I'm currently looking at (ASUS A8N-SLI Deluxe Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 SLI ATX AMD Motherboard) has 2 PCIe x16 slots, as well as 2 PCIe x1 slots, and 3 regular PCI slots. For the x16 slots, are those only able to be used for graphics cards or can they be used like the other PCIe/PCI slots?

Thanks for the help!

[Grendel]

1) Can I plug old PCI cards into PCI Express slots with an adapter?

In theory, yes. I'm not aware of the existence of such an adapter tho, so the practical answer is probably no. (Albatron announced a PCIx16-to-AGP adapter but that's a different story).

2) The motherboard I'm currently looking at (ASUS A8N-SLI Deluxe Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 SLI ATX AMD Motherboard) has 2 PCIe x16 slots, as well as 2 PCIe x1 slots, and 3 regular PCI slots. For the x16 slots, are those only able to be used for graphics cards or can they be used like the other PCIe/PCI slots?

AFAIK they can only be used for GF/X cards. Since you usually have to hard-configure a SLI system by plugging in a "key" there is the possibility the the secondary PCIx16 slot can be used otherwise. Just a guess tho.

[Krom]

1) No.
2) PCIe x16 slots can be used for any PCIe card, not just video cards, it just happens that video card makers are the only ones who currently have a use for x16 slots.

[Emerald Hawk]

Thanks to both of you for your help!