PCI and PCI-X (Voltage and Board compatibility)

mrfrustrated

Distinguished
Nov 18, 2011
2
0
18,510
Main Question:
Will a card with "Connector Type(s) 1 - PCI / PCI-X (Universal 3.3 & 5V; 32-bit)," be compatible in a PCI-X 64/100 3.3v slot or PCI-64/66 3.3v slot on my motherboard? This card has both 3.3v and 5v tab on the connector.

Since the PCI-X and PCI-66 slots are only 3.3v will the card be underpowered?

*This card: http://www.startech.com/Cards-Adapters/USB-3.0/Cards/4-Port-PCI-SuperSpeed-USB-3-Adapter-Card-with-SATA-SP4-Power~PCIUSB3S4

*This Server Board: ftp://ftp.dell.com/Manuals/all-products/esuprt_ser_stor_net/esuprt_poweredge/poweredge-1600sc_Reference%20Guide_en-us.pdf

---Board Page 4
---Expansion Slots Page 68
**Yes I have already used all the Conventional PCI 32/33 slots

Additional Questions: (I need a better understanding)
I have read I can use Conventional PCI cards on the PCI-X slot is this also true for the PCI-66 slot?

If Conventional PCI cards are backwards compatible on my other PCI-X and PCI-66 slots will I have a voltage issue using a 5v card in a 3.3v PCI slot?

Thanks a bunch,
-Mr. Frustrated
 
Since the PCI-X and PCI-66 slots are only 3.3v will the card be underpowered?
The card won't be underpowered; otherwise it wouldn't work. As you can see from the pinout, 3.3v and 5v are provided on different pins: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conventional_PCI#Card_voltage_and_keying

I have read I can use Conventional PCI cards on the PCI-X slot is this also true for the PCI-66 slot?
Yes, but it could impact performance of PCI-X controllers (as indicated in the wikipedia page).

If Conventional PCI cards are backwards compatible on my other PCI-X and PCI-66 slots will I have a voltage issue using a 5v card in a 3.3v PCI slot?
It won't work because the required 3.3v slot will be missing. That was done to prevent mistakes.

The PCI card that you want to buy should preferably be inserted in a 3.3v slot (if one is free).