Are PCI-e 3.0 cards really work on PCI-e 1.0 slot?

chardm

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Sep 26, 2013
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I really need help here. I was decided to buy an HD 7750 but i have read this article (http://www.overclock.net/a/the-final-answer-to-the-controversial-pcie-x16-version-compatibility) PCI-E 3.0 is not "fully" backwards compatible with 1.0/1.1. The article said that it depends on what Gpu you would use in a 1.0/1.1 Pci-e if it will be compatible. AMD 7000 series or newer cards are not compatible with older systems like PCI-e Slot 1.0/1.1 and Chipset G41 and previous chipsets.

The article said this "We all know that the AMD Radeon HD 7000 series is extremely power efficient. Having said that it comes at a cost. This power efficiency comes due to the new electrical interface featured in PCIe v3.0 and 2.0 slots and is ABSENT in PCIe v1.1 slots. Hence they are NOT COMPATIBLE." Please if you have time read the article, it has credible source.

On the other side, Nvidia Cards are more power hungry cards because they maintain the compatibility of PCI-E slots (also said in the article). AMD 7000 series cards are

So, is PCI-e 3.0 slot really backwards compatible with 1.0/1.1?

My specs
CPU Intel Dual Core E5200 2.5ghz
GPU Hopefully HD7750 or i will buy GTX 650 instead:??: (Current gpu is onboard Intel G31/G33)
MOBO Asus P5KPL-AM (PCI-e x16 1.0 slot, G31 Chipset)
PSU Corsair VS450 (Soon. Im planning to buy this with the HD7750)
 
If you want to upgrade the video card first, find out which ones will work on your 1.1 interface. If you want to ignore the article and go by "some say it worked", that's up to you. If you can return the card you try with no issues, you may as well. Chances of killing your motherboard if the card does not work is pretty small so that's a safe thing to test yourself if you like.

Find something in your price range, and look for reviews on the card, somewhere you will find if it was tested on an older motherboard with your 1.1 PCIe slot. Actually asking the support for the maker of the video cards won't hurt either, after all they BUILT the thing, they would know what it will work with.
 

chardm

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Sep 26, 2013
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10,710
In my price range, i found GTX 650 and HD7750. I was decided to have the AMD because my last GPU is Nvidia. I saw threads on tomshardware and tipidpc that it works but that article in my thread said its not, so i intend to ask someone here to verify it. I also saw youtube videos running HD7750 with P5KPL-AM mobo. I was just bothered with that article.

BTW, my mobo is a G31 chipset, and has a bios update of 2010. Will my bios recognize the card?

Thank you for all your replies. :) peace out!
 

crislaslo

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Oct 19, 2013
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Sapphire HD 7750 16x 3.0 pci e is working just fine with my 1.1 pci e 8x. Actually I have old HP server from 2007 with micro...something plus...I forgot full mobo name. I melted 8x slot end to fit card in and to my surprise after pc start card fan starts and bios boot shows up.After getting to windows boot all get black because that particular motherboard has integrated ati 1000 graphic which must be disabled in windows. After disabling integrated graphic all work well for me. Sorry for my bad english.