Can PCIE X4 card be installed in PCIE X16 slot?

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Astralv

Astralv

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May 6, 2013
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Hey there.

I need to add Thunderbolt to my Asus ROG Maximus hero IX Z270 board. This card (minus the frustration that it is only compatible with Z170 and support for Z270 is not available yet)https://www.asus.com/us/Motherboard-Accessory/ThunderboltEX-3/

It says- it is PCIE X4 card. I have something already installed in PCIE X4 (SATA expansion card). I was told in the past that I can put anything in X8 card, if it is less than x8 (x8- is it how many lines it uses?) I have graphics card in one PCIE X8 slot and have one free slot. Can I put X4 card there?

Ok, I am confusing everything. I don't know what I have. This is my motherboard.
https://www.asus.com/us/ROG-Republic-Of-Gamers/ROG-MAXIMUS-IX-HERO/specifications/

This is what listed for my slots:
2 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16
1 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16 *1
3 x PCIe 3.0/2.0 x1
The PCIe x4_3 slot shares bandwidth with PCIex1_3. The PCIe x4_3 is default set at x2 mode

So the Graphics card- is it PCIE X16 or X8? I know my SATA card is X4 so as this Thunderbolt card.
 
Solution
k1114
With all 3 slots used, you are 8/8/4. That does mean your graphics card is 8.

You can put the tb card in any slot you want.

There is no tb port on the back of your mobo. The back has dp, hdmi, usb (type a and c), ethernet, audio, and optical.
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k1114

k1114

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x16/8/4 refers to both bandwidth and size. In size, they are all x16 so will fit any pcie card no matter the size. As far as bandwidth, the first 2 slots are 16 lanes from the cpu so if both are used, it splits to x8/x8. The 3rd slot is x4 from the mobo.
 
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Astralv

Astralv

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Um, ok... what is Graphic card using? X8?

So 3 slots are size of X16 but hold 8 lines, + 8 lines, + 4 lines?

Found this on WIKI: "A PCIe card physically fits (and works correctly) in any slot that is at least as large as it is (e.g., an ×1 sized card will work in any sized slot).

Does it means that X4 Thunderbolt card will work in my 2nd X16size (X8 lines) Slot? Thank you.
 
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Astralv

Astralv

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Also if you can look at Gallery with back Ins/Outs, it has Thunderbolt connector next to 3.1 connector. I was understanding that my motherboard needs a Thunderbolt card and that it has Thunderbolt connector somewhere on the board but the card will have to be installed. So why is there connector on the back panel? It does not mean it already has the thunderbolt? Thank you. https://www.asus.com/us/ROG-Republic-Of-Gamers/ROG-MAXIMUS-IX-HERO/gallery/
 
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k1114

k1114

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May 2, 2010
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With all 3 slots used, you are 8/8/4. That does mean your graphics card is 8.

You can put the tb card in any slot you want.

There is no tb port on the back of your mobo. The back has dp, hdmi, usb (type a and c), ethernet, audio, and optical.
 
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Solution
Astralv

Astralv

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Thank you very much for your info. Now Asus need to hurry up and make drivers for Thunderbolt for Z270. They told me only Z170 is currently supported. It been 2 month. They sold the board saying that it can have Thunderbolt, and now they say- it is not working yet.

Thank you.
 
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