[SOLVED] Which PCI component in which slot?

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ianmcr

Jan 17, 2019
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I have a build that's a few years old now. Some of the parts of it are a little dated now but the only real limitation I encounter is storage.

I have recently had to add a further HDD to the system, but I'm starting to push up against the limits of the motherboard.

This board is this one: https://www.asrock.com/mb/Intel/H97M%20Pro4/

I now have 5 HDDs, 1 SSD with the operating system and one optical drive, but only 6 SATA connections on the board.

I am looking to increase my number of SATA connections with a PCI card with more SATA slots on it (https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00AZ9T3OU), but things are also a little congested in the PCI area.

These are the slots on the board:1 PCIe 3.0 x16, 1 PCIe 2.0 x16, 2 PCI

I have:
My graphics card (https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/radeon-hd-5450.c503)
My network card (https://www.amazon.com/TP-Link-Wireless-PCI-Express-Archer-T8E/dp/B00RL4A314)
..currently plugged into the PCIE 3.0 and PCIE 2.0 slots. Thus the only PCI slots I have left are two legacy PCI slots. As all the PCI components I want to use are PCEI I am going to need some kind of adapter (e.g. https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0037ECAM2/) in one of the non-PCEI slots.

My question is: what should I plug in where?

In other words, I am guessing that by using the PCI/PCEI adapter I am going to experience some performance loss, but what will I notice least?

I was considering this combination:
6 x motherboard SATA: 1 x SSD and 5 x HDD
PCIE 3.0:network card
PCIE 2.0:graphics card
PCI: PCEI/PCI adapter + PCIE SATA card + SATA CD drive

Is that a rational combination? Or are there other combinations that make more sense?

Any advice would be much appreciated.
 
Solution
Wolfshadw
I guess you can try the PCI to PCIEx1 adapter. Reviews are mixed, but most say it works. I don't seen any issue with at least giving it a try if it gives you want you need. It's your £50. And yes. I'd use the least important component (DVD Drive) on that adapter.

-Wolf sends
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Wolfshadw

Wolfshadw

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Aug 3, 2006
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What are the sizes of your hard drives? Is it possible to consolidate two or more drives into a single larger drive? What is all this storage for? Are you streaming from it or just basic file storage spaced?

Have you considered building a Network Attached Storage (NAS) unit?

-Wolf sends
 
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ianmcr

Jan 17, 2019
2
0
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Thanks for your thoughts.

The disk space is just for media storage. The SSD is 250GB. The HDDs are 4 x 4TB and 1 x 3TB, so it's not easy to consolidate drives without going up to an 8TB disk. I'm not keen to do that as it would mean setting aside 7TB of working drives.

I'm potentially open to building an NAS unit, though I'm somewhat deterred by, not only the extra cost but also preferring to keep my system inside my main case because of noise considerations. The case is quite well sound insulated and a few of the components have been chosen to reduce audible whining, and I don't relish having to fix the same problems with a new separate unit.
 
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Wolfshadw

Wolfshadw

Titan
Moderator
Aug 3, 2006
28,223
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133,290
I guess you can try the PCI to PCIEx1 adapter. Reviews are mixed, but most say it works. I don't seen any issue with at least giving it a try if it gives you want you need. It's your £50. And yes. I'd use the least important component (DVD Drive) on that adapter.

-Wolf sends
 
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