Help! Confused! PCI-E 2.0 vs PCI-E x16 ~ What is the difference?

so if I buy a card that says "PCI-E 2.0" it will still work in my x16 slot?

Yes, you are good to go.

Likewise, you can use a card that isnt PCIe 2.0, in a PCIe 2.0 slot

But is a PCIe 2.0 impaired in any way if mounted on a PCIx16 ?

READ THE POST DATES.

@ djcoolmasterx

I've noticed the posts dates, I just had to ask this, because I'm interested. I don't care that those are 2 yrs old posts ... maybe I'll get some useful replies. Why don't you just shut (tf) up if you don't have anything really helpful to say or something else to ask ? I bet you'll answer "Make me!"   as childish and useless as your first post. On some other respectable forums your useless post would be considered as SPAM  
And why you have to scream at me (CAPS LOCK) ... ? Can't you talk normal, or you're used to talk like this on a regular basis at home aswel??? Take a chill pill  

Pfff ... lol  

A single gpu 2.0 card on a 1.1 board? No.

PCI-E 2.0 is x16 as well, the difference is that the theoretical bandwidth is twice as high per lane compared to 1.1. Sounds a lot, but the great majority of the cards today (if not all) perform the same with 1.1 as with 2.0.

Ty very much for you imput, cobot.
Much obliged !    

so just to be clear.
a pcie2.0 card will work in a x16 mobo slot

so will a 2.0 card in a x16 slot have lesser performance then a non 2.0 card in a x16 slot?

ok i have a dell inspiron 6400 notebook with discrete video card namely nvidia geforce go 7300. so far as the specs say, the mobo is using the PCI Express X16 for the geforce go 7300 card.

so if i wanted to replace the video card with a GeForce GTX 285M that uses a PCI-E 2.0, is it even possible in the first place and if i can do so, will there be a degredation in the perfromance as compared to plugging it into a PCI-E 2.0.

Ooooold thread, but to answer your question:

No, because it is a notebook you cannot do this, mainly because of the following two reasons.

1. There is no GTX 285M card for the inspiron 6400

2. Heat; even if there would be a GTX 285M that would fit into your lappy, that card gets alot warmer than the 7300 and the cooling would not be sufficient.

As a general rule, you cannot replace GPUs in lappies. In the cases where it is possible, it is usually insanely expensive and not worth it unless you get a very good deal.

Thanks for the advise cobot. Looks like its gonna be linux for this baby and a desktop for the gaming.