Why do most mobo mfgs restrict PCI-e x16 slots to graphics cards only?

[Pink Jazz]

It seems that most motherboard manufacturers restrict the PCI-e x16 slots to graphics cards only on most consumer-level motherboards. Why is this? This is a violation of the PCI-e standard, since PCI-e was designed to be a general-purpose bus (unlike AGP which was designed strictly for graphics cards). For example, if someone wanted to use a PCI-e x4 or x8 RAID card, they are forced to buy a more expensive workstation motherboard, since most consumer-level motherboards restrict the x16 slots to graphics cards only. This is even the case with boards that have multiple x16 slots.

 

[GI_JONES]

The average person doesnt have any hardware that needs that much bandwidth, except for a graphics card.

 

[Pink Jazz]

The average person doesnt have any hardware that needs that much bandwidth, except for a graphics card.

But does it cost any more to manufacturers to be fully compliant with the PCI-e standard?

 

[tsnor]

Confusion, are you saying that if I stuck a PCIe x1 card in the PCIe x16 slot that it wouldn't work somehow ??? Didn't know this.

 

[Pink Jazz]

Confusion, are you saying that if I stuck a PCIe x1 card in the PCIe x16 slot that it wouldn't work somehow ??? Didn't know this.

Yes, many consumer-level motherboards restrict the x16 slots to video cards only.

 

[tsnor]

Can you point me to one, I'd like to read the manual. Was just planning to put a Sata controller in the only PCIe slot in an older amd pc, so am very interested in learning if it might fail before i buy.

 

[Pink Jazz]

Can you point me to one, I'd like to read the manual. Was just planning to put a Sata controller in the only PCIe slot in an older amd pc, so am very interested in learning if it might fail before i buy.

Your best bet would be to ask the manufacturer. Various models of motherboard (even of the same brand) may or may not support anything other than a graphics card in the x16 slot.