What Are the Two Types of Expansion Slots?

One of the most important parts of a computer is the expansion slots. They come in different shapes and sizes, but all perform the same basic function: to provide a place for expansion cards to be inserted.

The most common type of expansion slot today is the PCI Express (PCIe) slot. These are used mainly for graphics cards, sound cards, and network cards. PCIe slots come in different sizes: x1, x4, x8, and x16. The number after the “x” indicates how many lanes the slot has.

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A lane is a data pathway that can transfer data up to 2.5 gigatransfers per second (GT/s). So, an x1 PCIe slot has one lane that can transfer data up to 2.5GT/s, while an x16 PCIe slot has 16 lanes that can transfer data up to 40GT/s.

The other common type of expansion slot is the Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) slot. These are older slots that are used for a variety of expansion cards, including sound cards and network cards. PCI slots come in two different sizes: 32-bit and 64-bit.

The difference between the two is the amount of data that can be transferred per clock cycle. A 32-bit PCI slot can transfer 32 bits of data per clock cycle, while a 64-bit PCI slot can transfer 64 bits of data per clock cycle.

Both PCIe and PCI slots are found on almost all motherboards today. So, if you’re looking to upgrade your graphics card or add a sound card to your computer, you’ll need to know which type of expansion slot you have available.