Introduction to Computers Expansion Cards

What Are Expansion Cards Secondary boards attached to the Motherboard that allow us to add functionality to our computer May add peripheral ports, completely new abilities or expand upon abilities that the computer already possess Allows us to upgrade one specific functionality of the computer without replace the whole thing Popular expansion cards include Video Cards Sound Cards TV Tuners USB Host Cards Network Interface Cards

PCI expansion cards Stands for Peripheral Component Interconnect Has a notch towards the back to make sure that the card is being inserted correctly Supports plug and play functionality, which means that installed devices are detected and configured automatically Can run at 33 megahertz with a transfer speed of 133 megabytes per second, or at 55 MHz and 266 MB/s

PCI-X expansion cards Stands for PCI extended Has a notch towards the back to make sure that the card is being inserted correctly Uses a 64-bit interface to achieve a faster data rate, up to 1.06 GB/s Is backwards compatible with standard PCI slots, though when in PCI slots, they are throttled down to PCI speeds Typically seen in servers for networking cards

PCIe expansion cards Stands for PCI express Created to replace PCI and PCI-X Data rates depend both on the protocol version and the number of transmission lanes. PCIe 4.0 x1 supports 2 GB/s, and PCIe 4.0 x16 offers 32GB/s Can run alongside legacy PCI technology, so you can see motherboards with both PCI and PCIe slots PCIe 4.0 was officially formalized June 8th, 2017, and PCIe 5.0 has been preliminarily announce with standardization expected in 2019

PCIe X1 PCIe cards are defined by the number of transmission lanes that are used to transfer data PCIe x1 provides 1 lane of transmission while PCIe x16 provides 16 PCIe defines x1, x2, x4, x8, x16, and x32 The most popular types are PCIe x1 and x16 PCIe x1 are usually used for network cards, USB cards and sound cards

PCIe X16 PCIe x16 cards are usually used for dedicated video cards PCIe provides power, but for higher end video cards, additional power from the PSU must be connected Keyed notch near the front of the card, and a hook at the back of the card to ensure proper seating

Recognizing PCI slots It helps to be able to recognize PCI slots and cards visually, but card and motherboard documentation should provide answers if it is unclear what each port is PCI have their keying tab near the end, PCIe have theirs near the front PCIe x16 slots will have the locking tab as well

Installing Expansion Cards Expansion cards tend to be the easiest internal components to install, but there are still things we should be aware of

ESD Protection Like most computer hardware, expansion cards are susceptible to damage from electrostatic discharge Best practices include starting by grounding yourself by setting the computer on an ESD mat and connecting yourself to the mat by an ESD wrist strap Keeping the component in an anti-static bag will also help to protect the card

Preparing the Case Use a screwdriver to the remove an expansion slot cover corresponding to the PCI slot being used Keep the screw nearby and store the cover in a safe place. The screw will be used to secure the expansion card, and the slot should be reinstalled if the component is removed. This helps with cooling by providing a closed system for air flow

Installing the Expansion Card to the Motherboard Firmly press the expansion card into the slot. If the card won’t go in, double check that the slot and the connection tab are compatible Do not rock the card too much or use excessive force to install the card. This could damage the component Do not press too lightly either. The expansion card must go all the way in, otherwise the card won’t be seated properly, and won’t work. In the worst case scenarios, the card could be close enough to the connectors that the electricity can bridge the gap, and then the connection will short out and damage the card

Finishing and Setting Up Use the screw that was removed to secure the expansion card, and make sure it doesn’t get unseated during operation Install necessary drivers. This can be done by using windows update to select an appropriate driver, installing drivers from a manufacturer’s CD or by downloading the latest drivers from the manufacturer’s website Windows Update will give you an up-to-date driver, but since it is not made by the people who made the expansion card it may not enable all of the devices features The manufacturer’s CD will have appropriate, but perhaps old, drivers The best and most up-to-date drivers will come from the manufacturer’s website