What can I do with a PCI slot?

[RRW359]

My MOBO has a PCI slot and I want to use it for something, but most that can do anything I find useful (AKA capture devices) are said to only work on 32-bit OS's. I usually use ethernet, and even if I needed wifi, I already have a Bluetooth+wifi PCIE card. I also don't need more external ports (USB, Sata, ect.), and have no use for sound cards.

[Azza ☠]

PCI-e slots are used for graphic cards (SLI / Crossfire), network cards, audio cards, etc. If you don't need it, ignore the slot. Depending on the motherboard, some share bandwidth between the slots, so it can lower speed slightly in some cases.

If you don't already have a dedicated graphics card in the first PCI-e slot, then get that, as it's a must have for gamers.

[RRW359]

Originally posted by Azza ☠:

PCI-e slots are used for graphic cards (SLI / Crossfire), network cards, audio cards, etc. If you don't need it, ignore the slot. Depending on the motherboard, some share bandwidth between the slots, so it can lower speed slightly in some cases.

If you don't already have a dedicated graphics card in the first PCI-e slot, then get that, as it's a must have for gamers.

I said PCI, not PCIE. I'm already using *all my PCIE slots.

*One is actually obscured by my GFX card, but that's not the point.

[_I_]

nothing really
its just there for older pci cards
its fine to have unused slots

[RRW359]

Originally posted by _I_:

nothing really
its just there for older pci cards
its fine to have unused slots

But... but... but... but it's there, mocking me.

[RRW359]

Originally posted by _I_:

nothing really
its just there for older pci cards
its fine to have unused slots

Also, old cards can still be useful as long as they're compatible with my PC.

[robomagon]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA4M53SN6083

[robomagon]

Here. They have a PCI version.
http://www.idquantique.com/random-number-generation/order-online/

[RRW359]

Originally posted by robomagon:

Here. They have a PCI version.
http://www.idquantique.com/random-number-generation/order-online/

IDK what the second one was, but the first link you gave me looked like PCI.

I may be borderline obsessed with using all of my internal PCI/PCIE ports, but I actually want to have a use for what I get. No offence, but I have NO idea what to do with a sound card, unless I get more speakers.

I know I said I don't want more external connections, but I may just get a USB 3 card or something, even though I still haven't used any of the ones I already have both onboard and from my case (most of what I have is 2, and I have them connected to my 2.0 so I don't need to rearrange anything when I use a 3.0 device).

[robomagon]

Originally posted by RRW359:

Originally posted by robomagon:

Here. They have a PCI version.
http://www.idquantique.com/random-number-generation/order-online/

IDK what the second one was, but the first link you gave me looked like PCI.

I may be borderline obsessed with using all of my internal PCI/PCIE ports, but I actually want to have a use for what I get. No offence, but I have NO idea what to do with a sound card, unless I get more speakers.

I know I said I don't want more external connections, but I may just get a USB 3 card or something, even though I still haven't used any of the ones I already have both onboard and from my case (most of what I have is 2, and I have them connected to my 2.0 so I don't need to rearrange anything when I use a 3.0 device).

The second link is a random number generator that uses quantum phenomena to generate "true" random numbers. No longer will you have to suffer with the pseudo-random numbers generated by your CPU. I only suggest this because you seem obsessed with filling every slot in your computer with some random crap that you really have no use or need for. :)

[RRW359]

Originally posted by robomagon:

Originally posted by RRW359:

IDK what the second one was, but the first link you gave me looked like PCI.

I may be borderline obsessed with using all of my internal PCI/PCIE ports, but I actually want to have a use for what I get. No offence, but I have NO idea what to do with a sound card, unless I get more speakers.

I know I said I don't want more external connections, but I may just get a USB 3 card or something, even though I still haven't used any of the ones I already have both onboard and from my case (most of what I have is 2, and I have them connected to my 2.0 so I don't need to rearrange anything when I use a 3.0 device).

The second link is a random number generator that uses quantum phenomena to generate "true" random numbers. No longer will you have to suffer with the pseudo-random numbers generated by your CPU. I only suggest this because you seem obsessed with filling every slot in your computer with some random crap that you really have no use or need for. :)

Touche.

[Azza ☠]

Meh, get a TV card then. Who watches TV these days thou. It's an useless slot to be ignored.

[RRW359]

Originally posted by Azza ☠:

Meh, get a TV card then. Who watches TV these days thou. It's an useless slot to be ignored.

All the ones I could find only work on 32-bit OS's.

[itsthedark]

Originally posted by RRW359:

Originally posted by _I_:

nothing really
its just there for older pci cards
its fine to have unused slots

But... but... but... but it's there, mocking me.

Another troubled soul akin to my own. Have you solved this dilemma yet?

[RRW359]

Originally posted by itsthedark:

Originally posted by RRW359:

But... but... but... but it's there, mocking me.

Another troubled soul akin to my own. Have you solved this dilemma yet?

I got a usb3 card but I don't think it ever worked properly. My *PC has always had problems with reading USB3 though and I never took the time to diagnose and fix the exact reason why.

*The PC in question is an aging Windows 7 desktop (Win7 probably being one of the reasons it doesn't like USB3). I'm trying to transition to a Windows 10 laptop I have but I still use the desktop more than I probably should be using a PC with an unsupported OS.

[nullable]

Originally posted by RRW359:

Originally posted by _I_:

nothing really
its just there for older pci cards
its fine to have unused slots

Also, old cards can still be useful as long as they're compatible with my PC.

If a majority of the hardware for a legacy interface only has 32bit drivers, that would suggest they're not compatible and you have limited compatibility options in reality. Having a phsyical slot is only part of the equation. Although who knows, maybe the 32bit drivers will work too. Just no guarantees..

I mean that's the problem. PCI is legacy, it was introduced in the 90's and has long since been replaced by PCI-E. Out of curiosity could you list the specs to your system? I'm assuming it has to be fairly old to have a legacy PCI slot.