F5F Stay Refreshed Hardware Desktop Yes, it is feasible to combine PCIe 4 lanes into multiple PCIe 3 lanes.

Yes, it is feasible to combine PCIe 4 lanes into multiple PCIe 3 lanes.

Yes, it is feasible to combine PCIe 4 lanes into multiple PCIe 3 lanes.

C
135
11-18-2019, 03:16 PM
#1
You can divide a single PCIe 4.0 x16 interface into four PCIe 3.0 x8 segments while retaining the full PCIe 3.0 bandwidth per segment.
C
caitlin_straet
11-18-2019, 03:16 PM #1

You can divide a single PCIe 4.0 x16 interface into four PCIe 3.0 x8 segments while retaining the full PCIe 3.0 bandwidth per segment.

C
crost95
Member
189
11-18-2019, 10:29 PM
#2
you're limited to dividing only by lanes, not bandwidth. Many have told me this about PCIe 4.0 x16, which can only provide up to 16 lanes of PCIe 3.0 at most. The way you split those lanes is up to you.
C
crost95
11-18-2019, 10:29 PM #2

you're limited to dividing only by lanes, not bandwidth. Many have told me this about PCIe 4.0 x16, which can only provide up to 16 lanes of PCIe 3.0 at most. The way you split those lanes is up to you.

V
Volerty
Junior Member
18
11-19-2019, 12:13 AM
#3
You can divide them into x1, x4, and x8 segments of PCI-e 4.0 lanes.
V
Volerty
11-19-2019, 12:13 AM #3

You can divide them into x1, x4, and x8 segments of PCI-e 4.0 lanes.

J
johcor
Member
54
11-19-2019, 07:07 AM
#4
Thanks! It does seem logical since both have the same pin count.
J
johcor
11-19-2019, 07:07 AM #4

Thanks! It does seem logical since both have the same pin count.

N
Narwhal_Plays
Member
82
11-20-2019, 11:36 PM
#5
It's due to the way PCI-E is built. Unless you have a chip that mimics a network switch, you're limited to splitting the connections if your motherboard and BIOS allow it. This means dividing into certain "groups" of lanes. There are additional constraints, but I'm not entirely sure. I believe the maximum is around 7 groups, though you can't have all 16 PCI-E x1 slots—just combinations like x8 plus x4 plus x4 divided by 3.
N
Narwhal_Plays
11-20-2019, 11:36 PM #5

It's due to the way PCI-E is built. Unless you have a chip that mimics a network switch, you're limited to splitting the connections if your motherboard and BIOS allow it. This means dividing into certain "groups" of lanes. There are additional constraints, but I'm not entirely sure. I believe the maximum is around 7 groups, though you can't have all 16 PCI-E x1 slots—just combinations like x8 plus x4 plus x4 divided by 3.

A
Adabelle
Senior Member
724
11-25-2019, 06:47 PM
#6
The spec 4.0 allows handling more data per line, plus some extra capabilities that come with the usual features. For instance, 4.0 is roughly four times quicker than the original 1.0. 3.0 is about three times faster than 1.0 was. This trend continues similarly. As @mariushm mentioned, you could create separate groups using a switch-like system. Let's consider a raid controller for example—it can convert four lanes into eight SATA ports. Or an M.2 card can change four lanes into two M.2 slots. There are also PCIe risers that transform an x16 slot into four x16 slots. But the connected cards will still use the same 16 lanes. The exact process isn’t clear to me; it might involve switching, or the board may have a chip that splits the lanes into four per x16 slot.
A
Adabelle
11-25-2019, 06:47 PM #6

The spec 4.0 allows handling more data per line, plus some extra capabilities that come with the usual features. For instance, 4.0 is roughly four times quicker than the original 1.0. 3.0 is about three times faster than 1.0 was. This trend continues similarly. As @mariushm mentioned, you could create separate groups using a switch-like system. Let's consider a raid controller for example—it can convert four lanes into eight SATA ports. Or an M.2 card can change four lanes into two M.2 slots. There are also PCIe risers that transform an x16 slot into four x16 slots. But the connected cards will still use the same 16 lanes. The exact process isn’t clear to me; it might involve switching, or the board may have a chip that splits the lanes into four per x16 slot.