NVMe PCIe x1 M.2 SSD adapter sounds like salvation if you do not have a free PCIe x4 slot or M.2 connector. Yes, the PCIe x1 m2 adapter will work, just that it may have some drawbacks, which we will discuss in the article.
What is PCIe x1 slot?
The PCIe x1 is a slot you can find on almost every motherboard nowadays. The PCIe x1 slot is mostly used for low power expansion cards like sound cards, tv tuners, etc. This is because PCIe x1 is slower than x4 or x16.
The picture shows that the motherboard MSI z390- A PRO has 4 PCIe x1 slots, 1 – PCIe x16 (for GPU) and 1 – PCIe x4 for NVMe or other components.
If your motherboard has a PCIe version of 2.0, using it for NVMe SSD can be a bad idea because SATA can be almost identical in terms of speed.
There is already a 5.0 version, but the most common is PCIe versions from 2.0 to 4.0. In 2022 it is planned to release PCIe version 6.0.
How fast is PCIe x1?
| PCIe version | Throughput |
|---|---|
| PCIe x1 version 1.0 | 0.250 GB/s |
| PCIe x1 version 2.0 | 0.500 GB/s |
| PCIe x1 version 3.0 | 0.985 GB/s |
| PCIe x1 version 4.0 | 1.969 GB/s |
| PCIe x1 version 5.0 | 3.938 GB/s |
| PCIe x1 version 6.0 | probably will be 7-8 GB/s |
If your motherboard has a PCIe version of 3.0 or newer, then in most cases, you can use NVMe SSD without any problem.
Downsides of using PCIe x1 for NVMe
In most cases, you will get a speed of 1/4 because an NVMe PCIe x4 uses 4 lanes, and PCIe x1 uses one data lane. To understand that, PCIe x1 will have 0.985 GB/s, and PCIe x4 will have 3.938 GB/s (PCIe version 4.0).
PCIe x1 or SATA?
It is simply if your motherboard has a PCIe version of 2.0, then the speed between PCIe 2.0 and SATA will be about the same. So if your PCIe slot is 3rd generation, you probably get about 3x SATA speed.
What can you fit into a PCIe x1 slot?
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PCIe x1 m2 adapter
MZHOU NVME M.2 SSD M Key to PCI-e 3.0 x1
As we mentioned before, it supports PCIe 3.0 version and is faster than the SATA SSD. This adapter is reliable and does its job. Of course, if you have a free m.2 slot, you better use it.
The PCIe x1 slot was not designed for NVMe SSDs; it was designed for more additional devices listed below.
PCIe x1 Wifi Card
TP-Link AC1200 PCIe WiFi Card for PC
For various reasons, people use a desktop computer with WIFI over the Internet. Of course, to reduce Internet noise (PING), it is best to use an Ethernet cable. But there are situations when it is impossible to do it, and sometimes there is not even a need to do it.
TP-Link has long been known as a reliable company specializing in Internet modems and routers. This WIFI card is used in the PCIe x1 slot.
A big plus of this modem is the Bluetooth connection. With this option, you can connect a Bluetooth printer, camera, keyboard, mouse, or other equipment that requires Bluetooth.
PCIe x1 USB C
PCIe USB 3.0 Card Type C USB Card
If you do not have a USB 3.0 port or need a USB C port, this adapter can be great for you. It has 3 USB 3.0 ports and one USB C port. There’s not much to talk about; it’s a reliable adapter that will meet your needs.
PCIe x1 Graphics Card
This 1GB DDR3 low profile GPU is required in cases where you cannot fit larger GPUs due to the size of the PC case. Also, it can be a great economical option for video cards as the prices are skyrocketing at the moment.
With this video card, you won’t play the latest games with high graphics, but it can come in handy. For example, you can get a reasonable 40-50fps on Fortnite.
Of course, this card is most often used to connect an additional monitor to a computer.
PCIe x1 Sound Card
Creative Sound Blaster Audigy FX
This sound card is perfect for a variety of 5 in 1 audio system. With this card, you can easily connect a surround sound system like this.
Related articles
- What is PCIe NVMe SSD? Explained.
- What are PCIe X1 Slots Used For? Ultimate Beginner’s Guide.
- What is PCIE power cable? Explained.
- TKG 2510 Connector. Explained.
- Sleeper PC case. DIY from old PC (real example).
Conclusion
When all PCIe x4 and x16 slots are occupied, it is useful to know that the NVMe SSD can also be connected to the PCIe x1 by PCIe x1 m2 adapter.
Below you can see the frequently asked questions; if you have a different question, you can leave it in the comments section.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I install GPU into PCIe x1?
Yes, you can install low-profile cards like ZOTAC GeForce GT 710 1GB.
Can I install a PCI Express x1 in x16
Yes, you can. PCIe x1 device can be installed in all PCIe slots – x1/x4/x8/x16. For example, x4 can be installed in x4, x8 and x16. Of course, you will not accommodate a device that requires a PCIe x16 slot in a PCIe x1.
Can PCIe x1 fit in x4
Yes, it will fit.
Are PCI-e x1 slots important?
Yes, they are very important. PCIe slots are the fastest connectors on a computer, without which it would not be possible to connect an NVMe drive or GPU.
Can an NVMe run on PCIe x1?
Yes, you can run NVMe on PCIe x1 by an adapter.
Can I hook sound card to bottom PCIe x1?
Yes, you can hook it to the bottom. The most important thing is that the sound card does not touch other devices.
Can I run r5 230 in PCI x1 slot?
No, you can’t put AMD Radeon r5 230 to PCIe x1 slot unless you use PCI Express X1 to X16 Low Profile Slot Extension Adapter.