In a desktop computer what kind of motherboard slot would a wireless card typically plug into

PCI stands for Peripheral Component Interconnect and is an industry standard for connecting devices to a computer's central processor. PCI establishes a common interconnect called a bus that all connected devices share for communication. It is the most common interconnect used in desktop personal computers and remains common with wireless network adapters. Most modern devices, especially laptops and tablets, ship with onboard wireless networking modems built into the device.

Here are some types of wireless adapter cards and network adapters.

A PCI wireless adapter card connects to a desktop computer's PCI bus. Because the PCI bus is contained inside the computer, the computer case must be opened and the wireless network adapter installed inside.

An example of a PCI wireless adapter card, the Linksys WMP54G, is shown here. This unit is more than 8 inches long to accommodate the standard connection strip required to electrically join to the bus. The unit attaches and fits snugly inside the PCI. However, the wireless adapter card antenna protrudes from the back of the computer.

A PC Card adapter joins a notebook computer to a network. The PC Card is a device approximately the width and height of a credit card. It is compatible with the PCMCIA hardware interface standard.

The Linksys WPC54G is a typical PC Card network adapter for notebook computers. This adapter contains a small built-in Wi-Fi antenna to provide wireless capability. It also features built-in LED lights that display the device status.

PC Card devices insert into a slot on the side of a notebook computer. Wireless adapters, like the one shown above, typically protrude a small amount from the side of the computer. This design allows Wi-Fi antennas to transmit without interference. By contrast, wired Ethernet PC Card adapters insert fully inside the computer.

Given the small space they fit into, PC Card adapters become warm during normal operation. This temperature isn't a major concern as the adapters are designed to withstand heat. However, notebook computers provide an eject mechanism to remove PC Card adapters when not in use. This protects the adaptor and may extend its life.

The Linksys WUSB54G shown below is a typical Wi-Fi wireless USB network adapter. These adapters connect to a standard USB port available on the back of most desktop computers. In general, USB network adapters aren't much larger in size than PC Card adapters. Two LED lights on the adapter indicate its power and network link status.

The installation of a wireless USB adapter is simple. A short USB cable (normally included with the unit) joins the adapter to the computer. These adapters do not require a separate power cord, as the same USB cable also draws power from the host computer. The USB adapter's wireless antenna and circuitry remain external to the computer at all times. On some units, the antenna can be adjusted manually to improve Wi-Fi reception. The accompanying device driver software serves an equivalent function as in other types of network adapters.

Some manufacturers market two kinds of wireless USB adapters—a basic model and a compact model designed for travelers. The small size and easy setup make these adapters an attractive choice if you want to simplify your network setup.

A wireless Ethernet bridge converts a wired Ethernet device for use on a wireless computer network. Wireless Ethernet bridges and USB adapters are sometimes called wireless media adapters, as these enable devices for Wi-Fi using Ethernet or USB physical media. Wireless Ethernet bridges support game consoles, digital video recorders, and other Ethernet-based consumer devices as well as ordinary computers.

The Linksys WET54G Wireless Ethernet Bridge is shown below. It is only a bit larger than Linksys' wireless USB adapter.

True network bridge devices like the WET54G don't require device driver software installation to function, which simplifies the first steps in using these. Instead, network settings for the WET54G can be made through a browser-based administrative interface.

Like USB adapters, wireless Ethernet bridges can draw power from the main cable that's connected to the host device. However, Ethernet bridges require a specialized Power over Ethernet (PoE) converter to make this work, whereas the functionality is automatic with USB. Without a PoE add-on, wireless Ethernet bridges need a separate power cord.

Wireless Ethernet bridges commonly feature LED lights. The WET54G, for example, displays lights for power, Ethernet, and Wi-Fi status.

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PCIe slots allow your motherboard to connect with your PC’s most critical components and provide key functionality. They also supply you with numerous customization and upgrade options when you’re ready to venture beyond preloaded features like graphics and storage.

If you’re looking to build or upgrade your PC or simply want to learn more about the basics of PC hardware, it’s wise to start with PCIe. In this article, we’ll explain the basics of this piece of tech and offer an outline of the popular upgrade options and components you can add to your setup.

PCIe is short for “peripheral component interconnect express” and it’s primarily used as a standardized interface for motherboard components including graphics, memory, and storage.

PCIe gets the “peripheral component interconnect” part of its name because it’s designed to handle point-to-point connections for non-core components. Manufacturers added “express” to distinguish the new standard from older PCI standards, emphasizing the substantial performance improvements over previous iterations.

A PCIe or PCI express slot is the point of connection between your PC’s “peripheral components” and the motherboard. The term “PCIe card” and “expansion card” simply refers to hardware, like graphics cards, CPUs, solid-state drives (SSDs), or HDDs, you may add to your device through PCIe slots, making both catch-all terms for a variety of components.

While different sizes and configurations do exist, most users will only encounter four primary size specifications. The size represents the number of direct connections provided by either a PCIe slot or card.

• PCIe x1
• PCIe x4
• PCIe x8
• PCIe x16

These connections are typically called lanes and, in most cases, the more you have, the better your hardware can perform. To maximize efficiency, high-performance devices tend to rely on PCIe x16 almost exclusively. This makes them especially useful for competitive gamers or anyone working with visuals.

These components typically don’t have too much hidden baggage, though it’s always important to check the specs if you aren’t sure about something. Not all PCIe ports offer the same number of available ratings, even if they appear to be physical matches.

Historically, updates to PCIe doubled transfer rates and used multiples of 8 since generation 3.0. New generations also offer double the bandwidth versus previous versions, dramatically increasing the amount of data that can be transferred per second. Your benefit is maximized when using ports and cards of the same generation.

With PCIe 4.0, bandwidth capacity is 64 gigabytes per second at a rate of 16 gigatransfers per second (GT/s). For users with aging devices – those manufactured several years prior to the latest version – there is great potential for improvement with newer tech.

PCIe has seen substantial changes over the years, with big improvements to efficiency and the addition of more incidental features. In 2020, the turnover on new updates looks quicker than ever. For the consumer, this all should translate into better hardware performance as new generations are introduced.

While the options for upgrades and add-ons depend on your PC’s motherboard, most consumer desktop devices ship with extra PCIe slots. They present a host of different opportunities for upgrades, with some being extremely niche and others applying to just about every user. Here are several popular options.

Upgrading your PC’s graphics potential is a great PCIe project for numerous reasons. If your PC has integrated graphics, adding a discrete graphics card can dramatically improve the visual output. Simply choose your preferred graphics card from NVIDIA or AMD, and install it in the best-rated available PCIe port.

Upgrading a busted or lower-quality sound card is another easy way to improve your multimedia experience through PCIe. If you’re swapping out a malfunctioning component, you should notice an immediate difference. In most cases, installation involves deactivating the existing audio and adding your new sound card.

It’s worth noting that installing a new sound card isn’t always as necessary as a new graphics card. In fact, you may just need the right audio accessories, like new speakers or headphones, to experience a top-shelf audio experience. Check out your existing hardware specs and do a little research before you choose to upgrade.

TV tuner cards and video capture cards are another media-related application, though these days most cards combine both functions. You can use tuner cards to allow your PC to receive conventional TV signals, though some cards have applications beyond video, including FM radio access.

As for video capture cards, they provide a more dynamic form of record functionality. They’re increasingly popular these days with the prevalence of streamers and competitive gamers. With video capture functionality or a dedicated card, it’s easy to produce high-quality video of gameplay or whatever entertainment you deliver to your audience.

All of these applications are frequently bundled for convenience, often in a variety of combinations. If you want to tick a few boxes off at once, make sure you shop for a card that supports all three functions; TV, radio, and video capture.

Many PCs and laptops already include wireless internet connectivity, but a standalone WiFi card can be particularly useful in a few scenarios. For example, it’s a great way to supplement a weaker signal when you’re experiencing router or connection issues. You can even use it to bypass a malfunctioning or inconsistent built-in system altogether if you prefer.

You can also add a modem card to your setup. Sure, most of us aren’t looking to add a new phone line or dial-up internet connection, so you may be wondering: when would I ever need a modem card? There are plenty of potential applications, especially if you’d like to enjoy fax functionality for business or private use.

One extremely common use of PCIe slots is upgrading or adding new local storage. Mounting an SSD on your motherboard through a PCIe connection allows for higher efficiency, and it’s ideal for those with large data files who need capacity and speed.

You can also use extra PCIe connections to mount a RAID controller that can manage your complete storage array. RAID arrays are a great way to upgrade your storage across the board. Some of this functionality is built-in with many modern motherboards, so you may not always need it for your situation. Read more about RAID arrays in our HP Tech Take article here.

The largest and latest PCIe standard is PCIe 4.0, but it won’t get top billing for too much longer. Version 5.0 was unveiled in 2019 and is due for implementation in 2020, making it technically the most up-to-date PCIe standard. While 4.0 provides bandwidth capacity of 64 GB/s at 16 GT/s, 5.0 can deliver 128 GB/s at 32 GT/s.

We shouldn’t expect to see PCIe 6.0 released until 2021 or later in terms of full-on implementation, but it’s already in development. It’s expected to match typical generation changes, offering double bandwidth capacity at 256 GB/s at a rate of 64 GT/s. That means performance is on the up, and moving more quickly than ever when it comes to PCIe technology.

One of the most important things to remember about PCIe is how to handle compatibility. With PCIe connections, you can hook up smaller connections to large ports. You can also connect larger connections to smaller ports. But using two different size configurations to complete contact can have some negative consequences.

In particular, these connections suffer from a substantial decrease in bandwidth. Placing a larger card in a smaller port has a higher negative impact on the quality of your experience, but you can still see less than optimal performance the other way around as well.

PCIe formats are changing faster than ever, and the performance gains with each update are substantial. As a result, it has never been easier to fine-tune and improve your experience with relatively simple hardware upgrades or add-ons.

Curious to learn more about PCIe? The standard is developed and maintained by an organization called PCI-SIG, which offers loads of information about compatibility and community support.

And if you’re trying to master all things PCIe, it won’t hurt to learn more about motherboards, too. Be sure to check out our article titled What Does a Motherboard Do? for a comprehensive guide on this piece of tech. Then, you can read through our guide on How to Choose a Motherboard for shopping tips.