Yesterday I purchased parts to build a new htpc. The board that I bought is the MSI E350IA-E45, which on the box boasts a single PCIe x16 slot. Not until I purchased and opened the box, and read the manual, did I find out that the x16 slot is limited to run at x4. So I'm a little angry, as I feel this was false advertising. I am actually not using this slot for anything right now, but might have in the future. I'm not looking for feedback such as "it's no big deal, you'll run fine at x4", or anything like that.. what I do want to know is:
- Is this normal practice for a manufacturer?
- What is the purpose of calling it x16 if it only runs at x4? My assumption is that it just means it can take an x16 card, but only run it at x4 speed? Shouldn't that have been specified on the box?
- If it can handle an x16 card, but is limited to x4, is that a hardware or software limit.. leading up to my next question - Can this limit be changed, either by the end-user (me), or by driver updates? Maybe they intend to unlock more speed later on??
Thanks in advance. Please go easy on me, I haven't worked with any modern hardware in the last 10 years or so!
- Is this normal practice for a manufacturer?
- What is the purpose of calling it x16 if it only runs at x4? My assumption is that it just means it can take an x16 card, but only run it at x4 speed? Shouldn't that have been specified on the box?
- If it can handle an x16 card, but is limited to x4, is that a hardware or software limit.. leading up to my next question - Can this limit be changed, either by the end-user (me), or by driver updates? Maybe they intend to unlock more speed later on??
Thanks in advance. Please go easy on me, I haven't worked with any modern hardware in the last 10 years or so!