sticker on pci-express slot 2

[constantinpopp]

Hi,

I would like to install a PCI-express soundcard in the computer. There is a slot free but it's covered with a sticker, presumably  telling me to plug anything into it. Would it be save to remove it?

the soundcard would consume a maximum of 12 watts.  it's specifications can be found here: http://www.rme-audio.de/download/sheets/hdspe_pci_card_e.pdf

also it's a pci-e 1.0 card. would it work in this large pcie x16 slot?

Many thanks for the help.

Bests,

Constantin

sticker on pci-e slot

[Grzwacz]

Hi

There is a sticker on the second PCIe x16 slot?

I could see this warning applying to not installing a second graphics card.

You should be able to install a PCIe x1 sound card in the second PCIE x16 slot. You can install x1 devices in x16 slots.

You will have to disable the onboard audio in the BIOS after installing the discrete audio card.

You may also have to enable the second x16 slot in the BIOS.

Instruction on using the UEFI BIOS can be reviewed here. Look in:

BIOS Setup menu screens

BIOS version 7 or greater

Security menu

Device security to disable onboard audio

Slot security to enable the second x16 slot.

Tom

[Grzwacz]

Hi

I can see the uploaded image in your post now.

I have never seen a warning sticker affixed to an open riser slot on an HP PC until now.

I have no idea why it is there.

Tom

[constantinpopp]

Hi Tom,

Many thanks for your reply. 

Well, so I tried installing the card now but things are a bit strange. When I go to the BIOS security setting it only talks about the first PCIexpress slot, not a second one. The other two entries are those m2 sockets.

And now I am confused: The specifications talk about two PCI-express slots. But then why are not both of them appearing in the BIOS?

https://support.hp.com/gb-en/document/c05916884

The other thing is that the card seems to get power but it is not shown in anywhere in the Device Manger. So I am not sure what's really going on here.

Hm...

Bests,

Const

[constantinpopp]

I understandthe problem now.

The culprit is the Intel CPU. It only supports 1 pci-express x16 slot. So if there is an external graphics card present using hte x16 slot then that's all the CPU can handle.  It could support two x8 slots, though, but good luck finding a suitable graphics card.

In other words I have the option of either using the soundcard or the external graphics card. Too bad... 😞

Anyhow. Hopefully other people realise this before buying a computer like this....

Bests,

Const

[Grzwacz]

Hi

Thanks for the information.

The thing that is perplexing is your MB (Tampa2) has a Z370 chipset. According to HP this MB supports up to an 8700k processor.

The Coffee Lake/Z370 platform shows CPU support for 16 PCIe lanes for graphics and up to 24 PCIe lanes on the chipset for a total of 40 lanes.

You should have, or HP should have included, additional PCIe lanes for other I/O.

Please refer to this article for Coffee Lake and Z370 Chipset information

Tom

[Big_Dave]

@constantinpopp

The do not use sticker might be just a warning that if the slot is populated, then the primary PCIe version 3.0 x16 is only going to run x8 mode verses x16 mode. Depending on the installed graphics card (NVIDIA GTX 1050), you might not even see the performance difference.

The installed CPU supports two PCIe version 3 x16 slots but if both are populated then the speed will drop to x8 on both slots.

Another possible scenario is on how the PCH lanes are assigned to the lower PCIe slot if not supported by the processor. If say you are using four SATA devices and a M.2 NVMe SSD then it's possible that the lower PCIe x16 slot will either be disabled or degraded in speed.  This is manufacturer and motherboard independent and will therefore vary in implementation.

[constantinpopp]

Hi

Thanks both of you for the information.

Would there be a way to make the second pcie slot appear in the BIOS? Right now it is not shown. Apologies for the screenshot being in German. Kartensteckplatz means slot and aktiviert means activ / enabled.

Bests,

Const

[Big_Dave · Accepted solution]

@constantinpopp

If you haven't modified your PC from the original HP configuration then try the below suggestions.

1. Try updating the BIOS to the latest version (SSID 8437).
2. Set the BIOS to the default values.

As previously mentioned, the lower PCIe x16 slot might not be available depending on where the PCIe lanes originate from within the hardware. If supported by the processor then I wouldn't think that the slot would be disabled.  If supported by the PCH (Z370 chip) then the slot may be permanently disabled by the BIOS due to lane sharing restrictions.

I can't see your last image posting.  I'll ask a moderator to enable it.

Edited:  The moderator can't find the image so you will have to repost it.

[constantinpopp]

Many thanks. Will try this.

🙂
Const