Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Computing/2016 February 13

The title describes itself. There is no problem in this [https://www.asus.com/media/global/products/ox95uu4GOmmZQI9c/aCHEFbsMf63BKpH0_setting_000_1_90_end_500.png Asus Maximus VIII Gene], because its 2 PCIe slots are located at expansion slot 1 and 3. But the majority of micro-ATX sized motherboards have the 2nd PCIe slot located at slot 4, like this [https://asset.msi.com/resize/image/global/product/five_pictures2_3566_2015090111274155e51b2da0c2d.png62405b38c58fe0f07fcef2367d8a9ba1/600.png MSI B150M Night Elf].

If 2 graphics cards are installed, with the one at the 2nd PCIe slot being dual-width, the connectors at the bottoms of mATX motherboards are effectively blocked, except for those which follows the Asus Gene's slot distribution. What is the purpose of such motherboard design?

P.S: It is somewhat irrelevant, but I have noticed that the Asus Gene run 2 graphics cards at x8/x8, while those such as the MSI Night Elf runs them at x16/x4. I thought they were not designed to run 2 graphics cards at first, but after digging through their specifications, they all support 2-way CrossFireX and/or SLI. Livy (talk) 10:40, 13 February 2016 (UTC)

:The M/B ist designed to fit every used component on this from factor. I do not see any electrical reason not to use the slot. If to is the same bus, a shorter slot will occupy the bus longer time for the same data transfer. If You need the slot, look for something like a riser card. --Hans Haase (有问题吗) 15:29, 16 February 2016 (UTC)