How Do I Know If My PCI Express Card Is at 16X?
PCI Express is a serial interface device between different expansion cards (such as video, sound and wireless cards) and the motherboard. PCI Express comes in four speeds: x1, x4, x8 and x16. The slots for the four speeds differ in lengths; the higher the speed, the longer the length of the connector on the motherboard. It is possible to plug in some lower speed cards into higher speed slots, however the cards will still be limited to the lower speed.
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Instructions
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Unplug the computer and remove the side panel to access the inside. Unplugging the computer reduces the risk of electrical shock.
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Unscrew the PCI Express card with the screwdriver and remove the card to examine it. The PCI Express card is connected horizontally to the motherboard. There is one screw that holds the card to the case.
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Read the white printing on the motherboard that specifies the speed of the slot. It should read something similar to "Primary PCIE x16 (x16 electrical)." This means that the slot is for a PCIE x16 card and that it functions at x16 speed. As long as the PCI Express card is also x16, it will be running at x16 speed. To identify whether a PCI Express card is x16, look at the side of the card that connects to the motherboard slot. If the card connectors take up the entire motherboard PCI Express x16 slot, then it is x16. If it only takes up some of the connector, it is a lower speed PCI Express card.
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Tips & Warnings
You can also refer to the motherboard and PCI Express X16 card manuals to verify that the x16 card is inserted into a x16 slot on the motherboard. This would mean that the card is running at x16 speed.
References
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