I built my PC a year ago, but now I need to add a PCIe 1394A card for an important project. The problem is that my GeForce RTX 4070 ROG is blocking access to all my PCIe ports. I didn't anticipate needing this extra card when I built the system. I'd really prefer not to buy more parts, so are there any workarounds to make this work? I tried a PCIe to USB converter, but I recently found out that my setup doesn't support USB4, so that option is out. Any suggestions would be appreciated!
3 Answers
It sounds like your Micro-ATX board might be a bit cramped. I made a graphic last year showing how board design affects CPU cooler clearance and slot positioning; if that helps, check it out! But keep in mind, if your case is Micro-ATX as well, using a riser could be tricky.
You definitely want a PCIe riser cable for this situation, just make sure to get one that suits your needs!
Thanks for the tip!
First off, what's the model of your motherboard? If there's enough space, you might consider a PCI-E extension cable to get your card connected. Alternatively, if your motherboard has lower PCI-E slots, you could try running your GPU in those, but keep in mind you might experience reduced bandwidth—potentially down to x4 or x1, which could hurt performance. Worst case, you might end up needing a new motherboard or removing the GPU temporarily to use the PCI-E card, but another option is setting up a second PC if this project is critical. Also, I've heard about M.2 to PCI-E risers, but they usually only provide a x1 link, although you might find one with a better connection. Check out these options on Amazon: one is an expansion interface and another is a graphics extension designed for this kind of issue!
I have an MSI Pro B650MA motherboard. How does that change your advice? Thanks!
The riser cable sounds like a solid plan!
Ugh, that's a bummer. Luckily my tower isn't Micro-ATX, so I should be good with the riser!