I'm using Windows 11 Pro with an older motherboard and need a 2.5GbE network card for fast downloads plus a Wi‑Fi card for Wi‑Fi Direct printing. Neither card needs more than a single PCIe lane, and I'm not installing a graphics card because my Ryzen 7 5700G provides integrated graphics. Both available slots operate at the same PCIe 3.0 x1 speed due to the CPU limitation. Does it matter which card goes in the top slot and which goes in the bottom slot?
2 Answers
It shouldn’t matter which slot you use. A single PCIe 3.0 lane provides more than enough bandwidth for either card, so you won’t see a practical speed difference. Just use whichever arrangement gives you better clearance and keeps the cards from blocking each other.
The simplest solution would normally be a motherboard with built-in Wi‑Fi and 2.5Gb Ethernet, but with your existing board, either slot is fine. Check the motherboard manual for any unusual lane sharing, though it’s unlikely to affect two x1 cards.
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