Summary
Highlights
A computer bus acts as a pathway connecting various components on a motherboard, enabling them to communicate and function as a single unit. These buses also facilitate the expansion of motherboard functionality by allowing additional cards to be connected.
The PCI bus, created in 1994, is an older type of bus that uses parallel communication. It comes in 32-bit and 64-bit versions, meaning 32 or 64 bits of data are sent simultaneously across separate lines. Keyway tabs on PCI slots designate different power settings for adapter cards.
To install a PCI card, align its keyways with the slot and carefully push it into the motherboard, avoiding excessive pressure. Once installed, it's typically screwed to the computer case to prevent accidental removal.
PCI Express (PCIe) is a newer bus type found in modern computers that uses serial communication, sending one bit at a time over a pathway. PCIe pathways are referred to as 'lanes,' with designations like x1, x2, x4, etc., indicating the number of lanes and thus the data throughput.
PCI and PCIe slots appear similar, but PCI keyways are further from the motherboard edge, while PCIe keyways are closer. PCIe slots can also vary in size (e.g., PCIe x1 is shorter than 32-bit PCI). PCIe cards often have a small hook that fastens them to a connector on the motherboard for added security. When removing a PCIe card, both the screw to the case and the motherboard connector must be unlatched.