When you want to upgrade your existing PC, there are many things to consider for choosing the right set of hardware. Especially, GPU has several considerations and cannot be just bought and installed. So, for those who are looking forward to upgrading your gaming performance or video editing capacity, here is the guide on how to check Motherboard Graphic card Compatibility.
How to check Graphic Card Compatibility with Motherboard?
Motherboards are equipped with some slots known as the PCIe slots. PCIe stands for Peripheral Component Interconnect -Express. Let us now understand the different versions of the slot and how they work in order to check the compatibility.
Specifications of a PCIe slot
- The slots used to come in different sizes. But today you can widely see that the slots are of the size 16. Therefore, the slots you get in a motherboard will be named as PCIe x 16.
- There are many versions of the PCIe slot which are classified according to the Base clock, Data rate, Data transfer rate, and Total bandwidth. Each higher version of the PCIe has an upgrade in all these parameters.
- You can get PCIe 1.0, PCIe 2.0, PCIe 3.0, and PCIe 4.0 in your motherboards. For every new version, the performance is doubled.
How to check the compatibility?
- The GPU you want to buy will specify the slot required for connectivity. For example, if you are choosing a RTX 3060Ti card, it requires a PCIe 4.0 x 16 card for best performance.
- You can cross verify the spec of the slot available with your motherboard. The specifications of the motherboard will clearly mention how many PCIe slots and what versions are available.
- If the slot is present, your graphics card will be compatible.
- You can also run higher spec graphics card in an older version of a PCIe slot. But it will drastically reduce the performance.
- Therefore, choose a graphics card that supports the PCIe slot of the motherboard. You can find all the specifications for both the GPU and motherboard in the manufacturer’s website.
Read: are motherboard jumpers matters?
Is there any way to fit an unsupported graphics card in my PC?
- The graphics card becomes unsupported only if it is having an entirely different type of slot (other than PCIe) than the one available in the motherboard.
- The manufacturer will recommend a slot in which the card works best. But you can install it in a lower or higher version of the PCIe slot. It will run.
- But you may get performance issues due to the lower bandwidth and data transfer rate in older versions of the PCIe slot.
- Otherwise, if you have the space in your PC case and the motherboard is equipped with a PCIe slot, you can install any graphics card that supports PCIe.
- Sometimes, you may get problem with the drivers. You can just update the drivers for free online to get the card working. Or you might have to update the BIOS for it to be compatible.
Why is External Graphics Card Slot being the best option?
External Graphics card is also known as eGPU which is an external unit that houses the graphics card outside the motherboard setup. It has a separate case and a power supply unit. It is the best option to use an eGPU because:
- You don’t have to upgrade your existing PSU because the eGPU comes with a separate unit.
- You can add additional screens with your PC which is highly helpful in multi-tasking.
- Gives more performance in terms of gaming or video rendering.
- Even if you have a dedicated GPU with your PC, a eGPU can boost the existing performance.
- It is portable and can be used for laptops also. Actually, it is mainly used for laptops which doesn’t have powerful GPU.
- You can setup multiple 4K displays with some eGPUs which is not the case with dedicated graphic cards.
Read: How to use Server Motherboard for Gaming?
Is graphics Card Damage the Motherboard?
The graphics card is a crucial component in a PC. It helps in communicating with the monitor and powering the display. If the graphics card malfunctions, it can lead to screen corruption and may also cause the motherboard to crash. There are several factors that can destroy a motherboard:
Physical Size and Weight
If you are not considering the size before buying the card, then it will actually sag and may cause cracks on the motherboard. So, without giving concern to the card’s weight and size, it will definitely cause serious damage.
The wrong installation
If the card is not properly oriented and installed, it may shorten the motherboard components and destroy the system entirely. Also, if the GPU is not installed properly, it will damage the cores and eventually the motherboard.
Improper Thermal Management
GPUs require more power which in turn produces more heat. An improper cooling system will destroy the components and the motherboard too. Even though this damage is not evident instantly, it will be gradually experienced over time.
Apart from these reasons, there is no way a GPU can damage the motherboard in any way. You just have to be careful about all these things before buying a card.
Is eGPU recommended for all types of PC?
No, eGPU is not recommended for desktop PCs unless if you are looking to increase your performance without a need for upgrading your existing components. eGPUs are majorly recommended for laptops that cannot house large GPUs.
Also, they are quite expensive. If you have a dedicated GPU and if you want a boosted performance, you can go for eGPU. You just need to have thunderbolt or USB-C type connectivity.
Here are some recommended items, Check this all here for the best motherboards & best graphics cards.
Conclusion
Checking graphics card compatibility is very important to avoid lag in performance and any serious damage to the motherboard. You can get the best performance only if the GPU is compatible with the motherboard.
Even though it can work with lesser versions of the PCIe slot, it is best to get the latest one to enjoy the optimum performance.
