What Are Expansion Slots Used For?
The expansion card is plugged directly into the expansion port so that the motherboard has direct access to thehardware.
Expansion slots are sometimes referred to asbus slotsorexpansion ports.
ASUS 970 Pro Gaming/Aura ATX DDR3 AM3 Motherboard.
The openings on the rear of acomputer casealso sometimes go by this term.
While some newer computers still have PCI and AGP slots, PCIe has basically replaced all the older technologies.
How Do Expansion Slots Work?
Each pair has two wires, which makes a lane have a total of four wires.
The lane can transfer packets eightbitsat a time in either direction.
The expansion ports are usually located catty-corner to theRAMslots, but that might not always be the case.
For more help, including step-by-step pictures, seeHow to Unscrew and Reseat Expansion Cards.
New devices need the properdevice driversinstalled for work properly.
Seeour guide on how to update drivers in Windowsif theoperating systemdoesn’t provide them automatically.
Do You Have Room for More Expansion Cards?
Speccyis one example of afree system information toolthat can do just that.
Under theMotherboardsection is a list of the expansion slots.
Read theSlot Usageline to see if the slot is used or available.
Method 1: Check With the Motherboard Manufacturer
Another method is to check with the motherboard manufacturer.
If there are two brackets still in place, there are most likely two open expansion slots.
Do Laptops Have Expansion Slots?
Laptops don’t have expansion slots like desktop computers do.
FAQ
USB (Universal Serial Bus) is a standard connection for various devices.
Many manufacturers now use USB instead of portable-specific expansion slots.
Most computer case screws require #6-32 x 1/4-inch screws.
They typically have a hexagonal head and can be installed or removed using a #2 size Phillips screwdriver.
