Over the last few years, we’ve seen an influx of increasingly attractive graphics cards as manufacturers begin to compete in not just performance but aesthetics. This raises the problem of how to fully flex your epic GPU without compromising on performance. The solution? A PCIe 4.0 riser cable!
What is PCIe 4.0, and do I need it?
PCIe stands for Peripheral Component Interconnect Express. This interface connects high-speed components such as your graphics card, sound card, or even SSD to your motherboard. Desktop PCs usually have multiple PCIe slots for connecting these devices, including a 16x lane, which is commonly used for connecting your GPU. The number refers to the physical configuration of the slot and how many lanes the PCIe slot has. For instance, an 8x slot that has eight lanes and can move data at 8 bits per cycle. So, what’s the big deal? PCIe 4.0 effectively doubles the bandwidth of PCIe 3.0. Each PCIe Gen 4 lane operates at 2GB/s, offering a maximum unidirectional bandwidth of 32GB/s.
Is my pc compatible with PCIe 4.0?
Support for PCIe 4.0 is now becoming more mainstream, with both AMD and Intel’s latest processors supporting the Gen 4 technology. This includes the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X and the Intel Core i9-12900K.
AMD Ryzen 9 5900X Twelve Core 4.8GHz
- Base clock: 3.70GHz
- Boost clock: 4.80GHz
- 12 Processor cores
- 24 Threads
- PCIe 4.0 Support
Core i9-12900K Sixteen Core 3.20GHz
- Base clock: 3.2GHz
- Boost clock: 5.20GHz
- 16 Procesor cores
- 24 Threads
- PCIe 4.0 Support
Motherboard manufacturers are also beginning to integrate Gen 4 PCIe support into more of their motherboards. Notably, AMD B550 and X570 socket boards feature full PCIe 4.0 support. Intel only launched their Gen 4 ready processors earlier this year. However, early motherboards for 12th gen Alder Lake Intel CPUs already include support for PCIe 4.0 and 5.0.
ROG Maximus Z690 Hero – Intel Z690 DDR5 ATX Motherboard
- Intel 12th Gen Alder Lake Socket LGA 1700
- WIFI 6E
- 2.5Gb LAN
- 5 x M.2
- ATX
ROG Strix B550-F Gaming AMD AM4 B550 ATX Motherboard
- 3rd Gen Ryzen socket AM4 X570
- WIFI 6
- Gigabit LAN
- 2 x M.2
- ATX
Can you put a PCIe 3.0 device into a PCIe 4.0 slot?
In short, absolutely yes, you can! The design of the physical slot itself has not changed, and any Gen 3 device, such as a graphics card or sound card, will continue to work in a Gen 4 slot. On some motherboards, you may need to enter the BIOS and manually set the slot to PCIe 3.0 or 4.0, whereas on others, they will automatically detect the correct speed and set it for you.
If you’re looking to flaunt your GPU whilst taking full advantage of Gen 4 speeds, a PCIe riser cable is the perfect addition to your PC.
What are PCIe Riser Cables?
PCIe riser cables allow you to extend your motherboard’s PCIe slot, meaning you can mount your graphics card further away from your motherboard. The cables act as an extension, similar to how extension power cables work. In a compatible chassis, this means you can place your GPU in a vertical position and show off your epic gaming graphics card.
Riser cables are available in both PCIe 3.0 and 4.0 variants, with the latter offering a significant boost in data transfer speed. Currently, graphics cards don’t fully utilise this extra bandwidth. However, there is a slight performance boost, especially with higher-end GPUs. This is set to change as both Nvidia and AMD are likely to leverage this additional bandwidth for more gaming performance in upcoming GPUs.
Below we’ve listed some great Gen 4 riser cables and a stylish Lian-Li case, perfect for parading your new vertically mounted GPU.
Lian-Li PCIe 4.0 GPU Riser Cable 20cm
This Lian-Li extension riser cable is perfect for any case that supports vertical mounting. Boasting a 20cm reach and reliable connectivity, this extension offers excellent performance and backwards compatibility for PCIe 3.0 devices. What’s more, the sleek black design means this cable will effortlessly fade into the background of any chassis allowing your graphics card to be the uninterrupted star of the show.
Lian-Li O11D-1W-4 Mini Riser Card + PC Slot Cover PCIe 4.0
Designed to fit seamlessly with the Lian-Li O11D modular case, this PCIe mini riser and chassis assembly is perfect for showing off your powerhouse GPU in the O11D PC case. Featuring a data transfer speed of 16GT/s and backwards compatibility with PCIe 3.0 devices, this riser cable is a great upgrade. What’s more, the 20cm cable is the perfect length and custom-designed to be an exact match in size for the O11D. Furthermore, with a white and black version available, this upgrade will fit seamlessly into your chassis aesthetic.
Whilst taking full advantage of PCIe 4.0 speed, why not level up your gaming PC’s style with a chassis upgrade. The Lian-Li O11D is modular and can be configured to accept a range of different motherboard sizes, fans, radiators, and graphics card options.
Lian-Li O11 Dynamic Mini-S Midi-Tower Tempered Glass – White
- New Snow Edition of the Lian Li O11 Dynamic Mini Case
- Developed in collaboration with overclocker der8auer
- Modular, dual chamber design for maximum flexibility
- Configurable with 7, 5, or 3 expansion slots
- Primed for liquid cooling with adjustable pump stand
- Casing made from aluminium and tempered glass
- Compatible with SFX or SFX-L PSUs
Overclockers UK sell a range of both PCIe 3.0 and 4.0 riser cables, compatible chassis and full custom PCs. You can check out all of these here.
- 5 min read
Robert Mullane
Author
When not working, you'll find me in VR or losing in bottom-tier Valorant matches. I write about all topic's tech and gaming with a particular focus on representation in gaming, virtual reality, and LGBTQ+ themes. If you're still not fed up with me, you can also catch me over on the Overclockers UK TikTok and YouTube accounts.
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