Creative soundblaster wont fit, can i remove silent pipe 2? GA-X58A-UD7

[nyankee]

I just ordered a new sound card that will use the pci-e x1 that the sile pipe 2 module is blocking. I am going to move the module or add on that blocks the top slots. I might even have to remove the silent pipe 2 all together for i can attach my new sound card.

 If i'm just air cooling and not planning on overclocking (i'm over it after the SEII issues i had), is the silent pipe manditory?

If i have to fit it, then i'm reduced to onboard sound as the card is more than 3 inches long on PCI-1 (those tiny top slots). Seems like a waste of money to lose what i consider to be such a nice card.

So.. question is, do you need the silent pipe if you're not watercooling and only air cooling? Case is antec 1200 about 5 fans.

[Dark Mantis]

Firstly why don't you just use one of the other PCIe slots, they cant all be full surely? As far as the silent pipe module goes if you are watercooloing then I guess that you could do away with it, although I am still using it on mine. I would tend to stick with it if you are air cooling though.

[nyankee]

The sound card i ordered uses PCI-E x1 (the small port). Or can you also connect the to the PCI-E x16? I have 2 free PCI-E normal ports open.

[onemilimeter]

I think you can... If you check out at the following links, you will find out the first 18-pin of 1x, 4x, 8x, and 16x PCI-E connectors are the same.

http://www.interfacebus.com/Design_PCI_Express_1x_PinOut.html
http://www.interfacebus.com/Design_PCI_Express_4x_PinOut.html
http://www.interfacebus.com/Design_PCI_Express_8x_PinOut.html
http://www.interfacebus.com/Design_PCI_Express_16x_PinOut.html

[Dark Mantis]

Yes you can put a x1, x4, x8 or x16 card into the full size PCIe slots.