Diminishing PCIe slots

[zombie67]

10 years ago or so, the premium mobos had 5-8 PCIe slots. Now finding one with more than 4 is almost impossible. Most have only 2 or maybe 3. What's going on? Surely the CPUs and chipsets today support more PCIe lanes. What is causing this trend?

[Bryan]

Maybe because the GPUs are fatter :)

[trigggl]

Most likely, it's the diminishing returns. If not enough people buy them, not worth it to create them.

If you can't fit it into the size of an iPad...

[zombie67]

So let me ask it a different way. If you are going to provide boards with less PCIe slots, fine. I can understand cost savings. But then why always put one of the precious remaining slots right next to all the headers at the bottom of the ATX boards? If you use those headers (and most times you must), there is no way to actually use that PCIe slot with a normal double-width GPU. So then what's the point? If the goal is cost-saving, *that* is the slot to exclude from the design. Right? Or am I missing something?

On a related note: Are there header plugs with right-angle for factor that would maybe a way around the issue?

[John P. Myers]

I can find right angle USB 3.0 adapters all day long, but am having difficulty with 2.0, which is what i assume you're needing

[John P. Myers]

Ah here https://www.moddiy.com/products/USB-2.0-9-Pin-90%C2%B0-Angled-Internal-Header-Connector-2.54mm-Dupont.html

[zombie67]

Thanks. Yeah, that and also the front panel headers...basically all the stuff they usually tuck right next to that last PCIe slot. But that is a good start. I can look around for the other stuff. Thanks!

[John P. Myers]

Found these in case you have vertical SATA headers: https://www.performance-pcs.com/peripherals/usb-adapters/bytecc-sata-male-to-sata-female-adapter-sata-90mf-1.html

Here's one for the 24-pin cable: https://www.performance-pcs.com/cables/external-cables-adapters/atx-24-pin-female-to-24-pin-male-90-degree-angled-adapter-mainboard-motherboard-ae-24pin-90.html

[zombie67]

Thanks!