Expansion slot

Updated: 07/06/2021 past Reckoner Hope

Alternatively known as a bus slot or expansion port, an expansion slot is a connectedness or port inside a calculator on the motherboard or riser menu. It provides an installation betoken for a hardware expansion carte to be connected. For example, if you wanted to install a new video card in the computer, you'd purchase a video expansion card and install that card into the compatible expansion slot.

Computer expansion slots

Beneath is a listing of expansion slots commonly found in a estimator and the devices associated with those slots. Clicking whatever of the links below provide you with additional details.

Tip

See our expansion bill of fare page for a listing of expansion cards that tin can exist inserted into these slots.

  • AGP - Video bill of fare.
  • AMR - Modem, audio carte.
  • CNR - Modem, network card, sound bill of fare.
  • EISA - SCSI, network bill of fare, video carte du jour.
  • ISA - Network card, sound bill of fare, video card.
  • PCI - Network menu, SCSI, sound card, video carte du jour.
  • PCI Limited - Video carte, modem, sound menu, network carte du jour.
  • VESA - Video carte.

Many of the expansion carte du jour slots higher up are obsolete. You lot're most likely only going to encounter AGP, PCI, and PCI Express when working with computers today. The picture below is an example of what expansion slots may wait similar on a motherboard. In this picture, at that place are three unlike types of expansion slots: PCI Limited, PCI, and AGP.

Computer motherboard

How many expansion slots does my computer have?

Every estimator motherboard is different, to determine how many expansion slots are on your estimator motherboard identify the manufacturer and model of the motherboard. Once you've identified the model of motherboard, y'all can find consummate data nigh the motherboard in its transmission.

  • How practice I discover what computer motherboard I have?

Adding boosted expansion slots for older motherboards could be accomplished using a riser board, which would add several ISA or PCI slots. Today, riser boards are rarely used with motherboards, as in that location is limited need for boosted expansion slots with modern motherboards.

What type of expansion slots are on my motherboard?

As mentioned above, every motherboard model is unique, so to determine the type of expansion slots on the motherboard, consult the lath'southward specifications and possessor's transmission. Y'all can also open the computer example and visually examine the motherboard.

  • How practise I open my figurer example?

Why do computers accept expansion slots?

Computers take expansion slots to requite the user the power to add together new devices to their computer. For example, a computer gamer may upgrade their video carte to become better operation in their games. An expansion slot allows them to remove the old video card and add a new video carte without replacing the motherboard.

What is the most common expansion slot today?

Today, the most commonly used expansion slot used and found on computer motherboards is the PCI Express expansion slot.

Does a laptop take an expansion slot?

Laptops do not have expansion slots similar a desktop reckoner. However, some laptops exercise have PC Cards that can be inserted into the side of the laptop. They may also have a Cardbus slot for an ExpressCard to exist added.

  • What can I upgrade in a laptop?

Expansion, Expansion card, Motherboard terms, Seated