Is the PCI slot obsolete?

Question

I recently purchased a desktop computer and wanted to install the professional sound card into a PCI slot. The computer only had 2 PCI slots and they were being used by a serial/ parallel coms card and a Dual Screen display card. I asked the company that sold it to me why there are only 2 PCI slots and they told me that the PCI slot is obsolete? I find this hard to believe. Is there a way to expand the number of PCI slots?

Thanks

Thanks for all the answers this is very informative. I agree I should have researched the motherboard before ordering this computer.
The Computer is brand new and the Audio Card is a new too. It is a special Digital TDIF card with 16 digital inputs and outputs. This machine is going to be used as a playout machine for a radio station. The audio card is around 600 euros and I need the serial communication and additional relay card that will have to fit onto a PCI slot that I clearly don’t have.
The computer supplier I use specialises in the broadcast field and I assumed that he would have known better. I guess at the end of the day I am to blame.
Once again thanks tons for your answers.

Answer 1

New boards usually have PCI-E slots--they're about 2 inches long and are lots faster than a regular PCI slot--the cards look like this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829102017
Lots of people dont need a lot of PCI slots because they dont use dialup modems because they have broadband and onboard audio has gotten so good some dont buy audio cards. You should always see what kind of expansion slots a computer has before you buy it to make sure it will accomodate your needs. Its as simple as looking at the specs because the expansion slots are detailed out! Is this an old computer you bought or what because I dont understand why you would use an antique PCI video card then talk about putting a "professional sound card" in when it probably has pretty decent onboard sound?

Answer 2

The PCI slot is not obsolete. There is nothing on the market to take its place. But it is also not unusual for a small form desktop (a PC in a very small box) to only have one or two PCI slots.

You can NOT add another PCI slot to your computer becasue they have to be build into the system board. What you probably can do is remove the serial/paralel card. They are pretty much obsolete today. Other the older printers, it is rare to find an item that uses them.

In the future, check the specs of the number of available PCI slots before purchasing another computer.

Answer 3

The PCI slot is not yet completely obsolete but it is heading that way in favour of PCI Express or PCIe.

Fewer expansion cards are being released with PCI connections these days. Instead PCIe is more common.

Most modern computers should have enough USB, serial and parallel ports directly connected to the motherboard. Unless the computer needs to accommodate a legacy connector then it sounds like one of your PCI slots is being wasted.

For more information of PCIe you can try WikiPedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PCIe

Answer 4

PCI is heading to obsolete. PCI-express is the new flavour of expansion card.

But cheap mobos with lots of on-board functionality often have only 1 or 2 PCI sockets.

No, you can't extend the number on the board except by replacing the mobo. You could replace the ser/par card with USB serial and parallel adapters and free that slot.

Answer 5

if you dont' need the serial/parralel expansion card, take that one out, or if you are only pushing one monitor you can take out the other one. PCI is not entirely obsolete as most sound cards still ride a pci slot. If you must use bot of those pci cards, check a good video card that can push 2 monitors, then you can remove the other.

Answer 6

most boards do have more than 2 pci slots.

and btw that's something you might want to check on before you put your money down.

Answer 7

i dont think its possible purely because of the physical limitations. did you buy a dell or hp package deal?? sometimes they use crappy parts to make them cheaper. and 2 pci's may be the result.