FM2A88X Pro3+ PCIe support for non-graphics cards

I have an FM2A88X PRO3+.

It has 2 PCIe x16 slots.  I am trying to get an Intel Pro1000 PL Dual Port NIC (PCIe x4 interface) working as well as a 3Ware 9650SE RAID Adapter (PCIe x8 interface).

I get nothing from either card regardless of which slot I install them in.  From the manual, PCIe Slot 5 is limited to x4 when there is a card in PCIe Slot 4.   I put the RAID card in PCIe Slot 4 (since it's x8) and the NIC in PCIe Slot 5 (since it's x4).

I've tried them independently in both slots also.  I have found no configuration that allows these cards to function.

Are the PCIe x16 slots somehow limited to the use of graphics cards? If so, are there any FM2+ motherboards (ASRock or otherwise) that will support these cards?

Please advise.

2twisty wrote: I have an FM2A88X PRO3+. It has 2 PCIe x16 slots.  I am trying to get an Intel Pro1000 PL Dual Port NIC (PCIe x4 interface) working as well as a 3Ware 9650SE RAID Adapter (PCIe x8 interface). I get nothing from either card regardless of which slot I install them in.  From the manual, PCIe Slot 5 is limited to x4 when there is a card in PCIe Slot 4.   I put the RAID card in PCIe Slot 4 (since it's x8) and the NIC in PCIe Slot 5 (since it's x4). I've tried them independently in both slots also.  I have found no configuration that allows these cards to function. Are the PCIe x16 slots somehow limited to the use of graphics cards? If so, are there any FM2+ motherboards (ASRock or otherwise) that will support these cards? Please advise.

You are using your cards in the correct slots. The PCIE4 slot is x16 electrically, and uses the PCIe lanes from the CPU. If you use an FM2+ CPU, that slot will be PCIe 3.0, otherwise it is PCIe 2.0.

The PCIE5 slot is x4 electrically, and uses lanes from the A88X chipset, which are PCIe 2.0.

Otherwise, these two slots are independent of each other regarding PCIe lanes.

Did you clear the UEFI/BIOS after installing these cards? That is the best practice when changing of adding hardware. In the UEFI, Tools screen, if you use the System Browser tool, are the cards recognized in the PCIe slots?

When I searched on the model number of the RAID card you provided, it found two PCIe x4 cards, the 3ware 9650SE-8LPML, and the 3ware 9650SE-4LPML. Is your card one of these, or another model?

Searching on the network card, it finds an Intel® PRO/1000 PL Dual Port Server Adapter card. It seems to be an older model that Intel does not include among their networking products.

Do you have the AddOn ROM Display option set to enabled in the UEFI? If so, when you start the PC you should see at least the RAID card's Option ROM displayed when the PC starts.

Have you installed the drivers for these cards? What OS are you using?

I reset the UEFI and when I load the system browser, I see only an image of the motherboard with no cards installed.

I also just checked to see if there was a firmware update, and I'm on the latest version already.

Also, I'm using the onboard video.

UPDATE: NIC is fine and working properly.  It was a driver issue, strangely.  I'll contact the vendor of the RAID card for additional support.  Once I have it working, I will update this thread for completeness.

Thanks!