Thoughts on Motherboard Design...

[Diagrafeas]

This is how i imagine the ideal slot placement on a z87 motherboard...

Top-->Bottom
Slot 1: PCIE 2.0 1x
Slot 2: PCIE 3.0 16x
Slot 3: N/C
Slot 4: PCIE 2.0 1x
Slot 5: PCIE 2.0 16x (4x Eletrical)
Slot 6: PCI
Slot 7: PCI

PCIe 1x , 4x , PCI will share lanes, so you should have the option to CHOOSE what to use...
4x + PCIs (none PCIE x1)
4x + one PCIE x1(top) (none PCI)
4x(@2x) + two PCIE 1x + two PCI

Alternative with two PCIE 3.0 Slots..
Top-->Bottom
Slot 1: PCIE 2.0 1x
Slot 2: PCIE 3.0 16x/8x
Slot 3: N/C
Slot 4: PCIE 2.0 1x
Slot 5: PCIE 3.0 16x (8x Electrical)
Slot 6: N/C
Slot 7: PCIE 2.0 16x (4x Eletrical)

PCIe 1x , 4x will share lanes, so you should have the option to CHOOSE what to use...
4x + one PCIE x1(top)
4x(@2x) + two PCIE 1x

And for the back Panel
Bottom-->Top
6 Sound Inputs+Outputs
HDMI , Displayport , Optical Output
DVI-D , DSub
2 USB 2.0 , 1 LAN
2 USB 2.0 , 1 PS/2
4 USB 3.0

Or you could remove D-Sub, Use DVI-I and try to fit two eSATA ports.

Internal Connectors
6 SATA 6 Gbps
1 USB 3.0 Header (2 Ports)
2 USB 2.0 Header (4 Ports)

 

[tkivisto]

ha ha - sounds like you've put some thoughts into this ... have you thought of working for a manufacturer on architecture design of motherboards?

 

[Diagrafeas]

ha ha - sounds like you've put some thoughts into this ... have you thought of working for a manufacturer on architecture design of motherboards?

I would if they gave me a job!

 

[pcunite]

Show me all this in a jpeg diagram ...

 

[Railgun]

ha ha - sounds like you've put some thoughts into this ... have you thought of working for a manufacturer on architecture design of motherboards?

Not with continuing to use PCI slots.

 

[zir_blazer]

Most of Motherboards that dissapointed me is after purchasing it and having the time to tinker with it, not with a quick look to specifications or slots arrangement. The BIOS was always responsible for every shortcoming I had with one, even if the Motherboard, Hardware side was perfect. Always.
Common manufacturer tricks is not fully implementing a feature in the BIOS expecting that Windows by default overrides it, like this.

 

[Diagrafeas]

Show me all this in a jpeg diagram ...

I would if i could find how to insert images...

 

[Diagrafeas]

Not with continuing to use PCI slots.

PCIs are useful when you want to use older sound cards.
For example the last two generetions of Creative PCI Express Sound Cards are 5.1 and not 7.1.
So i get to use my PCI Creative Extreme Gamer Fatality Pro...which is 7.1.

Also you can use TV-Radio Tuners...or Wifi N cards (I'd prefer WiFi ac USB3.0 though)

The problem is that most Z87 can't use 2 PCIEx1 and PCIEx16(x4 Electrical) simultaneously.
On some you can use only the two PCIEx1 or PCIEx16(x4 mode).
On others you can use the two PCIEx1 and PCIEx16(x2 mode).

And you need PCIEx16(x4) if you want to use the SSD that are coming...up to 2GB/sec...

 

[pcunite]

I would if you could show me how to insert images ...

Go to a site like imageshack.us and upload the image, then you would insert the image using the IMG tags.

 

[Diagrafeas]

Go to a site like imageshack.us and upload the image, then you would insert the image using the IMG tags.

 

[utmode]

I think one PCI would enough and No D-sub.

 

[Wall Street]

My main qualm in motherboard design is that enthusiast boards are shifting too much from USB 2.0 connectors to video and E-SATA connectors. Unless you motherboard has 10 back USB ports, I would rather have more USB than have all 4 display output connectors (DSub, DVI, HDMI & Displayport). I would think motherboard makers would put an edge mounted DVI-I port instead of the DVI-D and DSub ports and use the extra space for 4x USB 2.0 ports, but few seem to do this. Bundling a HDMI --> DVI adapter or a DVI --> VGA adapter can save a huge amount of back panel space. Although USB 2.0 is slower, it is useful for mouse, keyboard, webcam and gamepad, freeing up the USB 3.0 ports to make them useful.

EDIT: A good example of this shortcoming is the MSI Z-87-GD65 Gaming. It is a gaming board, which means that the target market won't be using those video outputs, yet because of them they only have space for 6 back panel USB ports. This is unacceptable in my opinion.

 

[Sheep221]

My main qualm in motherboard design is that enthusiast boards are shifting too much from USB 2.0 connectors to video and E-SATA connectors. Unless you motherboard has 10 back USB ports, I would rather have more USB than have all 4 display output connectors (DSub, DVI, HDMI & Displayport). I would think motherboard makers would put an edge mounted DVI-I port instead of the DVI-D and DSub ports and use the extra space for 4x USB 2.0 ports, but few seem to do this. Bundling a HDMI --> DVI adapter or a DVI --> VGA adapter can save a huge amount of back panel space. Although USB 2.0 is slower, it is useful for mouse, keyboard, webcam and gamepad, freeing up the USB 3.0 ports to make them useful.

EDIT: A good example of this shortcoming is the MSI Z-87-GD65 Gaming. It is a gaming board, which means that the target market won't be using those video outputs, yet because of them they only have space for 6 back panel USB ports. This is unacceptable in my opinion.

Those who game don't have more USB stuff than keyboard, mouse, probably joystick or gamepad. Gaming rigs are just not about convenience as we are used to. But having actual graphics ports makes sense if you want to add more screens than your video card allows. Since you can pair IGP and dedicated video card to work together. What I would think should be already phased out is SPDIF and Optic slot, I don't know anyone who ever used it.