Windows 10: Disable a pcie slot or remove a graphics card via windows 10

Hi,


Windows 10 is not giving me the option to put my computer to sleep. The issue is related to my graphics cards. I know this because when I run powercfg -a in command prompt, it says standby/sleep states are disabled because of graphics.


More info:

I have a desktop with 2 different graphics cards, an AMD rx570 and an Nvidia GTX970. When windows boots up, I want the rx570 disabled completely. When both cards are enabled in device manager, the sleep option is there. But when I disable the rx570 in device manager, the sleep option is gone. I also tried completely removing the rx570 by uninstalling it in device manager but still have the same issue. Is there some kind of hack that will make windows ignore what is in one of the pcie slots so I can have sleep working? Thank you in advance.

:)

 

Using a PCIe x1 card in a PCIe x16 slot


Here is something I recently found out. I have tired this and it works.

You can use a PCIe x1 card, or a PCIe x4 card in a PCIe x16 slot. They work fine. So if you think you are short of PCI-e slots, you may not be. A shorter PCIe card works fine in a longer slot.

On PCIe X1, X4 and X16 slots, the first 18 pins are all wired the same, so as long as the PCI-Express card fits in the PCI-Express slot, it should work.

This is not the case for the legacy PCI (32-bit, non-express) slots, that are not PCI-Express. Those are not compatable with PCIe cards.




Picture of assorted PCIe and PCI slots.

The top four slots, in the picture above, are, from the top to bottom,
PCIe x4 slot , PCIe x16 slot, PCIe x1 slot and another PCIe x16 slot. A PCIe card that can physically fit in any of these slots will work, even if it doesn't fill the entire slot.

The bottom, 5th slot, is a PCI legacy (32-bit) slot. PCIe (express) cards will not work in this slot. It only accepts legacy PCI cards.

Here is the PCI-Express page on Wikipedia showing pinouts, etc.
PCI Express - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

YouTube Video showing PCIe X1 card in a PCIe X16 slot.


Here are links to discussions on this subject at Tom's Hardware.

"Can I install a PCI-e x1 Wireless network card in a PCI-e x16 slot?"

http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/...-x16-slot.html

pci-e x1 card into pci-e x16 slot?

http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/...-x16-slot.html

 

Using a PCIe x1 card in a PCIe x16 slot

Thanks. I didn't know that.

 

Using a PCIe x1 card in a PCIe x16 slot


You can also install a x16 card into a x1 slot. A lot of x1 slots have the back portion removed just for that. You see PCI-E negotiates the requirements on startup.

PCI Express - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Of course that is not overly common as most just use the x16 slot for all.