with a PCIe x1 extension cables that have been modified by myself to accept x16 sized cards.
1. I assume you did this by cutting the back of the x1 socket. You should check that you didn't eliminate the connections closest to the cut.
2. Some x16 cards need other leads shorted to work.
3. If you're seeing two of the cards working, I'd mark cards as "known good" and start swapping them through. If they work in all ports, then it's card related, especially if the other cards don't work in the slots where the working cards are currently seated.
4. You're going to need to titrate this, regardless. You have a combination of cards and slots, some of which work and most of which don't, and all the cards are different brands that could have their own issues and electrical incompatibilities that could cause everything to go to heck. Start with your two good cards in any slots in which they work, then start adding cards in a methodical manner until you reach your maximum.
PCIe x1 itself is definitely capable of transmitting video, and you can buy (a few) x1 cards, primarily to go into rackmount servers. Just set your expectations of video performance accordingly. Remember that PCIe, even with one lane, is faster than ISA, and we played lots of bad games in VGA and definitely saw Linux/X output.
Thanks for your insight!
I know that all of the cards work since I have tested them all individually. It's just that whenever I plug then into an x1, x8 or x16 slot with an x1 extension cable they fail to be recognized.
I like your idea of trying all of the same brand of cards on one mobo. I have a bunch of 5870s all made by Gigabyte so I will lump them together and get back to you guys here.
