Information handling system capable of operating with multiple types of expansion cards in a common industry standard connector

An information handling system (IHS) comprising:

• a processor;
• a memory coupled to the processor by a host bridge;
• a first bus exhibiting a first bus standard, the first bus being coupled to the host bridge;
• an add-in-card (AIC) connector compatible with the first bus standard, the AIC connector accepting both AICs compatible with the first bus standard and AICs not compatible with the first bus standard;
• a direct path between the AIC connector and the first bus for use when an AIC exhibiting the first bus standard is plugged into the AIC connector;
• and
• a translation path between the AIC connector and the first bus for use when an AIC exhibiting a standard other than the bus standard is plugged into the AIC connector.

Apparatus for operating an information handling system (IHS) comprising:

• a host bridge;
• a first bus exhibiting a first bus standard, the first bus being coupled to the host bridge;
• an add-in-card (AIC) connector compatible with the first bus standard, the AIC connector accepting both AICs compatible with the first bus standard and AICs not compatible with the first bus standard;
• a direct path between the AIC connector and the first bus for use when an AIC exhibiting the first bus standard is plugged into the AIC connector;
• and
• a translation path between the AIC connector and the first bus for use when an AIC exhibiting a standard other than the bus standard is plugged into the AIC connector.