Does running a card in x8 slot make a difference?

[Michaeljcox24]

Bought a new board yesterday, Asus P8Z68-V Pro Gen 3, and ran into a problem during the build.

I have an aftermarket cooled GTX470, which has 4 bulky bolts that stick out of back of the PCB that fasten the heatsink down. When I put the card in the 1st PCI-Express slot, I cannot install a soundcard above it (Xonar d2X), because the bolts get in the way of the cards depth (xonar is about 10mm thick)

So I've had to put the card in the white slot (second one down) for the time being.

Will this make much real world difference to performance? Is there any way I can change in the bios the speed at this lane runs at, as I believe it's only x8?

How do other lads get round this who have this board and card? If there were no bolts on the back of the GPU I should imagine it would fit but would still be very very tight.

 

[shuzzbutt]

Bought a new board yesterday, Asus P8Z68-V Pro Gen 3, and ran into a problem during the build.

I have an aftermarket cooled GTX470, which has 4 bulky bolts that stick out of back of the PCB that fasten the heatsink down. When I put the card in the 1st PCI-Express slot, I cannot install a soundcard above it (Xonar d2X), because the bolts get in the way of the cards depth (xonar is about 10mm thick)

So I've had to put the card in the white slot (second one down) for the time being.

Will this make much real world difference to performance? Is there any way I can change in the bios the speed at this lane runs at, as I believe it's only x8?

How do other lads get round this who have this board and card? If there were no bolts on the back of the GPU I should imagine it would fit but would still be very very tight.

I didn't notice any big difference, its usually around the 2-3 fps mark. However it would bug me running at a slower speed

 

[95thrifles]

Its only circa 2% performance loss, if that, thats based on 2 cards in xfire/SLi at x8/x8 vs x16/x16 so its prob only 1%
However a solution to your problem is to run the gfx in the top slot, and drop your soundcard down into one of the lower slots, PCI-E is backwards compatible, so you can put a x1 card in a x4/x16 slot if needs be

 

[Michaeljcox24]

Its only circa 2% performance loss, if that, thats based on 2 cards in xfire/SLi at x8/x8 vs x16/x16 so its prob only 1%
However a solution to your problem is to run the gfx in the top slot, and drop your soundcard down into one of the lower slots, PCI-E is backwards compatible, so you can put a x1 card in a x4/x16 slot if needs be

I don't quite get what your saying... i put the card in the top (dark blue) slot, and then I can't fit the sound card at the top of it because of the bolts, and I can't fit it below it, because of the size of the heatsink.

You're saying I can put it in the white slot even though it's a completely different size ?

 

[95thrifles]

Yes, it will still work in the white slot, or black

 

[Michaeljcox24]

Sorry, I really was completely unaware you could do that.

 

[95thrifles]

no probs
thats what the forums for
As I said its because the PCI-E architecture is designed that way, backwards compatible, even though therell be 16 connections/lanes in those slots, the fact the soundcard is only x1 just means it will only use the first one it needs
Edit: It may feel a bit loose when you install it, but it will be fine as log as you dont take your case to lanpartys or anything, if so just remember to remove it before transport

 

[Michaeljcox24]

Close call because this morning I was going to buy a new GPU that had a flat backed PCB. Saved me 350 quid mate!

 

[ashmanuk67]

This came from a forum member in the Motherboard section

http://www.vizworld.com/2010/08/sli-performace-x16x16-x8x8/

This made me feel better as i have just bought the Asrock Extreme 4 Gen 3, I have bought this and a 2500k + DDR3 1600Mhz memory because my LGA775 +Q9550 could be stopping me from getting 90%+ usage from my Crossfire set-up.

I am getting 40-50% usage in BF3 and BFBC2 and in all COD games so i am thinking that my motherboard is holding me back, i am willing to loose 1-2% running 8X8 if i am getting 90-99% Crossfire usage.