How important is it to have a Gen3 PCI-E slot?

[Goose]

I've been looking to buy a mini-itx 1155 motherboard of ebay with the intention if using it with a GTX970 but a lot of the boards either have a Gen2 or dont specify which gen it is at all.

Will buying a board with a gen2 significantly reduce the performance of the graphics card?

 

[varkanoid]

No.

 

[wedrum]

No.

 

[IvanDobskey]

I think it makes a few percent difference, but only with the really top end cards.

This will probably increase with the next gen as bandwidth increases.

 

[Bantu]

Here's an analysis from last year:
http://www.guru3d.com/articles_pages/pci_express_scaling_game_performance_analysis_review,13.html

Basically, no difference at all in your case. Some impact when looking at SLI setups though.

 

[Goose]

Thanks guys.

 

[pandem0nium]

If the cpu is a sandy, you'll have gen 2 regardless of which gen the board supports.

 

[IvanDobskey]

Yep, gen3 only came in with ivy.