lane sharing

Michael Durrant · 2024-11-04T23:05:48+0000

what is this lane sharing on the new x870e motherboards? is it really a concern to worry about?

Tetras · 2024-11-04T23:12:06+0000

You'll need to be more specific, since lane sharing always depends on the motherboard and how it has been configured by the manufacturer.

If it matters really depends on you.., for example: if the board has 4x M.2 slots and the use of all 4 slots knocks your graphics card down to 8 lanes, the questions are: 1. do you care about a few % of lost performance and 2. do you even plan to use all 4 M.2 slots?

For some motherboards, it will disable a secondary PCI-E slot, in which case: if you have PCIE expansion cards (e.g. sound card, 10Gb LAN, extra M.2 slots) then that could be a problem.

Michael Durrant · 2024-11-04T23:17:55+0000

Tetras said:
You'll need to be more specific, since lane sharing always depends on the motherboard and how it has been configured by the manufacturer.

If it matters really depends on you.., for example: if the board has 4x M.2 slots and the use of all 4 slots knocks your graphics card down to 8 lanes, the questions are: 1. do you care about a few % of lost performance and 2. do you even plan to use all 4 M.2 slots?

For some motherboards, it will disable a secondary PCI-E slot, in which case: if you have PCIE expansion cards (e.g. sound card, 10Gb LAN, extra M.2 slots) then that could be a problem.

10gb lan is pointless as my internet aint that fast, and i doubt i will use all m.2 slots myb 2 at best and some ssds. but keep hearing to avoid such motherboard because of lane sharing but no information why to avoid. but as you say if use all 4 then it will knock your gpu down to 8 lanes

Tetras · 2024-11-04T23:22:29+0000

Michael Durrant said:
if use all 4 then it will knock your gpu down to 8 lanes

This is just an example. You have to check the technical specs and manual for your chosen motherboard, since they are all different.

Michael Durrant said:
and i doubt i will use all m.2 slots myb 2 at best and some ssds.

It sounds like your requirements are pretty basic, so even a B650 motherboard would probably do (or X870, if you want USB4). X670E and X870E have more PCIE lanes available, which helps to avoid the potential for lane sharing, but like I said, it is 100% motherboard dependent so you have to check it carefully before you buy.

The GPU being knocked down to 8 lanes is the most common consequence of lane sharing, but there can be lots of different outcomes, e.g. losing SATA ports.

loid898 · 2024-11-04T23:36:30+0000

If you’re mostly using one or two SSDs and aren’t concerned about squeezing every last drop of performance from your GPU, you might be fine with an X870E. Just double-check the specs to make sure you won’t lose anything critical like SATA ports.

Michael Durrant · 2024-11-04T23:41:59+0000

loid898 said:
If you’re mostly using one or two SSDs and aren’t concerned about squeezing every last drop of performance from your GPU, you might be fine with an X870E. Just double-check the specs to make sure you won’t lose anything critical like SATA ports.

I'll use one m.2 for operating system and another for games myb get a (4tb) and the odd 2x ssds for extra storage. Mainly just game and watch YouTube.