PCI-E SPACING PROBELMS FOR CROSSFIRE ON EX58-UD5

[abs]

I've just crossfired 2 x 6970 on the top 2 pci x 16 slots but was a little concerned about temps etc, the case is an 800d. temps during intense gameplay mid 70s and other card about 65 c. there is a very small gap between both cards so i decided to move the second card to the pci x 8 slot at the bottom of the board.

the only problem is that i can't get the card to fit in the slot fully because of the pwr/led header switches at bottom of the board next to the front usb headers. i unplugged the front usb headers and the pwr/led headers and this allows me to plug the card in fully but this wont allow me to power up the pc as the pwr header is unplugged. i think this is a design flaw on the ud5 and i can't see a work around other than keep both cards together in slots 1 and 2 and monitor temps or get a new board with better pci-e spacing? anyone got a workaround re the pwr/led header blocking the pci-e x 8 slot when a card is fitted?

 

[abs]

solder the conection to the board?
^^ really depends if your up for it, but it would work

thanks mate but wouldn't really want to do that

 

[abs]

power on by keyboard, is that an option in the bios somewhere

oh right, there's an option in bios? , this would help i guess if it were possible to power up this way. i'll have a check. thanks for all the other comments. i can get the card to sit in the slot with the pwr/led still connected but it is not fully seated like the one in the first slot and the plastic trigger to release the card has not extended out which it would do if fully seated. i've not tried to run crossfire this way i.e. with the second card not fully seated but may also give that a shot.

 

[abs]

you can power from the keyboard but if your computer locks up or anything like that you cant reset the computer from the case

ok, i may just give that a shot and see what sort of temps i get. thanks

 

[abs]

My card is basicly fully in, if it would move a tiny little bit the catch would pop out but it wont, but everythings fine, anyway If you look at the orange pcie lane on the UD5 the contacts only go half way as its only an 8x slot

again, thanks may also try that as well, thanks for all the helpful comments guys.

 

[abs]

The reset lead will be in the way plugs into the exact same place as the pwr led hdd led indicators

they certainly are

 

[abs]

does sleep work ok?

sleep works fine normally, not tried with the pwr/led reset headers removed.

 

[abs]

Ive had crossfire 5870s, SLI GTX460s and now SLI GTX580s on a UD5 in a 700D using the same slots with no issues other than going to a sata DVD as the bottom card covered the IDE header - how strange!

thanks mate, probably me being overly cautious. with regards the power on option for the keyboard in the bios, i've tried this but to no avail. i am using a wireless keyboard and i can't get the pc to boot using this method. there is no power button on the keyboard and even when i try the enter password option on the keyboard still nothing? may have to run them in slots 1 and 2 afterall.

 

[abs]

abs

i have x58a-ud5 and have the same issue as you card spacing )
ive never really had an issue with cooling as the antec 1200 does the job.
but at the weekend i made a slight change and increased the gap between the cards, and the results are a good 3-5 degrees cooler on the top card
all i did was

top card, loosen both screws that hold the card in place and slightly lift the top card while in pcie slot, then screw the top screw in to secure the card
then the bottom card slightly push down and tighten the lower screw to secure.
then screw remaining screws in the top and bottom card
( obviosuly dont put too much pressure when lifting and pushing cards )



top card is currently idle @ 34 and bottom is at 29, after a sesh on bfbc2 or trackmania top card gets no hotter than 60 degrees, but then again your case isnt helping the cards cool. have you tried adding a 120mm fan ontop of the 140mm fan at the bottom ? i hear this make a big improvement.
Ive also got an antec spotcool that i set up on sunday morning, this was positioned so it was also blowing in the gap, and again this made an improvement, but i took it out because the fan makes a very annoying sound after so long.
hope this can be of some help

thanks mate, may give that a try.

 

[abs]

+1 for the spotcool. Got one mounted behind my 470's, without it the top card runs 10c higher than the bottom one. Even though theres a decent gap between the cards.

now that spotcool fan idea looks interesting...