Z97 board with 3 slot pci-e spacing for Crossfire?

MoodyB

MoodyB

MoodyB

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Hey all,

Considering going crossfire with 2x290 Tri-X's (2 slot card) & I'm currently running a Z87x-UD3H which allows for 1 slots worth of space between 2 cards in crossfire if I wanted to run x8 / x8.

So I've been looking around for Z97 boards which will allow at least 2 slots space between the 2 cards, and so far it seems my choices are limited to the Gigabyte SOC Force & Asrock OC Formula if I want to keep the cost sensible - i.e below £200.

( And even looking at those 2, the top pci-e slot position looks like the card would be uncomfortably close to the edge of my Scythe Ashura cooler, which is 145mm wide )

Is there any other Z97 boards out there that I've missed?

Or should I just suck it up & run x16 / x4 on my current board & lose around 10% performance until I can afford a 'mans board' with a plx chip? :)
 
Im struggling with the same dilemma. I think though sacrificing a giant cooler for a fixed loop will solve that issue of being the top slot. Plus overall temps on the CPU would be better without that hot air rising into the CPU cooler fins.
 
Worrying about nothing with the tri-x, they have no heat problems with two of them in crossfire with 1 slot of space between them.. as long as you have an okay case. (I have two in a bitfenix shinobi, all air cooling and no side fan, for example)

I have two of them in an air cooled shinobi case, no problems ever.

Buy this motherboard and sign up for the two for one enchanced warranty.
 
Yeah, it's annoying.
Surely one of the manufacturers has to cater properly for 2 card users @ x8 / x8 with an ideal board layout sometime soon.

I'm not too concerned about the cpu temps, as the Ashura keeps my [email protected] around 55c while gaming, so an extra 10c added to that won't do any harm.

The Z97 XPower AC @ £255 would allow 3 slots between 2 cards & is £55 over what I'd ideally like to spend on the switch.

Whereas a SOC-Force / OC Formula + closed loop cooler - resale of my Ashura heatsink would come it at around £30 more.

Decisions, decisions... :)
 
Rip out the drive cage, put your hard drives in the 5.25 spaces at the top and squeeze your SSD's in almost anywhere.

I think the 300R will manage it.
 
Boards with pretty decent spacing are the Asus Z97 Pro/Deluxe. Much better than the board im running in sig with sli. The PLX chip boards are a bit on the expensive side.
 
setter said:
Boards with pretty decent spacing are the Asus Z97 Pro/Deluxe. Much better than the board im running in sig with sli.
Click to expand...

Yeah my current board, a z87x-ud3h, has the same x8 slot layout.

If they'd only put 3 x1 slots between the the 2 x8 slots.

The PLX chip boards are a bit on the expensive side.
Click to expand...

Just a bit. Doesn't stop me wanting one though :)
 
Considered a secondhand board? Might be able to get something like the Asus z87 Maximus 6 extreme. Considering this myself as I'm in the same situation regarding temps
 
I wouldn't mind using a 2nd hand board. At least that way one with plx support should cost less than £200 :)

I might just wing it & go x16 / x4 crossfire as I should only lose around 10% performance

Most of the games I'm playing manage around 40-50 fps in Eyefinity now anyway, so not too much more grunt's needed to get me over 60 fps & rid of screen tearing.

I imagine you need a plx board though with SLI requiring 2 x8 slots, and it seems plx boards are the only ones with decent slot spacing.
 
Honestly, just get one and try it in the system you have before spending/thinking about anything else.

I presume you already have a single tri x 290?
 
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