noob question.

[Trik'Stari]

Ok, so I'm looking at the new z97 boards and I'm wondering why some of them have pcie3.0 capable of running in dual x16 mode, and why some run in only x8x8 yet still has two x16 slots

[SpyRosL]

When the motheboard is capable of 2-way sli, it says 2x pcie3.0 16x but when they are both populated ,they run 8x/8x

[Trik'Stari]

With the new z97 chipset thats no longer true, the expensive boards are listed as running in x16x16, x16x8x8, or x8x8x8x8, I'm wondering why the cheaper boards don't do this

[dragoon20005]

With the new z97 chipset thats no longer true, the expensive boards are listed as running in x16x16, x16x8x8, or x8x8x8x8, I'm wondering why the cheaper boards don't do this

which model support full 16x for both GPU slots?

 

so far I seen they are still run at 8x/8x in dual GPU config

[Trik'Stari]

Go to newegg, sort by only z97, price highest to low, the top board has x16x16 listed next to its number of pcie3.0 slots, also x16x8x8, and quad 8x

Edited June 11, 2014 by Trik'Stari

[Trik'Stari]

Specifically the Asus z97 WS motherboard says dual at x16

[dragoon20005]

Specifically the Asus z97 WS motherboard says dual at x16

ah that board

 

but that board don't come cheap thou

 

it's like the model say, for workstations

[Trik'Stari]

I get this, but why does this board have that capability and others do not? is it better or worse for sli?

[dragoon20005]

I get this, but why does this board have that capability and others do not? is it better or worse for sli?

it will be slightly better for multi gpu setups but usually it use for professional GPUs

[Trik'Stari]

Ok, so, I was wrong. That one particular board does run in dual x16 because it has a PLX chip according to a single person in the Q&A section of the ASUS WS board on newegg, someone also states there that its the new z97 chipset, but this appears to be wrong.

 

If you plan on eventually gaming in 4k, would it be better to get this motherboard because of these extra pcie3.0 lanes?

[Bagmup]

 

 

If you plan on eventually gaming in 4k, would it be better to get this motherboard because of these extra pcie3.0 lanes?

 

No, won't make any difference. Unless you're filling them with gpu's

[funkmetal]

My old Gigabyte G1 Sniper 3 Z77 board used to have this and yes, it was a PLX chip, not native. It's not common but also not unheard of.

[airdeano]

@Trik'Stari

since the LGA 115X platform you only have 32 lanes and populating X16/x16

leaves no other devices any resources.

 

i wouldn't spend too much time worrying about x16. this is the least of issues

more pertaining to CPU/GPU combination and what you plan to use the system

for. if gaming, will be more game design than x16 or x8 lane assignments.

[ZeroBreaker]

Linus puts it best, it is much more beneficial in pretty much every way to run a more powerful single graphics card than a crossfire or sli solution. Unless you have thousands of pounds or your regional equivalent to spend, any z97 should do the basic job, and if you desperately need some sort of crossfire or sli solution for some obscure reason go with an x79 or the newer x99 boards, which present much better value at their price points than high end z97 boards.

Even ITX boards, which have only one expansion slot, are being geared towards gamers nowadays.

Besides, pci gen 3 at x8 is far and above the bandwidth most graphics cards will need - its basically a pci e gen 2 x16 slot and as such is absolutely fine for dual graphics solutions.

[i_build_nanosuits]

pcie3.0 8x 8x is PLENTY for any high-end graphics card, remember pcie 3.0 has twice the bandwith of the 2.0 so running it at 8x won't change anything.

[Trik'Stari]

I watched Linus's video on the Asus z97 WS motherboard, and with the way it lights up, i want it lol, looks sleek and simple. My issue is picking a board that will have the most possible room for expansion down the road, for when games get super ridiculous (like star citizen, dayz standalone full release, etc.) I want to be able to run 3, 4k monitors in ultra lol (probably wont be able to afford that many screens, but I want the ability to do it).

 

I'll probably end up going with that motherboard, or maybe something in the rog lineup when they do a 4 pcie3.0 slot board in z97