MSI mobo question.

[Trik'Stari]

Ok, so I am looking at z97 motherboards in the 100-200$ range and I came across the MSI Z97-Gaming 7. The question I have, is how do the pcie slots on it work? Newegg says it has two pcie3.0x16 slots, whereas the manufacturer claims to have 3.

 

MSI website: http://us.msi.com/product/mb/Z97_GAMING_7.html#overview

Newegg: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130768

 

I am just assuming that these are going to run in 8x mode with more than one gpu installed.

 

I ask because neither newegg, nor MSI even mention this, or mention whether or not the mobo is tri sli capable. (it shows three cards installed on their website, but no way to tell what they are.

[scaryjam823]

Ok, so I am looking at z97 motherboards in the 100-200$ range and I came across the MSI Z97-Gaming 7. The question I have, is how do the pcie slots on it work? Newegg says it has two pcie3.0x16 slots, whereas the manufacturer claims to have 3.

 

MSI website: http://us.msi.com/product/mb/Z97_GAMING_7.html#overview

Newegg: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130768

 

I am just assuming that these are going to run in 8x mode with more than one gpu installed.

 

I ask because neither newegg, nor MSI even mention this, or mention whether or not the mobo is tri sli capable. (it shows three cards installed on their website, but no way to tell what they are.

(16,0,0), (8,8,0), (8,4,4)

That is the speed they will run, it says sli and crossfire compatible. Newegg says two pcie 3.0 and one pcie 2.0 = 3 pcie slots. They both say the same thing, the manufactures website just doesn't say if it is 3.0 or 2.0 under the pcie 16x spec list. But it says 3 pcie slots.

[Trik'Stari]

Thank you.

 

Why does noone make a dual x16 board? Yeah you can get one of the 4 slot boards with a plx chip, but why not make one thats not quite so fucking expensive, and can run just 2 cards at x16x16?

[SpyRosL]

Because The pci-e lanes are privided from the chipset(aka Intel).It's not up to the motherboard manufacturer.There is a reason why 2011 motherboards are so expensive.

You won't notice any performance increase between [16,16] or [8,8] so it's pretty much not worth it.It's only gonna increase the cost.

 

Thank you.

 

Why does noone make a dual x16 board? Yeah you can get one of the 4 slot boards with a plx chip, but why not make one thats not quite so fucking expensive, and can run just 2 cards at x16x16?

[Trik'Stari]

The manufacturers can put in a PLX chip that allows for more pcie lanes, that's how you have 300 and 400 dollar lga1150 mobos that can run 8x8x8x8x, my question is, why not make a slightly cheaper one that just does x16x16? (meaning only 2 slots?)

 

And the statement that you see no difference between x16x16 and x8x8 makes no sense to me, you're given half the normal bandwidth of each card, that's not gonna go unnoticed. That's like saying you wont notice the difference between a 4 cylinder and a v8.

 

also if 8x and 16x aren't really any that different, why wouldn't they just make everything 8x?

[SpyRosL]

The manufacturers can put in a PLX chip that allows for more pcie lanes, that's how you have 300 and 400 dollar lga1150 mobos that can run 8x8x8x8x, my question is, why not make a slightly cheaper one that just does x16x16? (meaning only 2 slots?)

 

And the statement that you see no difference between x16x16 and x8x8 makes no sense to me, you're given half the normal bandwidth of each card, that's not gonna go unnoticed. That's like saying you wont notice the difference between a 4 cylinder and a v8.

PLX chip adds too much latency and it's not worth it. One of the reasons why tri-sli and up scales badly.It's ALWAYS better to have the lanes from the chipset and not 3rd party stuff.

Although it sounds odd,you really won't notice any performance increase. You can look it up if you want.It's the same as pcie2.0 and 3.0.The 3.0 has undoubtedly more bandwidth but 2.0 is enough for every gpu on the market right now.(pcie 2.0x16=pcie3.0x8) 

[Sintezza]

These boards have a plx chip.

 

Asrock Z97 Extreme 9

Gigabyte GA-Z97X Gaming GT

Gigabyte Gaming G1

Msi Xpower

 

Asrock extreme 9 is not that expensive.

 

But s it worth it?

 

I dont think so.

[Trik'Stari]

These boards have a plx chip.

 

Asrock Z97 Extreme 9

Gigabyte GA-Z97X Gaming GT

Gigabyte Gaming G1

Msi Xpower

 

Asrock extreme 9 is not that expensive.

 

But s it worth it?

 

I dont think so.

thanks, I was trying avoid the expense of those boards lol.

 

What makes no sense to me, at all. Is that if pcie2.0 is "enough" for the gpu's on the market, and if more than dual sli is problematic, why in hell was the tech developed in the first place? If it wasn't better, why would they have invested the money in making it?

 

And can someone please explain to me what the hell people mean when they say something doesn't "scale" well. I'm not increasing the size of the monitor or resolution or anything, so wtf? (to me the saying something doesn't scale well, means that when you make it bigger or smaller it distorts, like a map)