Asus SABERTOOTH 990FX R2.0 - Sound card placement

SouthOfHere · Nov 13, 2013

Hi,

I've ordered a new motherboard (Asus SABERTOOTH 990FX R2.0) but I'm now worrying where I'm going to place my sound card (ASUS Xonar DX). The soundcard is a PCI x1 slot and the motherboard has this, but I'm going to be using a pair of 7970s in crossfire and the top card will cover the x1 lane if I'm correct. Like in the linked image below, both cards are dual slot and will be used in the light brown slots. Is there any way around this?

http://rog.asus.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/sabertooth-990fx-r2-overview1.jpg

rtwjunkie · Nov 13, 2013

What about the dark brown slot at the bottom? I have yet to find a x1 card (whether USB or sound card or eSATA) that will not work in a x8 or x16 slot. Yes, I know SOME will not, but I haven't run into any. Check the documentation on the Xonar DX, and if you already have it, give it a try.

Welcome to TPU, btw!

EDIT: according to the website info: http://www.asus.com/Sound_Cards_and_DigitaltoAnalog_Converters/Xonar_DX

It says a x1.0 or higher lane can be used.

SouthOfHere · Nov 13, 2013

rtwjunkie said:
What about the dark brown slot at the bottom? I have yet to find a x1 card (whether USB or sound card or eSATA) that will not work in a x8 or x16 slot.

Welcome to TPU, btw!

Hi and thanks!

So you mean to say I can use a x1 device in a x8 lane?

Shou Miko · Nov 13, 2013

PCI-Express x1 will fit in x1, x2, x4, x8 and x16 ports.

but bear in mind that depending on how the board is build it can lower PCI-Express speed from like x16/x0 to like x8/x8 and so on....

de.das.dude · Nov 13, 2013

SouthOfHere said:
Hi and thanks!

So you mean to say I can use a x1 device in a x8 lane?

yes, and it works both ways, if u can cut the slot, you can put a GPU in a x1 lane too

SouthOfHere · Nov 13, 2013

8 years I've been building my own systems and I never knew this, I always assumed the device had to go into the corresponding lane. :wtf:

Thanks all!

de.das.dude · Nov 13, 2013

there was a review here about W1zz taking some high end cards, taping off the excess pins and simulating x8 x1 etc XD

Pandaz3 · Nov 14, 2013

I just replaced an ASRock 990FX Fatal1ty board with this Sabertooth (the ASRock had compatibility issues with the UEFI Bios and Win 8) I did not need to use the lower slot on the ASUS, but when I migrated the ASRock to a Win 7 application, I did use its bottom slot for a PCI-e 1X Wi-Fi adapter and that worked fine. I have a 1X soundcard that I used successfully in a 4X slot on a 939 board.

Fourstaff · Nov 14, 2013

If you are feeling adventurous you can cut the x1 slot to fit an x16 card, or cut the x16 so it fits into the x1 slot. They work too, provided you didn't damage the required parts.

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Asus SABERTOOTH 990FX R2.0 - Sound card placement

SouthOfHere

rtwjunkie

PC Gaming Enthusiast

SouthOfHere

Shou Miko

de.das.dude

Pro Indian Modder

SouthOfHere

de.das.dude

Pro Indian Modder

Pandaz3

Fourstaff

Moderator

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