2nd slot gpu question

[xxdozer322]

right now im currently running a gtx580 on my msi z77a-g45, the board has 2 pcie 3.0 x16 slots, i currently have the haf x, and my card sits right above the top portion of the side panel fan, now if i move the card to the 2nd slot the fan will hit directly on the card. Now the question is, since its on the second slot will i lose performance? the card right now hits about 79c underload in bf3, but if i could lower temps by switching to the lower slot, id sure as hell go for it.

[[Ion]]

No, I believe that both slots are full PCIe 3.0 x16

[xxdozer322]

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[lordjohn]

as shown on msi site
PCI-Ex16 3
PCI-E Gen Gen3 (16, 16) Gen2(4)
1st and 2nd pci-e each has 16x

so you will not loss any performance

[Super XP]

Correct me if I am wrong, but Mobo Manufacturers recommend using the 1st PCIE slot for discrete graphics. Reason? Don't know.

[drdeathx]

Originally Posted by [Ion]

No, I believe that both slots are full PCIe 3.0 x16

Unless the board uses a PLX chip, the PCIE lanes both run in 8x when using both slots but no worries, the bandwidth is never used and 8x runs about 2% at the most in 8x over 16x. MSI is very vague in their specs which is misleading.

[cdawall]

Why bother moving it the card doesn't throttle until it breaks 100C+ and they are fine running in the 80's for longer then you will own the card.

Want to actually drop temps? Buy a better cooler

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Asetek-740GF...item416ad365ed

$70 and it can be cooled in the exact same manor as your CPU.

[dude12564]

Originally Posted by drdeathx

Unless the board uses a PLX chip, the PCIE lanes both run in 8x when using both slots but no worries, the bandwidth is never used and 8x runs about 2% at the most in 8x over 16x. MSI is very vague in their specs which is misleading.

I think it is only electrically 8x.

[drdeathx]

Originally Posted by dude12564

I think it is only electrically 8x.

The Z77 chipset runs in 8x when both slots are used. All of them/ All Z77 chipsets do unless a PLX chip is used creating more lanes. MSI uses the same Z77 chipset as every other manufacturer.

[Jstn7477]

I beg to differ with MSi as well. There are 4 PCIe lane switches above the first slot, and 1155 CPUs only support x16 + x4 or x8/x8/x4. You will be running at 2.0 x8/x8 most likely, since you have a 2600K.

[drdeathx]

Originally Posted by Jstn7477

I beg to differ with MSi as well. There are 4 PCIe lane switches above the first slot, and 1155 CPUs only support x16 + x4 or x8/x8/x4. You will be running at 2.0 x8/x8 most likely, since you have a 2600K.

Look closer at the Z77 chipset block diagram. The block diagram is from Intel and it does not lie. MSI does not spec a PLX chip on the MPower unless I missed it.

[Jstn7477]

Originally Posted by drdeathx

Look closer at the Z77 chipset block diagram. The block diagram is from Intel and it does not lie. MSI does not spec a PLX chip on the MPower unless I missed it.

The CPU doesn't have a PCIe 3.0 compliant controller though (it was introduced with Ivy Bridge 3xxx processors, he's using a last-gen 2600K in his specs). The main slots (actually all of them in the 7 series boards) are wired to the CPU directly and the PCH has no role in the PCIe lanes (although the 6 series chipsets for Sandy Bridge provided the x4 slot from the PCH). I see the 4 tiny PCIe lane switches above the first PEG slot and that's it.

EDIT: Re-read the OP, was just asking if each slot supported x16 individually, and it looks like it will as both x16 slots have all the pads. I thought he wanted to run SLi or something in which case the above applies. *goes to bed now*