A slightly strange problem with a GPU

[HMSharrow]

Hi! Recently, while looking into the driver options for an RX 580 I installed in a test bench, it indicated that it was running at x8,i tried on GPU Z and it shows the same thing
This was disconcerting, as I hadn't noticed. I tried several things to correct it: changing the drivers, cleaning the PCIe port (which is x16), and testing the GPU on another bench, and it indicated that it was running at x16.
The CPU on the bench is an Asus m5a97 r1, with an fx6100. I know that the motherboard should run at PCIe gen 2. However, from what I've found, the mobo and the processor shouldn't be a problem for it to run at x16.

If anyone has any advice for this particular case, I'd appreciate it
(I apologize in advance if the writing is bad; this is the first time I've decided to post a question on a forum.)

 

[StViolenceDay]

Does the motherboard have anythong connected to other PCIe ports (including smaller x8/x4/x1)?

Also, sometimes the PCIe lanes are really damaged in motherboard/CPU leading to similar effect. The PCIe version is irrelevent here.

 

[Onasi]

See the question mark near the PCI-e reading? Click it, it will launch a light GPU load from within GPU-Z. Does it change anything? Does the version go to Gen 2, but the lanes stay at 8x?
8x is weird on the M5A97, if memory serves, the slot config on that is 16+4. So something obviously isn’t working correctly. Might be that the board itself is damaged, as stated above, yeah. In that case, there isn’t much to be done.

 

[Ruru]

Could be a motherboard issue if reinstalling the card firmly doesn't bump the lanes to x16. There shouldn't be any performance hit, though I know that it's annoying if it doesn't run at its full potential, even if it doesn't affect in performance.

 

[DaemonForce]

The CPU on the bench is an Asus m5a97 r1, with an fx6100. I know that the motherboard should run at PCIe gen 2. However, from what I've found, the mobo and the processor shouldn't be a problem for it to run at x16.

CPU isn't an issue but the board probably doesn't like it. That weird era of Asus M4A/M5A boards didn't exactly agree with a lot of hardware.
I remember abandoning mine for a Biostar TA970 just to get VR equipment to behave. There were also voltage control issues with my RX580.
Went to another board after that too. Jumping ship to Ryzen eventually revealed the nature of the problem but I was so lost just getting there.

 

[DarkDreams]

Do you have another card to test in this system to check if any card gets the full 16 lanes? Also maybe check for bent pins on the CPU.

 

[DirtyDingusMcgee]

Well, pci-e 2.0 16x and pci-e 3.0 8x are pretty much the same bandwidth-wise, so you aren't missing anything.

I fired up my fx rig (8370, 970x, rx590) and it reports as pci-e 3.0 16x right there......so idk.

It could be any number of things, but probably just some kind of issue with how the info is being reported to or collected by the software. it happens.

It's a 2048sp rx580, so it is entirely possible that it has had it's bios jacked with at some point in time.

If it is working to your satisfaction, i'd ignore it.

 

[Athlonite]

See the question mark near the PCI-e reading? Click it, it will launch a light GPU load from within GPU-Z. Does it change anything? Does the version go to Gen 2, but the lanes stay at 8x?
8x is weird on the M5A97, if memory serves, the slot config on that is 16+4. So something obviously isn’t working correctly. Might be that the board itself is damaged, as stated above, yeah. In that case, there isn’t much to be done.

+1 CLICK the ? mark next to the PCIe lane/speed box
when a GPU isn't doing much it will down clock the PCIe to 1.1 x8/x16 to save power under windows default power settings (which is usually set to Balanced)

 

[KatyaKassin]

+1 CLICK the ? mark next to the PCIe lane/speed box
when a GPU isn't doing much it will down clock the PCIe to 1.1 x8/x16 to save power under windows default power settings (which is usually set to Balanced)

you gave the answer i want to give ;-) had the same with my 4080 super and somebody explained me thats because of power saving in idle.

 

[Ruru]

you gave the answer i want to give ;-) had the same with my 4080 super and somebody explained me thats because of power saving in idle.

Never heard before that the amount of lanes drops in idle though. Unless it's a thing of newer cards, my 3080 and 6700 XT are the most modern cards I have experience of.

 

[Dr. Dro]

Debris in the slot can cause lanes to fail to connect, with a system that old, it is worth of consideration. Check it out.

you gave the answer i want to give ;-) had the same with my 4080 super and somebody explained me thats because of power saving in idle.

I approve of your user name.

 

[Ruru]

Debris in the slot can cause lanes to fail to connect, with a system that old, it is worth of consideration. Check it out.



I approve of your user name.

True, one shitty pin in the connector can easily cut the used lanes to half. Been there, seen that.

Also know where that username comes from

 

[Assimilator]

Definitely a case of blowing out the PCIe slot with air, and cleaning the card's PCIe contacts with isopropyl alcohol.

 

[Athlonite]

I revise my opinion
1: Turn your computer off
2: remove your RX580
3: turn the PC on without the gpu installed then turn it off again
4: Reinstall your RX580 and boot to windows open GPUz and click the ? to open the graphical test window
5: Check PCIe speed / lanes it should now read x16 gen 3.0

I was talking to a friend that had the same setup and that exact same problem turns out that every now and then the mobo's primary PCIe slot would just get stuck in x8 mode instead of x16 and what I wrote above is the only way to sort it until it happens again and as there's no BIOS update for your mobo that will fix it you'll either have to put up with it or buy a newer mobo which is what my friend ended up doing