PCIe x16 vs. x8, x4, x1

[Zubasa]

Yep Unless the specs are wrong on newegg, or we're talking about something else.

PCI Express x16 3 x (2+1 Configuration: 2 Graphics + 1 Physics)
- 2 ATI CrossFire graphics cards (each operates at x8 bandwidth).
- 1 ATI Physics graphics card operates at x2 bandwidth.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813136032

And from DFI:

Expansion Slots
3 PCI Express x16 slots for ATI CrossFire and ATI Physics
2+1 Configuration (2 Graphics + 1 Physics)
- 2 ATI CrossFire graphics cards (each operates at x8 bandwidth).
- 1 ATI Physics graphics card operates at x2 bandwidth.
3 PCI slots

http://www.dfi.com.tw/Product/xx_pr....jsp?PRODUCT_ID=5155&CATEGORY_TYPE=MB&SITE=NA

Nope
http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/ProductInformation/0,,30_118_14603_14604^14607,00.html

AMD 580X CrossFire™ Chipset - Specifications

General

* The worlds first single chip 2x16 PCI-E chipset
* Enhanced support for over-clocking, and PCI Express performance
* Fastest multi-GPU interconnect
* Coupled with SB600 for performance

CPU Interface

* Support for all AMD CPU's: Athlon™ 64, Athlon™ 64 FX, Athlon™ 64 X2 Dual-Core, and Sempron™ processors
* Support for 64-bit extended operating systems
* Highly overclockable and robust HyperTransport™ interface

PCI Express Interface

* 2 x16 PCI Express lanes to support simultaneous operation of graphics cards
* Additional 4 PCI-E General Purpose Lanes for peripheral support
* Compliant with the PCI Express 1.0a Specifications

Power Management Features

* Fully supports ACPI states S1, S3, S4, and S5
* Support for AMD Cool『n'Quiet™ technology for crisp and quiet operation

Optimized Software Support

* Unified driver support on all ATI Radeon PCI Express discrete graphics products
* Support for Microsoft® Windows® XP, Windows® 2000, and Linux

Universal Connectivity

* A-Link Xpress II i/f to ATI northbridges; providing high bandwidth for high speed peripherals
* 10 USB 2.0 ports
* SATA Gen 2 PHY support at 3.0Ghz with E-SATA capability
* 4 ports SATA AHCI controller supports NCQ and slumber modes
* ATA 133 controller support up to UDMA mode 6 with 2 drives (disk or optical)
* TPM 1.1 and 1.2 compliant
* ASF 2.0 support for manageability control
* HPET (high precision event timer), ACPI 3.0, and AHCI support for Windows Vista
* Power management engine supporting both AMD and Intel platforms and forward compliant to MS Windows Vista
* UAA (universal audio architecture) support for High-Definition Audio and MODEM
* PCI v2.3 (up to 6 slots)
* LPC (Low Pin Count), SPI (new flash bus), and SM (System Management) bus management and arbitrations
* 「Legacy」 PC compatible functions, RTC (Real Time Clock), interrupt controller and DMA controllers

http://ati.amd.com/products/crossfirexpress3200intel/specs.html

ATI CrossFire™ Xpress 3200 (for Intel) - Specifications

CPU Interface

* Supports the Intel Pentium 4, Pentium D, Pentium Extreme Edition, Core 2 Duo, Core 2 Extreme, Celeron, Celeron D, Cedar Mill, and Allendale processors.
* Supports Front Side Bus (FSB):
o Speeds 533, 800, and 1066MHz.
o Dynamic Bus Inversion (DBI).
o Interrupt delivery.
* Intel Hyper-Threading Technology.
* In-Order Queue (IOQ) of depth 12.
* Intel Extended Memory 64 Technology (EM64T).
* Intel Execute Disable (XD) Bit Functionality.
* 34-bit host addressing.

Memory Interface

* 128-bit dual-channel DDR2 SDRAM interface.
* Supports up to 8GB of system memory.
* DDR2-400, -533, -667, -800 SDRAM.
* 256 Mbit, 512 Mbit, 1 Gbit, and 2 Gbit DDR2 DIMMs.
* Memory device widths of x8 and x16.
* Industry-standard DDR SDRAM self refresh mechanism.
* Pre-charge powerdown.
* Independent CKE and ODT signals for each memory row (total of four CKEs and ODTs per channel).

PCI Express Interface

* Compliant with the PCI Express 1.1a Specifications.
* Supports up to 3 x16 PCIE slots
* Up to six* x1 PCI Express general purpose links.
* *Note: Actual number of general purpose links available depends on the width of the A-Link Express II Interface.
* All PCI Express lanes connect directly to north bridge for maximum performance

A-Link Express II Interface

* One x4 (reducible to x2) A-Link Express II interface (PCI Express 1.1 compliant) for connection to an ATI IXP, providing more bandwidth than the older A-Link Express interface.

Software Features

* Supports Microsoft Windows 2000, XP, and Vista.
* Supports corporate manageability requirements such as DMI.
* ACPI support.
* Full Write Combining support for maximum performance of the CPU.
* Comprehensive OS and API support.
* Hot-key support (Windows ACPI 1.0b or ATI Event Handler Utility where appropriate).
* Extensive Power Management support.

Packaging

* Single chip solution in 90nm, 1.0-1.2V CMOS technology.
* 1201-FCBGA package, 35mmx35mm.

Universal Connectivity

* A-Link Xpress II i/f to ATI northbridges; providing high bandwidth for high speed peripherals
* 10 USB 2.0 ports
* SATA Gen 2 PHY support at 3.0Ghz with E-SATA capability
* 4 ports SATA AHCI controller supports NCQ and slumber modes
* ATA 133 controller support up to UDMA mode 6 with 2 drives (disk or optical)
* TPM 1.1 and 1.2 compliant
* ASF 2.0 support for manageability control
* HPET (high precision event timer), ACPI 3.0, and AHCI support for Windows Vista
* Power management engine and forward compliant to MS Windows Vista
* UAA (universal audio architecture) support for High-Definition Audio and MODEM
* PCI v2.3 (up to 6 slots)
* LPC (Low Pin Count), SPI (new flash bus), and SM (System Management) bus management and arbitrations
* 「 Legacy」 PC compatible functions, RTC (Real Time Clock), interrupt controller and DMA controllers

 

[Sasqui]

the AMD/ATI specs say that, but DFI couldn't make a board that meets those specs???

sorry sasqui i just dont want trouble on my boards. ya know i have a rep for that...

 

[Solaris17]

wow really intresting thread ftw nice find sasqui!!

 

[Solaris17]

not to be off topic but sasqui one day when im in manch i want to see your rig that is PIMP dude!! gotta let me over

 

[Sasqui]

OK - Solaris, thanks for keeping things "mild" - I'm ok with that and I've worked basically in your next home-town.

I am interested in why the DFI board has the same as the 975 limitations...

 

[Sasqui]

So... since no one else dug into this, and this board is beginning to reek:

Found one Intel version of the Xpress 3200 chipset, it's "2 ATI CrossFire graphics cards (each operates at x8 bandwidth)." - DFI

Three AMD versions, and yes they support (2) PCIe x16 slots. - MSI, Abit, DFI

I'll still have a Conroe... shaken, not stirred.

 

[wazzledoozle]

What difference does it make to tape the pins vs. adjusting the lanes in cmos?

 

[Zubasa]

the AMD/ATI specs say that, but DFI couldn't make a board that meets those specs???

sorry sasqui i just dont want trouble on my boards. ya know i have a rep for that...

The chipset can provide the lanes needed for X16 CF, but how they are used is up to the manufacturer.

 

[noneed4me2]

Does this mean my Asus A8R32 s939 board isn't true 2x16 pci/e? It took a hell of alot to get that board I could have got an CF1600(rdx200) for alot less hassle.

 

[tkpenalty]

No, both slots can operate at 16x simulatneously UNTIL crossfire is activated, like two X1950PROs without the bridges. Then when they are connected, the bus speed slows down.