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Can you move your 8x PCIe slot lower to gain more room between 2 crossfire cards?

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  • Crossfire
  • Graphics
Last response: in Graphics & Displays
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June 15, 2013 12:09:41 PM

Lets say you wanted to increase the distance between 2 discrete cards in your case.... has anyone tried using one of those "PCI-E Express 8X to 8X Slot Riser Card Adapter Extension Cables" ?

They are supposed to allow you to relocate an 4x or 8x or 16x slot where your second card can go. Maybe there are other adapters on the market but I only saw a cable type so far.

My HD 6950 is in my (top slot) only 16x slot and my second 6950 would go into the next PCIe slot down, which is a 8x..but they are so close together.At the very bottom is a 4x..but that out of the options list.

So.... if I could use an 8x extension cable adapter, to lower the second card down to say where I have a regular PCI slot or similar.... I can get some better cooling distance between the lower card...and then add Arctic Accelero III fans to each of them.
Otherwise they are going to be so darn close together on my ASUS F2A85-V PRO motherboard.

Yea...I could start all over with a different motherboard..already having (2) 16x slots but hate to start all over again...since this build is only a few months old.

I was reading an older post that said "There is no difference in performance when using a 16x slot to a 8x slot. Nothing available now even comes close to saturate the 8x slots bandwidth not to mention the 16x slot"

Is that still holding true now?

More about : move pcie slot lower gain room crossfire cards

June 15, 2013 1:47:54 PM

There is almost no difference from 8x to 16x. Google it up and you will be suprised how low it is.

So yes its true
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June 15, 2013 2:33:36 PM

Did you mean F2A85-V PRO? Unless your 6950s are triple slot width, then I don't see why you need anymore space between the cards. Are the temps out of control?
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June 15, 2013 8:05:46 PM

Thanks for the replies...Yes, I meant to say I have the F2A85-V PRO.

I read elsewhere that 16X and 8X were very close and really only noticeable if you run something like 3 monitors and that difference only comes out o about 10% slower with 8x...so that really doesnt bother me too much.

The biggest thing is the 6950's with the Arctic III coolers really do take up 3 slots so my lower card seems like it might be only about 1/4" from the upper card's fan assembly, right above it.

Not the most optimum distance for keeping cool air between those cards I f I was going to use the EOM reference design fans it wouldn't even be an issue... but the Arctic III fans are big.

I thought if I could somehow drop the lower card down with an adapter, it would increase the space between the two and subsequently help the upper card from running about 20 degrees warmer, than the lower card (assuming that all things are set equal between the lower and upper cards).
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June 16, 2013 7:32:20 AM

Ah, I see. But if they are three slot width (assuming it starts at the slot it is in), then it looks like the bottom card won't be able to fit if you move it down at all.
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June 16, 2013 11:51:10 AM

Actually, I think it would work, based on th layout of the case. The only drawback for me is that my power supply is at the bottom but I'd still have room.

My motherboard has 7 slots and is set up this way starting at the highest slot;
1) PCIe x1 slot --- unoccupied
2) PCIE 16x --occupied with my current 6950 ---dark blue in color
3) PCIe x1 slot --- unoccupied
4) standard PCI slot --- unoccupied
5) PCIe x16 Gen 2 slot --- to be soon occupied with my NEW 6950----that will run in 8x mode ---white in color
6) standard PCI slot --- unoccupied
7) PCIe x16 Gen 2 slot ----that will run in 4x mode ---black in color

So since slot #3 and #4 are not going to be used, I have the 3 slots needed (2, 3 and 4) to give the 3 slot occupying Arctic cooling fan enough room....but again, again it will be close because the next slot I need to use is the 8x which occupies the #5 spot.

If I can just figure out a way to run a PCIe x8 cable from the white 8x slot and drop it down a little....it would give me about a good inch between the two 6950's. Only problem is how to do it when the #6 position PCI and #7 PCIe slots are kinda in the way.

Here is a photo of the layout

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