Question about motherboard PCI slots.

Frappa

Honorable
May 29, 2013
25
0
10,530
Hello guys. I just recently bought a new graphics card and I am using a Gigabyte Z77-D3H model right now.

(http://www.gigabyte.us/products/product-page.aspx?pid=4140#sp)

I was confused when it said that the second PCI slot is shared with the others. Will I be able to install my new graphics card to the x16 slot and then use my old one now for things such as physx, extra monitors in the x4 slot.


Thanks guy!
 
Solution
The second PCIe x16 sized slot shares bandwidth with the three PCIe x1 sized slots. On your board, the 2nd PCIe x16 size slot does not affect the first PCIe x16 size slot. So your new 770 should go in the first slot as your primary graphics adapter, and if you want, you can put the 660 in the second slot as a PhysX card or for additional windows desktop monitors or whatever.

The two cards shouldn't be running in SLI, so no bridges or anything like that is needed. The slot that the 660 is in will only have 4 lanes of PCI2.0 which is normally going to slow down that card but I don't know PhysX very well and can't say whether that will be limiting for PhysX or not. Also remember that two cards will use more power and be hotter than...

haynesr07

Distinguished
Jul 14, 2013
260
0
18,960


You want to SLI is what you're saying? Because you would need two of the same exact card. So if you have a 660 and trying to use a 770, then it's not going to work.
 

Frappa

Honorable
May 29, 2013
25
0
10,530


I don't want to SLI, i've heard of people using a card pruely for physx and things, and was wondering if I could do that with this motherboard.
 

larkspur

Distinguished
The second PCIe x16 sized slot shares bandwidth with the three PCIe x1 sized slots. On your board, the 2nd PCIe x16 size slot does not affect the first PCIe x16 size slot. So your new 770 should go in the first slot as your primary graphics adapter, and if you want, you can put the 660 in the second slot as a PhysX card or for additional windows desktop monitors or whatever.

The two cards shouldn't be running in SLI, so no bridges or anything like that is needed. The slot that the 660 is in will only have 4 lanes of PCI2.0 which is normally going to slow down that card but I don't know PhysX very well and can't say whether that will be limiting for PhysX or not. Also remember that two cards will use more power and be hotter than one.

EDIT: You never stated what cards they were, I was reading haynes post that's where I got the 660 and 770. What cards are they specifically?
 
Solution

Frappa

Honorable
May 29, 2013
25
0
10,530


Uhm, I have a GTX 670 right now, but my friend doesn't game as much anymore so he sold me his GTX 690 AND an i7 3770k for like 600 bucks which is a ridiculous deal.

I have an 850 Watt Corsair Bronze PS so I hope that will be ok.