Sign in with
Sign up | Sign in
Your question
Solved

PCI 3.0 X 16 and PCI 2.0 X 16 (Mode X4) Crossfire

Tags:
  • Graphics Cards
  • Crossfire
  • Motherboards
  • AMD
Last response: in Graphics & Displays
Share
December 16, 2013 3:48:59 PM

Hello all,

I have been thinking about putting two video cards in crossfire using a MSI Z87-G41 PC MATE Motherboard. It has a PCI 3.0 x16 and pci 2.0 x 16 (x4 mode). I was trying to do the math on how the cards would work together. Would both cards operate at the lower level or would the cards split up the lanes in some other way. Would love to know how this would work out theoretically and practically.

Thanks

More about : pci pci mode crossfire

a c 86 U Graphics card
a c 93 V Motherboard
a b À AMD
December 16, 2013 3:56:12 PM

The specs already state how the PCIe lanes are divided. The second GPU will only get a PCIe 2.0 x4 connection, which is not optimal for performance... depending on what cards we're talking about.
m
0
l
a c 254 U Graphics card
a c 180 V Motherboard
a c 104 À AMD
December 16, 2013 3:57:36 PM

Both cards would operate at the lower level and a x4 slot may fit the card but will be limiting your performance.
m
0
l
Related resources
a c 297 U Graphics card
a c 282 V Motherboard
a b À AMD
December 16, 2013 4:02:15 PM

I think both cards will operate at 4x. Since pcie speeds do not usually limit graphics performance, you may be ok, particularly if the two cards are not particularly strong.

My preference for upgrades is to use a single stronger card where it will do the job.
m
0
l

Best solution

December 16, 2013 4:27:39 PM

Could cause some driver issue. I think you would get full speed on the gen 3 PCIe 3.0 and your PCIe 2.0 gen 2 will get 4x mode turn into a slow speed and your card will only work at 50% of the 2nd card so. Might want to upgrade a newer motherboard to able to get full speed out of the 2nd card.
Share
!