What are PCI lanes for???

Syndicution · Sep 16, 2014

I am planning on buying the 5820k but it only has 28 PCI lanes compared to the 5930k with 40 PCI lanes. What is the difference??
I will be using dual GTX 980s (When it comes out ofc)
So would it be a big advantage if i buy 5930k istead of 5820k?? I will be overclocking the cpu.

Suztera · Sep 16, 2014

it is only a disadvantage if you using other expansion card like RAID card controller, WIFI adapter, PCIe SSD, sound cards etc...
with the 28 PCIE lanes.

jdcranke07 · Sep 16, 2014

PCI lanes determine how much data is able to transfer from the mobo to the components (GPUs and other accessory cards). If you have just one GPU in a slot then it will max out at 16 lanes. However, when you go for the multi-GPU setups you use way more lanes. With the X99 chipset boards, the setups you can have with just GPUs is 16; 16x16; 16x16x8; 16x8x8x8 (this is all if you have 40 lanes total). On the previous chipsets, 16; 8x8; 8x4x4; 4x4x4x4 would be the setups. If you do not use multiple GPUs then you can use the extra lanes you have for accessory PCIe cards like USB3.0 expansion cards. Every card you put in your mobo will use at least some lanes so if you have 4 GPUs (in 4 different slots using single GPU cards instead of dual GPU cards), then you will not have enough lanes.
Best analogy is like highway traffic. The more lanes the more data (cars) can travel unrestricted.

Syndicution · Sep 16, 2014

jdcranke07 :

PCI lanes determine how much data is able to transfer from the mobo to the components (GPUs and other accessory cards). If you have just one GPU in a slot then it will max out at 16 lanes. However, when you go for the multi-GPU setups you use way more lanes. With the X99 chipset boards, the setups you can have with just GPUs is 16; 16x16; 16x16x8; 16x8x8x8 (this is all if you have 40 lanes total). On the previous chipsets, 16; 8x8; 8x4x4; 4x4x4x4 would be the setups. If you do not use multiple GPUs then you can use the extra lanes you have for accessory PCIe cards like USB3.0 expansion cards. Every card you put in your mobo will use at least some lanes so if you have 4 GPUs (in 4 different slots using single GPU cards instead of dual GPU cards), then you will not have enough lanes.
Best analogy is like highway traffic. The more lanes the more data (cars) can travel unrestricted.

Soo, would 28 PCI lanes be enough for two 980s?

kira70591 · Sep 16, 2014

Is this machine only going to be used for gaming and with only 2 GPUs? If so, then stick with a 4790k and Z97 and save yourself a TON of money. If you are going to be using more than 3 cards then definitely go for the x99 platform.

Go with the 5930k. There is no point in purchasing a high end workstation system and not giving yourself full access to features such as all of the PCI lanes. You never know what you might want to add in the future and a system such as this will last for quite a few years. The price difference is honestly not that much between a 5820k and a 5930k especially when you take into account how much you are already spending on a x99 system.

You would also benefit from the extra lanes if you ever wish to go with a Sata Express or PCIe storage solution.

jdcranke07 · Sep 16, 2014

Syndicution :

Yes, it would be. However, you will be running at 16x8 until you add other cards like a raid controller and then a USB expansion card, and a WIFI cards. Then you would be hurting your performance if you are using the PCI lanes to power them. If you use USB and SATA ports on the mobo then you will not cut into the amount of PCI lanes. I personally would go with the 5930K since its not much more cost wise and you get way more in performance.

Syndicution · Sep 16, 2014

kira70591 :

I will be using this rig for gaming and heavy 3d rendering and other rendering stuff so I would stick to the x99. But i'll go for the 5930k

kira70591 · Sep 16, 2014

Ah I see, then definitely go for the x99 platform. You seem educated on what you need the machine for

. There are people that I advise every day to stick with z97 as all they want to do is play games on the new platform. X99 is a workstation chipset that can also play games. However, they are not going to get any more game performance out of it than z97 unless they are running 3-way or more SLI. It has even been seen that the 5960x gives less performance in games as games tend to prefer higher single thread performance. In the end, they waste literally at least 3.5k to 4k on a decent x99 machine to only gain a few FPS. Unless you want to compare epeen sizes, it just does not make sense. They fall into the "its the latest and greatest and most expensive so it will work better" camp.

Good luck with your build!

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What are PCI lanes for???

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