Backwards compatibility performance drop.

Good Ole Spens · Nov 6, 2014

Ok, so I'm aware that there WILL be some sort of performance loss if I put a PCIe 3.0 into a PCIe 2.0 slot, but how much of a drop? This is the card I'm looking to get to replace my shitty AMD setup, and this is my current motherboard. My current cpu is an AMD Phenom II 965 (Non BE), and I'm aware it's not a gaming cpu, but i'll be upgrading to a 980 or 1100T here very soon. So if I stuck that beauty in my PCIe 2.0 slot, how bad of a drop would I see?

MeteorsRaining · Nov 6, 2014

Cheer up, the performance drop is next to NONE. A not even 1 FPS for card that you look to purchase. Even with GTX 980, it's not at all considerable.
Source: http://www.pugetsystems.com/labs/articles/Impact-of-PCI-E-Speed-on-Gaming-Performance-518/

frag06 · Nov 6, 2014

At x16 there will be no performance drop. Even today's high-end cards don't use all of the bandwidth at PCI-E 2.0 x16.

middlemarkal · Nov 6, 2014

nothing to worry about with just 1 video card

Good Ole Spens · Nov 6, 2014

Thanks guys, appreciate the quick responses!

MeteorsRaining · Nov 6, 2014

No worries.

geofelt · Nov 6, 2014

I estimate there will be a 0.005% drop in FPS.
Even top end cards of today are not impacted by pcie 2.0/3.0 issues, you are good there.

Your 965 is actually a decent gamer, your graphics upgrade is likely to be much more important.
The 1100T is probably a sideways move and to a lesser extent, the 980 not much better.

To help clarify your CPU/GPU options, run these two tests:

a) Run your games, but lower your resolution and eye candy.
If your FPS increases, it indicates that your cpu is strong enough to drive a better graphics configuration.
If your FPS stays the same, you are likely more cpu limited.

b) Limit your cpu, either by reducing the OC, or, in windows power management, limit the maximum cpu% to something like 70%.
Go to control panel/power options/change plan settings/change advanced power settings/processor power management/maximum processor state/
This will simulate what a lack of cpu power will do.
Conversely what a 30% improvement in core speed might do.

You could also experiment with removing one core in the bios. You can also do this in the windows start configuration.
This will tell you how sensitive your games are to the benefits of many cores.

If your FPS drops significantly, it is an indicator that your cpu is the limiting factor, and a cpu upgrade is in order.

It is possible that both tests are positive, indicating that you have a well balanced system, and both cpu and gpu need to be upgraded to get better gaming FPS.

AMD cores are slow. If cpu is the issue, look for a intel haswell solution.

Good Ole Spens · Nov 6, 2014

geofelt :

I estimate there will be a 0.005% drop in FPS.
Even top end cards of today are not impacted by pcie 2.0/3.0 issues, you are good there.

Your 965 is actually a decent gamer, your graphics upgrade is likely to be much more important.
The 1100T is probably a sideways move and to a lesser extent, the 980 not much better.

To help clarify your CPU/GPU options, run these two tests:

a) Run your games, but lower your resolution and eye candy.
If your FPS increases, it indicates that your cpu is strong enough to drive a better graphics configuration.
If your FPS stays the same, you are likely more cpu limited.

b) Limit your cpu, either by reducing the OC, or, in windows power management, limit the maximum cpu% to something like 70%.
Go to control panel/power options/change plan settings/change advanced power settings/processor power management/maximum processor state/
This will simulate what a lack of cpu power will do.
Conversely what a 30% improvement in core speed might do.

You could also experiment with removing one core in the bios. You can also do this in the windows start configuration.
This will tell you how sensitive your games are to the benefits of many cores.

If your FPS drops significantly, it is an indicator that your cpu is the limiting factor, and a cpu upgrade is in order.

It is possible that both tests are positive, indicating that you have a well balanced system, and both cpu and gpu need to be upgraded to get better gaming FPS.

AMD cores are slow. If cpu is the issue, look for a intel haswell solution.

Thanks so much for the tips! I'll definitely have to do some testing. The reason I was looking at the 980 specifically, is because of it's clock speed and OC ability, my current 965 is only at 3.4 ghz and is not able to OC, so I figured I would be at least somewhat better off with that clock speed

Good Ole Spens · Nov 6, 2014

UPDATE: I just now noticed that this card only has 1 dvi-d port, while my current card has 2, and I'm currently using 2 monitors. The specs say the card supports up to 3 displays, but since it only has 1 dvi port, I'm a bit confused on how to make multiple monitors work. Is there some sort of adapter cable I can possibly use or something of that nature?

frag06 · Nov 6, 2014

You would need an adapter, preferably a cable, so something like this.

geofelt · Nov 6, 2014

A simple HDMI to dvi cable is all you need if your monitor takes dvi input.
Not expensive, and I found such a cable to be handier to attach/reattach than a dvi cable.

Good Ole Spens · Nov 6, 2014

frag06 :

Well the card also has an hdmi port, and my first monitor has an hdmi port, so would it be possible to use both the hdmi and dvi port on this card for my 2 monitors? Or would that be sucking up tons of power?

frag06 · Nov 6, 2014

Good Ole Spens :

You can use the HDMI port, it will give you the same result as using DVI.

Good Ole Spens · Nov 6, 2014

frag06 :

Ok so just to clarify, I'm talking about having the dvi running to the second monitor, because it doesn't support hdmi, and then using the hdmi port at the same time for the first monitor. That would work correctly? Sorry for the mild confusion lol, just trying to be 100% certain.

frag06 · Nov 6, 2014

Good Ole Spens :

frag06 :

Ok so just to clarify, I'm talking about having the dvi running to the second monitor, because it doesn't support hdmi, and then using the hdmi port at the same time for the first monitor. That would work correctly? Sorry for the mild confusion lol, just trying to be 100% certain.

Yes, that is what you should do. It should work just fine.

Good Ole Spens · Nov 6, 2014

frag06 :

Good Ole Spens :

Yes, that is what you should do. It should work just fine.

Ok awesome, thanks so much!

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