GTX 980 on ASRock Z68 Extreme4 Gen3

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Cali-kun

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Hello, I am simply wondering if a newly purchased Gigabyte G1 GTX 980 will fit on my mobo - an ASRock Z68 Extreme4 Gen3. When I tried a quick test fit, it seemed as if the SATA ports were preventing it from completely setting into place. I didn't want to force anything in, but it did seem like an obstruction.

I could move the GPU to the PCIE4 slot from 2 (both are rated at 16x), and I'm wondering if that would dramatically affect performance/cooling as well.

Thanks!
 
Solution
Noah Siano


Yep, but motherboards name each PCIe slot, regardless of it's size. PCIE4 is the second PCIe x16 slot. Lookup the mobo and you'll see it in little writing above the pcie slot.


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clutchc

clutchc

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The 1st PCIe x16 slot should be fine for a gfx card. The SATA header is turned sideways just for that purpose.
The 2nd slot may only run at X8 lanes. I'm not sure if that is only when both slots are populated or not.
"PCI Express 3.0 x16 2 (single at x16, dual at x8)"
 
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Noah Siano

Noah Siano

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Oooh, you got a V8 ;)

If it fits in PCIe4, then use that one. It is the same as PCIe2, which is PCIe 3.0 x16
If you need to, the third PCIe slot is also okay too, which is labeled PCIe5. It is PCIe 2.0 x16, which is the older generation of PCIe, but that makes so little of a difference that you'll really only see it in benchmarks and even then just barely. So if you have to, it's not a big deal.

But yeah, just use PCIe4 if you can!
Pretty dumb how the sata ports get in the way, I definitely blame Gigabyte for that, my EVGA card sets over sata ports on my mobo with no issues. Then again, could just be the miniITX(EDIT: im dumb, this isn't mini-ITX, oops) board you have. But either way, it's all good!
 
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Noah Siano

Noah Siano

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Sure is, but that doesnt matter. He's only wondering about the fourth PCIe lane, which is x16 and will run at x16 as long as only one graphics card is plugged into the mobo.
 
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Cali-kun

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Thanks for the replies so far everyone!



Yeah, sadly PCIE2 appears to be out of the question. What you're saying is that 4 will perform just as well? If so, great!

Do you think the card will run a little warmer in this location? If so, would I want to move a case fan to sit right below the GPU? My case is a Fractal Arc Midi with 2 140's running intake in the front, and 1 140 in the rear-top as exhaust.
 
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clutchc

clutchc

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4th? The board only has 3 PCIe x16 slots.
"- 2 x PCI Express 3.0 x16 slots (PCIE2/PCIE4: single at x16 or dual at x8/x8 mode)
- 1 x PCI Express 2.0 x16 slot (PCIE5: x4 mode)
- 2 x PCI Express 2.0 x1 slots
- 2 x PCI slots"
 
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Noah Siano

Noah Siano

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Yep, but motherboards name each PCIe slot, regardless of it's size. PCIE4 is the second PCIe x16 slot. Lookup the mobo and you'll see it in little writing above the pcie slot.




I don't really see how it can be any warmer just a few inches away from where it would've been. I wouldn't worry about it, it sounds like you've got good positive pressure in your case and you'll have plenty of cool air going in.
 
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clutchc

clutchc

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I know that. But you said "the fourth PCIe lane" (lane?). So naturally I assumed you meant the 4th PCIe x16 slot. I didn't know you were counting the PCIe x1 slots since they wouldn't hold his card anyway. Oh well... doesn't matter, because the card will fine in the first PCIe x16 slot anyway. Horz. SATA headers are designed to clear gfx cards.
 
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