Need some help with a possible SLI GPU configuration on a Server Mobo with only x8 lanes

tuned2e

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Jan 15, 2015
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So I currently have an old Dell xps 420 that I use for casual and lite gaming. It has been a workhorse over the years but I need to upgrade soon in expectation of a few games that I'd like to play next year. I REALLY want to avoid building a gaming machine from the ground up.

I use another PC built around a Tyan S7012 server board for audio production. The thing is a complete beast and it would be interesting to see what it could do with a proper GPU. Unfortunately, it only has x8 PCIe 2.0 lanes. I am aware that x16 cards should be able to run on these lanes (I'll have to cut out the end of the lane to accomplish this) and I was wondering what you folks might recommend as far as a GPU goes. I was thinking SLI would make up for some of the bottle necking I expect to see but in all honesty I know very little about SLI and when to use it. Furthermore, I am basing this inquiry under the assumption that my current CPUs and other hardware will be enough and that PCIe 2.0 will be sufficient in handling my gaming needs as opposed to a CPU with a faster core speed and PCIe 3.0. Graphics wise, I don't care much about running things on Max settings but I don't want them to look like crap either. I would like to be able to run Witcher 3, No Man's Sky, Star Citizen (if it ever gets completed), ESO, possibly the new Metal Gear Solid and some newer FPS titles, etc etc. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Below is the link to the owners manual for the mobo as well as my current specs:

-Tyan S7012
-Windows 7 x64 ultimate
-72 gigs DDR3 800 ECC registered RAM
-2x Intel Xeon x5650's - 6 cores each @ 2.66 GHz
-2 Samsung 850 Evo's SATA 3 (scaled down to SATA 2 due to the Mobo limitations) running at RAID 0 for the OS drive
-A crap ton of other SSDs/HDDs in either Raid 10 or stand alone for backups and storage
-Current GPU is a Zotac Nvidia Geforce GT 730 1 GB (which admittedly I haven't tried to push at all)
-Rosewill 1000w bronze series PSU
-Corsair Carbide 540 ATX case


http://www.tyan.com/manuals/S7012_UG_v1.1_06212012.pdf
 
Solution
The motherboard has only a X8 pcie slot.
All modern graphics cards need x16.
I think it is a no go.

Because the X8 slots look open ended, you might be able to install a X16 length graphics card, and it might work, but performance would suffer with a crippled pcie interface.

sli is not likely an option since that requires nvidia licensing which would not be appropriate for that motherboard.
Too bad, that is a compute beast.
I think it best to just sell the parts on ebay and apply to a new build.
Keep the case, psu,windows, ssd, and possibly the ram. The cpu's should fetch $80 each.
Possibly, just buy your graphics card first and see if you can get it to go by opening the end of a x8 slot.




sli requires two X16 slots plus nvidia...
The motherboard has only a X8 pcie slot.
All modern graphics cards need x16.
I think it is a no go.

Because the X8 slots look open ended, you might be able to install a X16 length graphics card, and it might work, but performance would suffer with a crippled pcie interface.

sli is not likely an option since that requires nvidia licensing which would not be appropriate for that motherboard.
Too bad, that is a compute beast.
I think it best to just sell the parts on ebay and apply to a new build.
Keep the case, psu,windows, ssd, and possibly the ram. The cpu's should fetch $80 each.
Possibly, just buy your graphics card first and see if you can get it to go by opening the end of a x8 slot.




sli requires two X16 slots plus nvidia support, so that is not an option.
 
Solution

Rogue Leader

It's a trap!
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Couple problems there, its not just that the slots are PCIe 2.0 (thats no big deal, and TBH the speed difference is negligible, and if you have a GT730 in there you know the cards will work) its that the board chipset does not support SLI or Crossfire. So adding an additional GPU isn't really in the cards. Now you can get a faster one, but the processors will hold you back. I know that sounds crazy, but unfortunately games are not programmed to take advantage of that setup at all. They likely will only use 1 or 2 cores of one of the processors.

Even if you could get 2 cards going in there the processor will hold you back when it comes to gaming. Your setup holds its own on video/audio/graphic production, but unfortunately its not a gaming machine.
 

tuned2e

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Jan 15, 2015
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Oh crud....I never knew!!! Well, ya learn something every day I guess. Selling the components won't be an option as I use this machine for audio production in my studio sooooo....looks like I'll just shell out the cash for a dedicated gaming rig.