MSI R9 290X Lightning CrossFireX problem!

DOOMaddict · Dec 22, 2015

Hi folks!
I recently got myself a second MSI R9 290X Lightning for my computer, and sort of ran into a problem.
The MSI R9 290X Lightning is a very big card and even on my msi Z97 mpower they are crammed together. My Fractal define R4 case does not make room for me to mount the card i the lowest PCI-E port. So now I am on the lookout for a new Case and therefore need help since its a jungle out there. I need a case, it has to be white, simple stylish looks (No space age design). It has to be big enough to accommodate both at 240mm liquid cooler grill+fans in top, and a large PSU in bottom. Also it needs to have at least a three PCI-E slot gap from the PSU top to the MB bottom.
Any suggestions?

Y0GI · Dec 22, 2015

Why do you wish to put the GPUs in the lowest PCIe slots? Most MSI mobos have faster speeds (X16 or X8, X8) in th UPPER slots. Will they not fit there? What do you have now in the top slot?

Yogi

EDIT: I stand corrected.

From the MSI SPECS (Link) for your mobo:
Slots
• 3 x PCIe 3.0 x16 slots(PCI_E2, PCI_E5, PCI_E7 support x16, x8/x8, x8/x4/x4 modes)
• 1 x PCIe 2.0 x16 slot (PCI_E4, supports x4 speed)*
• 3 x PCIe 2.0 x1 slots* * The PCIe x1 slots (PCI_E1, PCI_E3, PCI_E6) will be unavailable when installing an expansion card in the PCI_E4 slot.

DOOMaddict · Dec 22, 2015

Y0GI :

Well, as you can see on the picture, the one card is allready in the top slot and the second card is in the second slot. But they are sooo close i am worried about temps.

DOOMaddict · Dec 22, 2015

Y0GI :

Ok, I was uncertain myself. So it should be possible to run x8/x8 on PCI-E2 and PCI-E7 if i can find a case with room for it right?

Y0GI · Dec 22, 2015

DOOMaddict :

What are your temps running now?

Yogi

Y0GI · Dec 22, 2015

DOOMaddict :

Yes.

Yogi

EDIT: Sorry, but it looks like I was wrong again. For a dual GPU set-up you must use slots PCIE_2 and PCIE_5. See Pg EN-16 of the MANUAL (Link).

DOOMaddict · Dec 22, 2015

Y0GI :

Well, I'm running around 75C on the top card in 3Dmark testing and about 10C lower on the bottom card.
The thing is that i hate that there is no airflow for the top card. It was only about 65C when there was only one card in the PC.
I also know the clever thing would be to go liquid, but i simply can't afford it at the moment. Also i like the lightning looks.

Otherwise i have a good airflow in the case 2x140mm in at the front 1x140mm out at the rear top, and the 2x120mm from the cpu liquid out in the top.

Y0GI · Dec 22, 2015

DOOMaddict :

First, please see my EDIT to the slot question, above.

75*C. should not be a problem. HERE (LINK) is a review that shows that the AMD Reference card goes all the way to 94*C. during gaming.

Yogi

DOOMaddict · Dec 22, 2015

Y0GI :

DOOMaddict :

Yes.

Yogi

EDIT: Sorry, but it looks like I was wrong again. For a dual GPU set-up you must use slots PCIE_2 and PCIE_5. See Pg EN-16 of the MANUAL (Link).

I can see the chart in the manual yes, but it dosent directly say it won't do x8/x8 in e2 and e7. Perhaps i'll ask MSI customorservice...

Y0GI · Dec 22, 2015

I can see the chart in the manual yes, but it dosent directly say it won't do x8/x8 in e2 and e7. Perhaps i'll ask MSI customorservice...

OK. Pls let us know what they say.

Yogi

DOOMaddict · Dec 22, 2015

Y0GI :

So i asked them, this was the reply:

... "Thanks for contacting MSI technical support team.
Regarding your concern,when run crossfire,we should make sure at least one card is insert in pcie 16x.
Thanks for your cooperation in advance!" ...

Well I'm still confused since they are all listed as PCI-E x16 3.0 ports in bios.

I'm going to try the setup with one card in pci-e2 and one in pci-e7 and check with gpu-z to see if it will run x8/x8. But to do it i have to assemble the entire computer outside my case. So i'll wait a bit. Perhaps tomorrow

Y0GI · Dec 23, 2015

DOOMaddict :

Y0GI :

So i asked them, this was the reply:

... "Thanks for contacting MSI technical support team.
Regarding your concern,when run crossfire,we should make sure at least one card is insert in pcie 16x.
Thanks for your cooperation in advance!" ...

Well I'm still confused since they are all listed as PCI-E x16 3.0 ports in bios.

I'm going to try the setup with one card in pci-e2 and one in pci-e7 and check with gpu-z to see if it will run x8/x8. But to do it i have to assemble the entire computer outside my case. So i'll wait a bit. Perhaps tomorrow

Excellent plan!

Yogi

DOOMaddict · Jan 10, 2016

Y0GI :

It took some time with christmas, newyear, and exams. However I did the open bench and had a card in pci-e2 and pci-e7, and unfortunately they run at x8/x4... Nothing to do about it. The only options in bios is x16/x0/x0, x8/x8/x0 and X8/x4/x4. It seems if i need to fix the high temps (85C on the top card) I need to upgrade to the MSI Xpower MB. It should be able to do this.

Y0GI · Jan 10, 2016

DOOMaddict :

Y0GI :

It took some time with christmas, newyear, and exams. However I did the open bench and had a card in pci-e2 and pci-e7, and unfortunately they run at x8/x4... Nothing to do about it. The only options in bios is x16/x0/x0, x8/x8/x0 and X8/x4/x4. It seems if i need to fix the high temps (85C on the top card) I need to upgrade to the MSI Xpower MB. It should be able to do this.

The X8/X8/X0 is what you need. That should be PCIE_2 and PCIE_5. Is there not enough room to use these 2 slots?

PCIe x16 Slots Bandwidth Table
The table below shows the correlation between the PCIe slots bandwidth and multiple
graphics cards.

From the Manual:
Bandwidth
.............Single 2-Way 3-Way
PCI_E2 x16..... x8........ x8
PCI_E5 ............x8....... x4
PCI_E7 ........................x4

Yogi

DOOMaddict · Jan 10, 2016

[/quotemsg]

The X8/X8/X0 is what you need. That should be PCIE_2 and PCIE_5. Is there not enough room to use these 2 slots?

PCIe x16 Slots Bandwidth Table
The table below shows the correlation between the PCIe slots bandwidth and multiple
graphics cards.

From the Manual:
Bandwidth
.............Single 2-Way 3-Way
PCI_E2 x16..... x8........ x8
PCI_E5 ............x8....... x4
PCI_E7 ........................x4

Yogi

[/quotemsg]

Yes I know, however I want to run x8/x0/x8 So i can have a gap of air between the cards. And it is not possible on this MB.

Y0GI · Jan 10, 2016

DOOMaddict :

The X8/X8/X0 is what you need. That should be PCIE_2 and PCIE_5. Is there not enough room to use these 2 slots?

PCIe x16 Slots Bandwidth Table
The table below shows the correlation between the PCIe slots bandwidth and multiple
graphics cards.

From the Manual:
Bandwidth
.............Single 2-Way 3-Way
PCI_E2 x16..... x8........ x8
PCI_E5 ............x8....... x4
PCI_E7 ........................x4

Yogi

[/quotemsg]

Yes I know, however I want to run x8/x0/x8 So i can have a gap of air between the cards. And it is not possible on this MB.

[/quotemsg]

OK. I see.

Yes, the best that you can do then is X8/X4.

Yogi

DOOMaddict · Jan 10, 2016

Y0GI :

Yes I know, however I want to run x8/x0/x8 So i can have a gap of air between the cards. And it is not possible on this MB.

[/quotemsg]

OK. I see.

Yes, the best that you can do then is X8/X4.

Yogi

[/quotemsg]

Yeah sadly. Anyway thanks for the sparring! I'll point your reply out as the solution.

Y0GI · Jan 10, 2016

Yeah sadly. Anyway thanks for the sparring! I'll point your reply out as the solution.

Your quite welcome! I'm glad that we finally came to an understanding. Thanks for the Best Answer!

Yogi

MSI R9 290X Lightning CrossFireX problem!

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