PCIe x16 running at x8 instead ? whats the solution!

wmodrate · Feb 13, 2018

Hey everyone.
So i recently got my new gtx 1070 hall of fame, and i tried it on my brother's pc before i try it on mine. it ran at PCIe 3.0 x16 and everything was fine. Now on my MSI B250M gaming pro, its always running at PCIe 3.0 x8, even at load so its definitely not power saving issue, i just updated my bios to the latest version and its still PCIe 3.0 x8. I honestly do not notice any difference in performance the card so far is capable of everything it should be capable of. Does it somehow affect my performance? what possibly could be the issue? thanks.

https://imgur.com/sLvtEH2

https://imgur.com/3mxRwSP

Zerk2012 · Feb 13, 2018

This is with a GTX 1080 their really no difference in performance in 8 vs 16.

https://www.gamersnexus.net/guides/2488-pci-e-3-x8-vs-x16-performance-impact-on-gpus

Their could be a setting in BIOS but more than likely the board. I would contact MSI and see what they say.

wmodrate · Feb 13, 2018

but there has to be some reason for it not to work on my motherboard... it should be x16 by default. i dont think i will get any help from MSI

Zerk2012 · Feb 13, 2018

I would still contact them they might want to give you a RMA.
As you can see above if your not going to go through the trouble their little difference.

wmodrate · Feb 13, 2018

No i actually did send them my trouble. But i thought id get the answer from here.

Wolfshadw · Feb 13, 2018

What is the full configuration of your system?

In particular:
1) What processor is installed?
2) Are any PCI-Ex1 expansion cards installed?
3) Are you using any M.2 cards?
4) How many SATA ports are in use and which ones?
5) Which operating system are you using?

-Wolf sends

wmodrate · Feb 13, 2018

CPU: I5 7500
Nothing is installed except the GPU itself
No m2 cards
One sata port SATA 5
running on windows 10 64 bit.

hope this helps a bit

Wolfshadw · Feb 13, 2018

Only thing I can think of would be something taking up at least one of the PCI Express lanes, which is causing your PCI-Ex16 slot to run at less than x16 (next available is x8). However, I don't see anything that might be causing that.

Other than suggesting moving your SATA drive to different locations, I really don't have any other ideas.

-Wolf sends

wmodrate · Feb 13, 2018

Do system fans or LED lights have an affect on lanes ?

Wolfshadw · Feb 13, 2018

Not that I'm aware of. Typically it's SATA drives, M.2 devices, or other PCI-E cards.

-Wolf sends

wmodrate · Feb 13, 2018

ah no luck.. just changed the SATA port.. and removed all system devices and leds.. :/ both of my MB and GPU are new.. could there be something faulty ?

Wolfshadw · Feb 13, 2018

Could be, but as stated earlier, it's not going to affect performance. It might also be a faulty reading. Personally, I'd just wait to hear back from MSI and see what they say. If there's an easy fix, great! If it requires an RMA, then I'd have to decide if it's worth the time.

-Wolf sends

vexicus · Feb 13, 2018

Pop in ur GPU in the top slot.....it is x16.....second slot is x8 nd so on
Moreover....I have tried using my 980ti in x16 nd x8....nd lemme tell u....the performance is almost same

Wolfshadw · Feb 13, 2018

vexicus :

The motherboard only has one PCI-Ex16 slot and it's supposed to be rated at PCIE 3.0 x16.

-Wolf sends

vexicus · Feb 13, 2018

MAYBE A BIOS FLASH MIGHT SOLVE UR PROBLEM

vexicus · Feb 13, 2018

OR ELSE RESET UR BIOS

wmodrate · Feb 13, 2018

@wolfshadw I just fixed it

your idea of removing SATA inspired me of removing other parts, so i disconnected everything and started by CPU once i reconnected it the GPU is now X16! so i guess removing and placing CPU fixed it for me

Wolfshadw · Feb 13, 2018

wmodrate :

Shouldn't have, but OK! I still think it's a fault with the reporting software, but as long as you're happy, so am I.

Just to make sure, I'd reboot one more time and check it again to make sure it still reads x16.

-Wolf sends

wmodrate · Feb 20, 2018

I did and its still x16

I think it has something to do with CPU lanes.. they keep some information so I guess reconnecting it removed some of the false data... or so I've been told ^^

yeisonrueda · Feb 1, 2019

I had the same question with a Gigabyte P67X motherboard and a GTX 1060. With GPU-Z I saw the card was running at PCIe 2.0 8x. Reading the board's Overview in Gigabyte's site, there were a plus called "Turbo USB 3.0" that in case of enabling it, it would take 8x PCIe lanes. I disabled this setting and GPU-Z now showed the 16x parameter.

Isuru Kanishka Weerawarna · Jun 7, 2020

I had the same issure with my Asrock Z77 Pro4, i7 3770K and RX570 and didnt know what to do after trying everything. Then I saw this thread and re-seated the CPU and now it is running at x16. Thank you all.

PCIe x16 running at x8 instead ? whats the solution!

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