8800GT PCIe link width stuck at x1 instead of x16

[chonga]

Just received the 8800GT as a step up from my previous 8800GTS and now I am having problems with it.

Fist off sometimes I don't get any screen, but I hear the windows start up sound... then i have to restart and all is well.

Second and more importantly, the pci-e link width in cpu-z is only showing at 1 instead of 16 and i've tried everything under the sun to try and change it. I've changed the pci-e speed, voltage, oveclocked my cpu, set it back to stock. Nothing, still x1 under cpu-z. what a pain. any suggestions?

 

[mitch074]

first off, have you looked a BIOS update up? Second, ensure that your mobo's chipset's driver is the latest version.
If this doesn't wash, first try RMA'ing your card, nd if the new one doesn't work either, contact your mobo manufacturer - and ask for a BIOS fix.

 

[chonga]

Yes, I have updated to the latest bio for my motherboard.

Specs are:
e6750 @ 2.66ghz
p35-ds3r
8800GT
GameXstream 600w
2gb crucial ballistix (2x1gb) pc6400

I will have to give gigabyte a call... hope they have an answer

 

[systemlord]

Two weeks ago before my Asus P5B Deluxe died on my link speed would swtich between 1x & 16x link speed, then it died. "The BIOS is the second device that can change the link speed other than the graphics card". NewEgg exchanged the P5B for a Asus P5E X38 for no more money, I love NewEgg!

 

[chonga]

Well I guess I will call eVGA first and then gigabyte.

what a pain, if i would've known this, i would've just kept my 8800GTS

 

[systemlord]

Well I guess I will call eVGA first and then gigabyte.

what a pain, if i would've known this, i would've just kept my 8800GTS

Don't feel bad a lot of people have had problems with the 8800GT's, they were rushed out to market or there would be more avalible to purchased.

 

[chonga]

This is the most frustrating thing I have ever encountered. I have changed so many voltage, timing settings around for the past 3 hours that I'm out of ideas. I'm hoping someone from evga or gigabyte doesn't give me a crap answer and that i can get this resolved soon. I'm anxious to play crysis and world in conflict!

 

[chonga]

So i tried my roommates 8600GT in my rig and it works fine. x16 comes up in CPU-Z. I put my 8800GT in his rig and he only gets x8 instead of x16 in CPU-Z.

So i'm guessing this an issue with the GPU? SHould i request an RMA?

 

[monsterrocks]

Aye, RMA that sucker. It's a good card form a good company to boot, so don't let this one experience ruin your opinion of eVGA or nVidia.

 

[crimsonfilms]

Some mobos are supposedly having a hard time understanding the PCI-e 2.0 bus design of 8800GT. So your mobo might need a BIOS update.

 

[systemlord]

It looks like the first PCI-Express 2.0 cards are having their growing pains being new tech. I say it time to RMA the 8800GT.

 

[chonga]

Just RMA'd my 8800GT.

Will post results for anyone who may be having similar problems or for future reference. Thanks for the replies everyone

 

[systemlord]

Just RMA'd my 8800GT.

Will post results for anyone who may be having similar problems or for future reference. Thanks for the replies everyone

Also let us know how everything turns out, and good luck!

 

[silvann]

I've this same problem like You. Gigabyte P35C-DS3R and ZOTAC AMP 8800GT. The pci-e link width in cpu-z is only showing at 1x. I've changed the pci-e frequency, pci-e voltage, MCH voltage (NB). New bios, new Graphic card drivers, new chipset drivers, 3 diffrent pci-e power cords. Nothing, still x1 under cpu-z and gpu-z. Very low score 3dMark

 

[systemlord]

I just knew that there would be issues with the new PCI-E standard reguarding compatibility problems! My mobo has two PCI-E 2.0, but my graphics card is PCI-E 1.0, so it looks more like a mobo problem. Your Bios is incharge of making all the configurations setting with everything that is connected to the mobo, PCI, PCI-E bus link, CPU stock clock, PSU voltage reading, Ram speeds/voltages and everything. If only you knew all that the Bios has to configure, it would blow your mind!

 

[silvann]

But some people have Gigabyte mobo with Intel P35 and 8800GT works fine. For example: http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/246923-13-build-bandwidth This same problem and solved.

 

[monsterrocks]

But some people have Gigabyte mobo with Intel P35 and 8800GT works fine. For example: http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/246923-13-build-bandwidth This same problem and solved.

I think it is the card. RMA it and it should work.

 

[hashbar9]

I'm having the exact same problem...

ASUS EN8800GT
Gigabyte P35-DS3L
crucial ballistix pc 8500 2 gigs
OCZ stealth stream 600w

I tried all the different bios settings and updates like everyone else...

Did RMAing the card fix your problem?

 

[prpilot]

I am having this same problem. the weird thing is when I first got my 8800GT it worked great! Somehow, somewhere along the line, i noticed my framrates were lousy. It has taken me a month to find out it is my PCIE link width, after having bought a new power supply, and having received a brand-new 8800GT from BFG TEch, with Exactly the same problem! So it looks like a motherboard problem, not a video card problem, unless I have two identically bad video cards. Chonga you said you'd post here to let us know what your reult was...I don't see anything from you since December last year. Are you still working on this, 8 months later?

 

[fish20bcm]

Same problem here. Zotac 8800GT AMP! edition. PCIE stuck at 1x under a Gigabyte GA-EP35-DS3L - swapped it out for a GA-EP43-DS3L. Still same problem after the swap. I thought this was only associated with the P35 chipset but apparently the card is having issues with the P43 chipset too. So is the 8800GT to blame for this problem?!?!?! Going crazy here...have tried all the bios tweaks and have upgraded the bios on the new board (EP43) to the most recent (F8)....no luck still.

HELP?!?!?

PLEASE...this is so frustrating?!?!?!?

 

[ZEPd3Z]

Same problem here. Zotac 8800GT AMP! edition. PCIE stuck at 1x under a Gigabyte GA-EP35-DS3L - swapped it out for a GA-EP43-DS3L. Still same problem after the swap. I thought this was only associated with the P35 chipset but apparently the card is having issues with the P43 chipset too. So is the 8800GT to blame for this problem?!?!?! Going crazy here...have tried all the bios tweaks and have upgraded the bios on the new board (EP43) to the most recent (F8)....no luck still.

HELP?!?!?

PLEASE...this is so frustrating?!?!?!?

do You Have GTA IV or rockstar games social club on your system? if you don't just ignore this

I also had the same problem with the pcie link limited to x1, when I close the social club it limits the pcie to x1 when I turn it back on, pcie returns to x16.

 

[Mousemonkey]

Was GTA IV out a year ago?