Hey everybody, just got the 9800 GTX, which replaces my old 8800GTS 640. When I installed it on my Asus 570 M2N-SLI Deluxe board I got no video output whatsoever. I tried many troubleshooting methods:

1. Making sure the power connectors were properly plugged in (they were - the fancy new LED on the GTX and its loud ass fan even told me so).

2. Switching HDMI ports

3. Testing with a different monitor

4. Unseatinng, reseating, unplugging, replugging etc.

5. Throwing the old 8800 back in to make sure I didn't screw anything up (everything was working and the video came back).

None of this worked, absolutely zero video output even though the 9800 was running.

6. The final thing I tried out of curiosity was to move the card to the 8X PCI-E lane that I normally would put a second card...bingo! Keep in mind the 8800 was working fine in the main 16X PCI-E lane - only the 9800 wouldn't work.

I did the Source video stress test at 1920x1200 and got 130FPS with the 8800 GTS @690/900, 201 FPS with the 9800 GTX stock, and 220 FPS with the 9800 GTX @ 820/1200, so I am seeing a considerable boost compared to the older card.

My question is, although it is running well (and mighty cool at 35C idle!), what kind of performance hit, if any, am I getting from running the card through the 8X lane? Furthermore, why the heck would my 9800 work only on that lane while my 8800 ran just fine on the 16X lane? I called asus and they said there were no known issues with the mobo and the 9800GTX. The EVGA guys were oddly useless during this struggle (usually they are great). Any ideas?