PCIE 3.0 8x = PCIE 2.0 16x

kage_a

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I have been reading all this hype about PCI-E 3.0 motherboards. It seems to me that if you are running a Crossfire setup the bandwith on PCI-E 3.0 8x is identical to 2.0 16x. This owing to the single 3.0 16x pcie slot which splits to two 8x slots. An example would be the ASRock Extreme 4 series.

Am I wrong?


Additionally, is there any GPU in the works that can max out a PCI-E 2.0 16x?
 

MrBig55

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It seems to me that if you are running a Crossfire setup the bandwith on PCI-E 3.0 8x is identical to 2.0 16x.
Not at all. You got it in the title: PCIE 3.0 @ 8x = PCIE 2.0 @ 16x.

Also no graphic card to date does max out the PCI-E 2.0 16X lanes, almost any card on the market doesn't even max out PCI-E 2.0 8X lanes or PCI-E 1.0 16x lanes. You could get the same performance from a PCI-E 3.0 card into a PCI-E 3.0 motherboard @ 4x, as you would get from and PCI-E 3.0 card into a PCI-E 1.0 motherboard @ 16x
 

kage_a

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So, in terms of future proofing a new build, I'm looking at at Asrock Extreme4 Gen3 mobo. It should accept any technology that is coming in the foreseeable future?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157264

I think I'm close here:

1) I can upgrade to Ivy Bridge when it comes out (or when prices come down a bit), giving me the opportunity to stay relevant for a few more years.
2) This board will accept any SLI/Crossfire setup that is coming including the new 7970.
 

map01ch

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If the signal pass though NF200 chip, that means it only has PCIe 2.0 performance, which is what Gigabyte is claiming, dont know how they do it with only a BIOS update to make it PCIE 3.0. Maybe they have some other technology that people dont know.