New MB and SLI GPU's running at x8 x4, not x8 x8...?

[tisue001]

Just put together my complete new build a couple days ago! I have an MSI Z68A-GD80 (G3) motherboard and two MSI 560ti HAWK video cads in SLI that are apparently running in x8 and x4 according to GPU-Z. Shouldn't it be x8 x8? How do I get them to run at x8 x8?



The rest of my build for reference:

Case: Cooler Master HAF 912 $50
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119233&Tpk=haf%20912

CPU: Intel Core i5 2500k $220
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072

Motherboard: MSI Z68A-GD80 (G3) $200 after MIR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130610

RAM: Corsair Vengeance 16GB DDR3 1600 $85
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145347

GPU's: MSI GTX560ti HAWK in SLI $490 after MIR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127578

SSD: Crucial M4 64GB $100
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148441

HDD: Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB $150
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185

PSU: Corsair Professional Series HX850 $125 after MIR and promo code
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139011

Heatsink/Fan: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO $35
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103099

DVD: ASUS DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS - OEM $20
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204

OS: Windows 7 Home premium $100

Total cost of build after mail-in rebates: $1,575

 

[davcon]

• 2 PCI Express gen3 x16 slots
- PCI_E2 supports up to PCIE x16 speed when PCI_E4 is empty, or PCI_E2 will support up to PCIE x8 speed when PCI_E4 is installed
- PCI_E4 supports up to PCIE x8 speed
• 1 PCI Express gen2 x16 slot

 

[tisue001]

So why are the two cards not both running at x8?

 

[JackNaylorPE]

http://www.overclockersclub.com/reviews/msi_z68agd80_review/2.htm

When two 16x slots are populated, they run at 8x x 8x.

Are you using the 1st and 3rd slots (from top) ?

 

[tisue001]

http://www.overclockersclub.com/reviews/msi_z68agd80_review/2.htm

When two 16x slots are populated, they run at 8x x 8x.

Are you using the 1st and 3rd slots (from top) ?

Yes I'm using the 1st and 3rd slots from the top, which are suppose to run at x8 x8 when using SLI.

Perhaps the issue is GPU-Z... Under System Information in the Nvidia Control Panel it shows that both cards are running at x8. Who should I trust? Nvidia control panel or GPU-Z..?

 

[txaggie2011]

I'm running into the same problem. SLI'd two 970's. GPU-Z reports x8/x4 and Nvidia control panel reports x8/x8. Trying to figure out which one is right