Using PCI-E 3.0 without Ivy Bridge

[unlongo]

I am trying to use crossfire on my MB, it is a Biostar TZ77B. It has one PCI-E 2.0 slot, which is fine with my i5-2500k processor, and it also has one PCI-E 3.0 port. From what i hear i need an ivy bridge to even use this port? yes or no? and if yes, can i make it able to be used without buying the ivy bridge? Thanks

 

[Robi_g]

It will just run at pcie2 mode when a sandybridge CPU is being used

 

[mathew7]

It will just run at pcie2 mode when a sandybridge CPU is being used

Just to add more info, your MB is certified to work under the higher PCIe 3.0 specs (frequency). The controller itself is in the CPU, so with SB it works only at 2.0. But it works.