PCI-E Bus Interface question (7950)

[uber_m0j0]

Hey again guys =)
'm running a sapphire 7950 OC edition and noticed something odd with the latest version of GPU-Z

Under bus interface it shows PCI-E 3.0 x16 @ x1 2.0

Shouldn't it be @x16 2.0? I've double checked to make sure I have my card in the right slot on my sabertooth 990fx for a single card setup. Have also pulled the card out then placed it back in to make sure it sits right, nice and snug, firmly in place. Under full load or not it remains either @x1 1.1 (idle) @x1 2.0 (full load, gpu z render test or bf3/skyrim)

As you can see in this snapshot

 

[bystander]

Either this is a bug with the software, or your card isn't properly seated. How is performance?

 

[scout_03]

i got a 4770 formula and it work the same way ,goes to pci 1.0 when idle and back to pci 2.0 when using in games press the ? mark in gpu-z and start the renderer you will card use the higher settings .also try the gpu cap viewer for more details

 

[uber_m0j0]

Either this is a bug with the software, or your card isn't properly seated. How is performance?

I've taken my card out and re-seated it, no dice no change =\

I dont know if Im suffering performance issues or not, BF3/Skyrim, play fine at 1920x1080 ultra settings 4x SSAA, 4x AF...

 

[uber_m0j0]

i got a 4770 formula and it work the same way ,goes to pci 1.0 when idle and back to pci 2.0 when using in games press the ? mark in gpu-z and start the renderer you will card use the higher settings .also try the gpu cap viewer for more details

Yea it runs at 2.0 under load, but it's 1x @ 2.0 according to what im reading, idles at 1x 1.1

 

[scout_03]

yes the lower itself she goes on energy saver, http://gpuz.techpowerup.com/12/03/14/3n2.png or this

 

[Chainzsaw]

Somewhat of a similar post:

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/346517-33-7950-windows-usage

Basically i think it's a power saving feature. Your PCIE bus downclocking due to GPU inactivity.

 

[uber_m0j0]

Right I get the power saving feature.. but if you look closely at mine, it says PCIE 3.0 @ x1 1.1

the @ x 1 1.1 (idle) then @ x1 2.0 (load) is what concerns me. That says even under load its only at x1 instead of x16

 

[Chainzsaw]

If your not actually experiencing performance problems, I wouldn't worry about. It might just be a software issue with the program for the GPU's being so new. The software may support it, but there could still be bugs.

 

[masterjaw]

actually there is an option in the latest versions of GPU-z wherein you could run a render test to put your GPU in highest power state.

Click the "?" beside the bus interface field and run the render test. You should be able to see the actual value afterwards.

 

[uber_m0j0]

actually there is an option in the latest versions of GPU-z wherein you could run a render test to put your GPU in highest power state.

Click the "?" beside the bus interface field and run the render test. You should be able to see the actual value afterwards.

Aye thanks but thats what I've been doing, it simply shows me at @1x 2.0 when i do that, render test or full load =\

 

[masterjaw]

I see. Honestly I've also experienced this kind of dilemma before with my old 5850 (shows x4 2.0 in GPU-z). I thought my card was broken and/or my PCI-e bus does not support my card yet. However, I've never had these issues with Nvidia cards. Have you checked the supported cards portion of your mobo in the manufacturer's site? That's where I've seen that 5800 cards should only be supported upon upgrading my bios to v2.0+ (running v1.8 at that time).

 

[uber_m0j0]

Fully updated mobo bios =\

It's just frustrating and fueling my paranoia. I mean what if its really running at 1x .. i can only imagine that 16x would be a performance increase

 

[masterjaw]

I see. How about chipset drivers?

 

[uber_m0j0]

Chipset drivers also fully updated.

 

[uber_m0j0]

Just scored 6500 in 3dmark 2011 , would that be possible if it was really running at x1?

 

[Chainzsaw]

Heck no, scoring 6500 in 3d Mark 2011 - it wouldn't be possible your card would be running at x1. You would have scored like 1000 or slightly more.

Take a look here:

http://videocardz.com/30480/best-graphics-cards-for-money-february-2012-buyers-guide

Someone who used a 7950 scored 6898 with their card, not knowing your complete hardware, i'm guessing this is in the realm of what you should be getting.

Again - it looks like a software issue and I wouldn't worry about it...go play some games or something (why waste your GPU power looking at sensors and specs)

 

[uber_m0j0]

Heck no, scoring 6500 in 3d Mark 2011 - it wouldn't be possible your card would be running at x1. You would have scored like 1000 or slightly more.

Take a look here:

http://videocardz.com/30480/best-graphics-cards-for-money-february-2012-buyers-guide

Someone who used a 7950 scored 6898 with their card, not knowing your complete hardware, i'm guessing this is in the realm of what you should be getting.

Again - it looks like a software issue and I wouldn't worry about it...go play some games or something (why waste your GPU power looking at sensors and specs)

Thanks, I know its probably turning out to just be a bug. But you know, spend $500 on a card you want it to be flawless.. or as close as possible. CPUID must be suffering from the same bug as gpuz. Under graphic interface CPU-Z reads Link Width x1 Max. Supported x16.


The rest of my system includes
AMD 975
8gb DDR1600
Sabertooth 990fx
Corsair 650psu

 

[bystander]

I've seen others with the same display input. It's a new card, it either has new power saving techniques or the normal techniques for reading bandwidth doesn't work on the new cards.

 

[Chainzsaw]

Yeah I agree - when you do get a 500 dollar card it should be perfect, however it looks like a free piece of software is giving you inaccurate results

If I were you - I would test out some demanding games for a few hours to see if your computer /gpu acts strangely (or see lower than usual FPS).

I've tried out Crysis - 1920x1080 resolution and everything set to max - there is absolutely no slowdowns (besides quick saves for like 1/2 second when i move to another area).

 

[elendilandurilz]

I believe the x1 you are seeing is referring to the number or shared PCI lanes that the card is using, not the speed of the slot that you are using (especially since it is displaying it as a x16 slot). In your bios, you should be able to set it manually to use all the lanes (on mine it would be x4), although this may disable some features on your motherboard depending on your build.

It's possible your card doesn't need more bandwidth from the MOBO than x1, but play around with it and see what happens. I'm pretty sure this is the case, and there has been a bit of confusion on everyone's part.