2nd GPU in x8 Slot

robert_cmf

Honorable
Dec 4, 2012
9
0
10,510
Can some one please help explain what this means in terms of running a second GPU in the x8 PCI-E slot.

"1 x PCI Express x16 slot, running at x8 (PCIEX8)
(The PCIEX16 and PCIEX8 slots conform to PCI Express 3.0 standard.)
* Whether PCI Express 3.0 is supported depends on CPU and graphics card compatibility.
* The PCIEX8 slot shares bandwidth with the PCIEX16 slot. When the PCIEX8 slot is populated, the PCIEX16 slot will operate at up to x8 mode."
 

Xttony

Distinguished
Your motherboard has two pcie slots
When one slot is used the cards will get x18 speeds when both the slots are used they will get x8 speeds.
A 2.0 pcie card is compatible with pcie 3.0 slot and vice versa.
When both pcie slots are populated the card may work as follows
1st card at x16 and 2nd at x8
Or both at x8. This depends on the motherboard. Some motherboards like ASUS rampage IV(the one which is over $400) runs all 4 slots at x16 whether they are in use or empty.
 

robert_cmf

Honorable
Dec 4, 2012
9
0
10,510
Thanks. So what I undersand here is that currently in my Gigabyte motherboard with my single HD 7970 GPU it is running at x16

If I where in the future to add a second HD 7970 they would now both run at x8. "When the PCIEX8 slot is populated, the PCIEX16 slot will operate at up to x8 mode"

So slowing down my first GPU by half, how much gain would one get from the second?