Asus Maximus 5 Formula, SB CPU + SLI.

[Ddm5]

Right, so my MB fried itself and I rma'd it, I've now upgraded to a Maximus 5 and that's on it's way soon now, my question is, since the PCI-e is 3.0 (Obviously 2.0 compatible), with the CPU being a SB one (2500k), Paired with my Evga Gtx660, will there be any performance drops if I add another 660 alongside the current one, on Dual x8, is there any point in adding the second card, or would the 660 be sufficient?, if I do get the 660 I will be buying a lot of the higher end / demanding games, such as BF3, etc.

Side note: The PSU is a 730W Be quiet! Semi modular PSU.

 

[cin19]

The gaming performance between pcie2 and pcie3 is very small. Don't worry about it. Read the review.
http://www.hardocp.com/article/2012/07/18/pci_express_20_vs_30_gpu_gaming_performance_review/5#.UUzUTjeyKec

When you do 660 sli, you can get better gaming performances, and you need have the 600w-700w psu. I found the review for your PSU too and look like it is good for the 660sli. Have fun.

GTX660 SLI review. http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/graphics/display/geforce-gtx-660-roundup_9.html#sect5
PSU review. http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/beQuiet/PurePower_L8_730W/1.html

 

[Ddm5]

The gaming performance between pcie2 and pcie3 is very small. Don't worry about it. Read the review.
http://www.hardocp.com/article/2012/07/18/pci_express_20_vs_30_gpu_gaming_performance_review/5#.UUzUTjeyKec

When you do 660 sli, you can get better gaming performances, and you need have the 600w-700w psu. I found the review for your PSU too and look like it is good for the 660sli. Have fun.

GTX660 SLI review. http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/graphics/display/geforce-gtx-660-roundup_9.html#sect5
PSU review. http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/beQuiet/PurePower_L8_730W/1.html

Thanks mate, may aswell go for the SLI then, my 660 is fine for the mean time, skyrim and what not, but I want it to last me a good few years, only bad point about the PSU is that the bloody cables are too short to go all the way around my NZXT H2 case which is a pain, but owell, Sli seems like the option, also, quick question, I'll be oc'ing to around 4.5Ghz on Air, (Be quiet! Dark rock pro 2 cooler), Do you think it'll fit?

 

[cin19]

The cooler looks like big, but I found the review for it too. Look like it will block the 1st pcie slot but does not block the memory because it's heatsink is tall. When compare the Maximus 5 and the GIGABYTE GA-Z68X-UD4 (in the review), you can see it (click the picture in the link).
The cooler review. http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/4753/be_quiet_dark_rock_pro_2_dual_tower_cpu_cooler_review/index6.html

ASUS Maximus V http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131858
GIGABYTE GA-Z68X-UD4 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128494

 

[Ddm5]

The cooler looks like big, but I found the review for it too. Look like it will block the 1st pcie slot but does not block the memory because it's heatsink is tall. When compare the Maximus 5 and the GIGABYTE GA-Z68X-UD4 (in the review), you can see it (click the picture in the link).
The cooler review. http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/4753/be_quiet_dark_rock_pro_2_dual_tower_cpu_cooler_review/index6.html

ASUS Maximus V http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131858
GIGABYTE GA-Z68X-UD4 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128494

I've had to strip my heatsinks off of my corsair vengeance because of the height of them, by the looks of thing, it shouldn't block the PCI-e, but it should be very close to it, kinda compared since I'm sure the cooler is as wide as the memory, but we'll see anyway, if I run into problems I'll probably have to go with water cooling.

ALSO: Side note, I checked the pictures I took on my phone and from what that's showing is that the room between the Pci-e and the cooler on a INTEL BCZ68 or w/e. I actually forgot the name of the board that fried, theres around an inch or less of room between the cooler and the card on that board.