PCI-E x16 slots

[Ark]

I got Gigabyte X58A-UD3R board

Specification listed:

2 x PCI Express x16 slots, running at x16 (PCIEX16_1/PCIEX16_2)
2 x PCI Express x16 slot, running at x8 (PCIEX8_1/PCIEX8_2)

I see all 4 slots but how can I tell what slot is x16 and what slot is x8

The reason I am asking is because I am having problem with video card in the slot closest to CPU (with nvidia GTS 450), but it is OK in the second slot.


Thanks

 

[tcsenter]

RTFM

http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=3449#dl

 

[Elixer]

Usually, the one closest to the CPU is x16, unless there is a BIOS/jumper toggle someplace.

What is the exact problem with the card in the first slot ? You may have a bad board.
Oh, and IIRC, the difference between x16 & x8 isn't that much.

2 x PCI Express x16 slots, running at x16 (PCIEX16_1/PCIEX16_2) (Note 1)
2 x PCI Express x16 slot, running at x8 (PCIEX8_1/PCIEX8_2) (Note 2)

(Note 1) For optimum performance, if only one PCI Express graphics card is to be installed, be sure to install it in the PCIEX16_1 slot; if you are installing two PCI Express graphics cards, it is recommended that you install them in the PCIEX16_1 and PCIEX16_2 slots.

(Note 2) The PCIEX8_1 and PCIEX8_2 slots share bandwidth with the PCIEX16_1 and PCIEX16_2 slots espectively. When PCIEX8_1 is populated with an expansion card, the PCIEX16_1 slot will operate at up to x8 mode; when PCIEX8_2 is populated with an expansion card, the PC IEX16_2 slot will operate at up to x8 mode.

 

[Ark]

I went over the manual few times - it does not tell what slots are x16

video card in the top (closest to CPU) slot works OK with VGA monitors or with DVI monitors in Standard VGA driver selected- OS Win 7 -64bit

if I installed nVidia drivers then screen, mouse and keyboard lock up on the Welcome screen.
I tried 4 different versions of nVidia drivers - this problem is all over internet even with ATI cards and UD3R board.

I even tried clean setup with OS, MB drivers and nvidia - no other programs installed.

Since many people having this issue I suspect this is not a hardware issue and most likely BIOS support.

But I want to make sure I inserted card in correct slot since two out of 4 slots are x8 only

 

[Ark]

I found picture, not sure why I did not see it before

http://download.gigabyte.us/FileList/Manual/mb_manual_ga-x58a-ud3r_v2.0_e.pdf

Page 7

the slot I inserted it is x8 slot

it did not work in x16 slot

I will try another x16 slot just for a test.

 

[tcsenter]

The slots are labeled on the board in screen print:

PCIEX16_1 & PCIEX16_2
PCIEX8_1 & PCIEX8_2

 

[Ark]

OK, I am clear about slots now

PCIE x16 slots are first and third

The problem still remains: I can get DVI monitors working with nVidia drivers only if video card is in PCIEx8_1 slot
it locks up on Welcome screen if inserted in PCIEX16_1 or PCIEX16_2

I did not try PCIEx8_1 since it is too close to the power supply

Standard VGA driver works in all slots: PCIEX16_1 or PCIEX16_2