7950gx2 stuck in PCIE 8x

[Throckmorton]

Rivatuner and CPUZ both show my PCIE as running at 8x. I don't think that would be because each card in the sandwich uses 8x, because the bridge on the 7950gx2 should handle that and use the full 16x itself, right?

The motherboard is a Gigabyte 965P-DS3. The BIOS doesn't show ANYTHING related to PCIE, and so there's no setting to change.

 

[Throckmorton]

So anybody have any idea for a workaround?

 

[SniperDaws]

Have you checked your settings in the bios ? remember to press CTRL+F1 to get your advanced options.

 

[Throckmorton]

Yeah, nothing in advanced options.

 

[JustaGeek]

Read this thread, hope you find a solution:

http://forums.anandtech.com/me...ght_key=y&keyword1=pci

 

[biostud]

the difference in speed will be nill anyways, so it is not that important.

 

[Sheninat0r]

Your 7950GX2 isn't even coming close to maxing out PCI-e x8... you shouldn't worry about it. Not even an 8800 Ultra maxes out an x8 link.

 

[Peter]

The on-card bridge may very well be a 32-lane model, 16 lanes in from the slot, 8 lanes toward each graphics chip.

 

[Throckmorton]

Originally posted by: JustaGeek
Read this thread, hope you find a solution:

http://forums.anandtech.com/me...ght_key=y&keyword1=pci

Thanks, I saw that thread a few days ago which is what made me think to look at my PCIE bandwidth. He doesn't know what he did though.
I got GPU-Z and this is the report

Does my card really not max out 8x? That would mean that a single 7900 card doesn't max out 4x.

Some review site said they tested PCIE bandwidth, but I haven't been able to find a program to do that.

 

[JustaGeek]

I would try the BIOS update, and contact Gigabyte if necessary.

BTW, if your 3DMark06 and other gaming benchmark results are consistent with other users of the similar setup/Video Card, the x8 link width might be acceptable.

 

[Throckmorton]

Well my mobo BIOS is updated to the latest. Is there a BIOS for the video card that is available?

 

[Throckmorton]

Originally posted by: JustaGeek
I would try the BIOS update, and contact Gigabyte if necessary.

BTW, if your 3DMark06 and other gaming benchmark results are consistent with other users of the similar setup/Video Card, the x8 link width might be acceptable.

I got 8855 in 3dmark06, which apparently is the #2 score for similar configurations. #1 is 9006. The only question is whether 3dmark 06 is representative of current games. The free version only allows 1280x1024, and I play at 1920x1200. Do they actually make enough money from the paid version that it's worth it to cripple the free one so much? It wouldn't have mattered a few years ago, but now everyone games at high res!!