GTX680 only PCIe 2.0 on X79 Platform

[Edrick]

Interesting article. I may actually have to go AMD is this holds true. So first Nvidia kills FP64 performance, and now this.

http://www.techpowerup.com/162942/G...-Express-to-Gen-2.0-on-X79-SNB-E-Systems.html

 

[DaveSimmons]

For now:

"While X79/SNB-E is a native Gen2 platform, some motherboard manufacturers have enabled Gen3 speeds. With our GTX 680 launch drivers, we will only be supporting Gen2 speeds on X79/SNB-E while we work on validating X79/SNB-E at these faster speeds. Native Gen3 chipsets (like Ivy Bridge) will still run at full Gen3 speeds with our launch drivers.

GeForce GTX 680 supports PCI Express 3.0. It operates properly within the SIG PCI Express Specification and has been validated on multiple upcoming PCI Express 3.0 platforms. Some motherboard manufacturers have released updated SBIOS to enable the Intel X79/SNB-E PCI Express 2.0 platform to run at up to 8GT/s bus speeds. NVIDIA is currently working to validate X79/SNB-E with GTX 680 at these speeds with the goal of enabling 8GT/s via a future software update. Until this validation is complete, the GTX 680 will operate at PCIE 2.0 speeds on X79/SNB-E-based motherboards with the latest web drivers."

 

[ViviTheMage]

That leads me to ask, is my p8p67 pro rev 3 going to be able to utilize the 680GTX at full speeds? Seeing as it only has PCIe 2.0?

nevermind, not worried :

http://www.anandtech.com/show/5458/the-radeon-hd-7970-reprise-pcie-bandwidth-overclocking-and-msaa/1

 

[BallaTheFeared]

Is you primarily gaming?

 

[railven]

That put PCIE 3.0 just to fill out the features list. After gimping compute, what's the point in even having PCIE 3.0?

I thought compute didn't matter to gamers, again? This constant flip-flopping is amusing.

 

[notty22]

There are minor conflicts between some bios's and windows/drivers, where some people were getting bsod. It will be sorted out.
What could it effect ? Somehow if you were running tri-sli with killer cards, a pci-e SSD, usb 3.0 that uses pci-e lanes ? All at the same time ?

 

[Grooveriding]

X79 supports true PCIE 3.0. Ask anyone who is running a 7970 on one. That's FUD trying to say it does not. Maybe there are some motherboard makers that didn't give true support? No idea, but the Asus mobos sure do.

 

[Aikouka]

From what it sounds like, isn't this kind of a non-issue? Even if they enable it, you would need a hefty number of video cards on X79 to use all of the PCI-E lanes. The only reason I could see where you would care about PCI-E v2 vs. v3 is if you're using a lot of video cards with a lower amount of lanes (like you would with the normal Sandy Bridge P/H-6X chipset). In that situation, a PCI-E v3 4x is essentially equivalent to a PCI-E v2 8x, and 8x vs. 16x (in PCI-E v2) isn't that much of a difference.

 

[ViviTheMage]

yeah, the difference is not going to be worth it .. thought I was going to have to update mobo.

CPU might be my next bottleneck soon .. i5 2500k.

 

[railven]

From what it sounds like, isn't this kind of a non-issue? Even if they enable it, you would need a hefty number of video cards on X79 to use all of the PCI-E lanes. The only reason I could see where you would care about PCI-E v2 vs. v3 is if you're using a lot of video cards with a lower amount of lanes (like you would with the normal Sandy Bridge P/H-6X chipset). In that situation, a PCI-E v3 4x is essentially equivalent to a PCI-E v2 8x, and 8x vs. 16x (in PCI-E v2) isn't that much of a difference.

For people that do compute it will, eventually, make a difference, but from what I've read - people buying GTX 680 aren't buying them for compute purposes.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Remember that even using PCIE 2.0 the GTX 680 will be faster than the 7970 at stock, that extra 0.4 FPS isn't enough to close the gap.

The only reason to pay the extra $50-70 for a 7970 for gaming is if you expect to be able to massively overclock it. "I'm running slower but it's PCIE 3, whee!" is not a good reason.

 

[Destiny]

For Intel Compatiable boards you need to have an Ivy Bridge CPU for it to support true PCI-3.0 with your GTX 680... if you have a Sandy CPU it will only operate at PCI-2.0... still it wouldn't matter much I think because PCI-2.0 is not even fully utilized yet by GPUs so far (Correct me if I am wrong).

 

[railven]

For Intel Compatiable boards you need to have an Ivy Bridge CPU for it to support true PCI-3.0 with your GTX 680... if you have a Sandy CPU it will only operate at PCI-2.0... still it wouldn't matter much I think because PCI-2.0 is not even fully utilized yet by GPUs so far (Correct me if I am wrong).

This thread isn't about 1155 sockets,i t's about 2011 which all have PCIE 3.0 out the gate.

I wonder if that gimped low end SB-E has PCIE on it? It should since it's still a SB-E core? Maybe they did some savings on that end.

 

[VirtualLarry]

X79 supports true PCIE 3.0. Ask anyone who is running a 7970 on one. That's FUD trying to say it does not. Maybe there are some motherboard makers that didn't give true support? No idea, but the Asus mobos sure do.

Did you read the other thread? Intel has pulled support for PCI-E 3.0 from that platform, and now claims it is only PCI-E 2.0.

So no, PCI-E 3.0 is NOT officially supported on that platform. Blame Intel.

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2233372

Btw, people are having issues running 7970 cards on X79 too. BSODs, etc.

 

[Grooveriding]

Did you read the other thread? Intel has pulled support for PCI-E 3.0 from that platform, and now claims it is only PCI-E 2.0.

So no, PCI-E 3.0 is NOT officially supported on that platform. Blame Intel.

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2233372

Btw, people are having issues running 7970 cards on X79 too. BSODs, etc.

Read that now and surprised to hear it because I keep my BIOS updated at all times and PCIE 3.0 is still there and supported.

I have a C2 chip though, as well as a mobo that gets constant updates. Reading that thread it sounds like it happens to some and not to others, also some people said they have switched to Gen2 and still get lockups. It could be an X79 issue. Certainly there is nothing definitive in the thread and Intel is trying to blame mobo makers because they are denying RMAs for the CPUs.

 

[BallaTheFeared]

Intel is trying to blame mobo makers because they are denying RMAs for the CPUs.

Intel has a one failure per generation policy, and 1155 already used it.

 

[Destiny]

This thread isn't about 1155 sockets,i t's about 2011 which all have PCIE 3.0 out the gate.

I wonder if that gimped low end SB-E has PCIE on it? It should since it's still a SB-E core? Maybe they did some savings on that end.

My bad... thanks for the correction...

I saw vivithemage posted a comment about his 1155 board and I jumped the gun...

Either way - it still sucks that they announced it now and not back when the 2011 boards were out...

 

[Rvenger]

Intel has a one failure per generation policy, and 1155 already used it.

lol, I am glad I didn't go X79 after all. I was very close to getting a 3820 for the extra cache and HT. I take it that the SB-E chip has no built in support for PCIe 3.0 and they are switching sockets for IVB-E, right?

 

[blckgrffn]

Haha, X79 losing PCIe 3.0 is the real freaking story here, holy cow.

Besides supporting the shiniest CPUs, that was just about all it had (I know it has more physical lanes...) over 1155. Way to go, Intel.

Now, if AMD just had a PCIe 3 choice at all

lol, I am glad I didn't go X79 after all. I was very close to getting a 3820 for the extra cache and HT. I take it that the SB-E chip has no built in support for PCIe 3.0 and they are switching sockets for IVB-E, right?

You mean Haswell-E, right? Isn't IVB-E dead?

I was thinking of going that route with the 3820 as well. was

 

[Grooveriding]

You mean Haswell-E, right? Isn't IVB-E dead?

I was thinking of going that route with the 3820 as well. was

Not dead, but there is rumour of a delay putting its release just a few months before the release of Haswell.

I would of gotten an IB-E, but not with Haswell coming so soon after its release. I am still sketchy on IVB anyways. With all these early leaks/rumours opening the possibility of IVB being a scorcher when you try for big clocks on it and not being able to take as much voltage as SB. Seems there is a chance it will not clock any higher than SB and possibly only have the benefit of the 10% IPC gain.

 

[Rvenger]

Haha, X79 losing PCIe 3.0 is the real freaking story here, holy cow.

Besides supporting the shiniest CPUs, that was just about all it had (I know it has more physical lanes...) over 1155. Way to go, Intel.

Now, if AMD just had a PCIe 3 choice at all





You mean Haswell-E, right? Isn't IVB-E dead?

I was thinking of going that route with the 3820 as well. was

I don't think IVB-E is dead either, just delayed to the point where the outlook is bleek for an upgrade. Just like Grooveriding mentioned, if IVB turns out to be a scorcher, then I will be getting a 2700k and calling it quits until haswell or a good iteration of Piledriver.

 

[blckgrffn]

I don't think IVB-E is dead either, just delayed to the point where the outlook is bleek for an upgrade. Just like Grooveriding mentioned, if IVB turns out to be a scorcher, then I will be getting a 2700k and calling it quits until haswell or a good iteration of Piledriver.

I see. I think your reasoning makes sense, although I don't see a need to get anything higher than a 2600k

What would make you spend the $$$ for the 2700k? Because it is there, taunting you?

 

[Rvenger]

I see. I think your reasoning makes sense, although I don't see a need to get anything higher than a 2600k

What would make you spend the $$$ for the 2700k? Because it is there, taunting you?

epeen


Waiting for newegg to blow them out for $319 like they did a couple months ago. Then it will be worth it. I want to shoot for 4.8ghz minimum thats why. Hopefully that "better binned" cpu will get me there on low volts.

 

[Edrick]

Did you read the other thread? Intel has pulled support for PCI-E 3.0 from that platform, and now claims it is only PCI-E 2.0.

So no, PCI-E 3.0 is NOT officially supported on that platform. Blame Intel.

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2233372

Btw, people are having issues running 7970 cards on X79 too. BSODs, etc.

That is such BS! Intel is now gimping products after people buy them.

 

[KompuKare]

Haha, X79 losing PCIe 3.0 is the real freaking story here, holy cow.

Besides supporting the shiniest CPUs, that was just about all it had (I know it has more physical lanes...) over 1155. Way to go, Intel.

Not bad going at all! So Intel's R&D budget may be larger than anyone else's but within on year they've had the SB SATA issue, SB-E revision C1 not supporting vt-d and now X79 has lost PCIe 3.0. That's two for chipsets and one for the CPU division. Wonder if there's something in that: I have long considered that Intel's chipset division is mainly dominant due to them patenting their CPU sockets (not quite as useless an 'invention' as inkjet cartridges with patented ink-level chips but similar enough). Now that they no longer have any competition on chipsets they seem to be getting complacent.

Of course for Intel chipset are also a useful place to use previous process nodes lines so they don't have to upgrade all their plants at once.