SLI x16 or x8

[kekotr]

Hello mates

I have an Asus Maximus IV Extreme-Z and I am thinking about doing a SLI with 2 GTX 580.

But I am wondering if they will run as SLI in x16 or x8. Can someone confirm this for me?

Thanks

[utnorris]

Depends on the slots you use. The Maximus IV has a NF200 chip on it, so technically you could get x16 and x16, but at the cost of lag from the additional NF200 chip, although I doubt you could tell. Keeping that in mind, if you look in your manual it actually suggests which slots to use depending on how many cards you are using. If you use the first slot and any other slot, the first card would be at x8 since it is working off the Intel chipset and the second card would be at either x8 (working off the Intel chipset) or x16 using the NF200 ship. Regardless of how you are going to set it up, the difference between x8 and x16 is maybe 2-3 FPS. I would use the the cards in the slots controlled by the Intel chipset and run them at x8 and x8.

[8 Pack]

The suggested configuration is running off CPU lanes at x8 x8 as the added latencys from the NF200 chip negate all benefits of 16x 16x which is very small anyway. Infact in tests the CPU lanes at 8x 8x are the fastest way to go.

[HiVizMan]

Both cards will run at 8x if you are using the suggested slots.

If you wish to use 16x then the X79 range of motherboards are the only boards that will offer this facility currently.

[kekotr]

Thank you guys for answering. I will check the manual to see what is better.

[8 Pack]

It points out the x8 x8 option is better mate. I have seen that myself and its been tested by many and proved correct.