How can this be? "xpander is the same. it is not x16 x16 x16 x16, it is x8 through all lanes."
When ASUS themselves claim "4 x PCIe2.0 x16 slots support up to full x16/x16/x16/x16 configurations" on the ROG Xpander webpage
http://www.asus.com/product.aspx?P_ID=KoOXpEACBYpT5R3p&templete=2So Brian, if what you say is true then I would only get x8 lanes per card in a 4x SLI configuration no matter what, despite what ASUS claims for the ROG Xpander on their website?
Now if you are correct and this is the case then the Xpander is basically nothing more than a 4x SLI COMPATIBILITY CARD ONLY.
This meaning as a consumer I was lead to believe that the Xpander had a possible performance increase by having more lanes available, but in fact is nothing more than just a 4x SLI COMPATIBILITY add-on daughter card ONLY.
That makes me think it's the biggest waste of money to buy one if I stick with my 3x SLI + 1x gtx 460 for sound/physx and by adding the Xpander I would not benefit from any increase in performance unless I REALLY wanted 4x SLI...
So of course the Xpander is REQUIRED by nVidia for 4x SLI to work at all (which is so lame, thanks nVidia...) and even if I bought one I would still only get x8/x8/x8/x8 and not the "ASUS claimed" x16/x16/x16/x16 lanes.
This is really disheartening to say the least because anyone would be led to believe that the Xpander is capable of the x16/x16/x16/x16 claims as I was. ASUS should state on the web page that when in a 4X SLI config the Xpander will only do x8/x8/x8/x8 in reality.
This is all of course assuming that everything is correct stated by Brian
😉 Oh and I had already read those other forums in search of answers earlier but thanks for the links
🙂After all this discussion though my question STILL stands... Despite the 4x SLI being in x8 on all lanes, I would still like to know if one is NOT using 4x SLI; Does the Xpander have full PCI-E 2.0 x16 lanes usable by the system with NO bottleneck?
From what I gather if Brian is correct stating it will only do x8/x8/x8/x8 while in 4x SLI (which I'm pretty sure he is) then NO MATTER WHAT configuration is plugged into the Xpander ALL CONNECTIONS TO THE CPU in the end only get x8/x8/x8/x8 simply because the x58 chip on the mobo will ONLY allow that configuration with all slots filled on the Xpander with x16 capable cards...
So is ASUS's claims for all four x16 lanes just a marketing gimmick to sell the Xpander? Even if it DOES do what they state then it doesn't matter cuz the x58 chip still only allows 36 lanes.
Please anyone correct me if I'm wrong on any/all this stuff
🙂I'm still confused, and I MUST APOLOGIZE for that, also sorry about the long post everyone
😉