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EX58A-UD3R SLI + PCI slot question

ponei

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EX58A-UD3R SLI + PCI slot question
« on: October 25, 2010, 06:06:02 pm »
Ello! I was looking into purchasing the EX58A-UD3R but before I do I have a question about the PCIe slots: this board has 4 PCIe slots and 1 PCI. If you use the top PCIe slot for a GTX460 graphics card then the card covers the PCIe slot beneath it. If you then stick a second card in the 3rd PCIe slot it will cover the normal PCI slot making it impossible to use a PCI card.

Now I have a PCI soundcard that I don't want to replace so I was wondering if there would be any problem inserting the second graphics card in the bottom most PCIe slot instead of the third one so the PCI slot could be used for the sound card? Seeing as the bottom slot has 8 lanes instead of 16 would that make a big performance impact? And does the SLI bridge provided with the motherboard (if there is one at all) fit this gap or was it made for a smaller gap? Are there even bridges of that size available?

Dark Mantis

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Re: EX58A-UD3R SLI + PCI slot question
« Reply #1 on: October 25, 2010, 06:13:37 pm »
Hi and welcome to the Gigabyte Forum.

As far as I know there is no reason apart from the bus width to stop you using the x8 PCIE slot. It really wont make that much difference speed wise anyway and there are longer bridges available.
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ponei

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Re: EX58A-UD3R SLI + PCI slot question
« Reply #2 on: October 25, 2010, 06:43:13 pm »
Thank you very much sir :) I'll get the board, loved my old P35-DS4 and from what I've read the UD3R won't disappoint.