All Programs are reading a PCIE 3.0 x8 link width for a PCIE 3.0 x16 Motherboard

Hi all,
So i currently use an AsRock H61M-VG4 (http://www.asrock.com/mb/Intel/H61M-VG4/).
CPU-Z says i have a PCIE 3.0 x8 link width running, which is normal because my graphics card has only a x8 interface (Sapphire Radeon RX460 Nitro 4gb).
However, in Max Supported tab, it also reads a PCIE 3.0 x8, instead of PCIE 3.0 x16, that is supposed to be according to the manufacturer.
GPU-Z also says that i am running in PCIE 3.0 x8, that normally drops at 1.1 when there is no stress for power saving. Running the featured benchmark will not show whether i have a x16 slot, since the card is a x8, right?
Radeon Settings also give the same reading.
Just out of curiosity, is it normal then that when plugging a x8 graphics card, that all programs give this reading? I know that PCIE 3.0 x8 can handle almost every card i just want to understand. Is it because the rest of the pins are not in contact, and thus the software cannot see them?
 
Solution


Most cards have all x16 pins whether they need them or not, this card strangely doesn't have them. No contact = no slot speed detection.
Are you aware that PCIe 3.0 is roughly double the theoretical bandwidth of PCIe 2.0?

PCIe 3.0 x8 is roughly the same as PCIe 2.0 x16. Your programs are probably so new that they're measuring in 3.0 bandwidth instead of 2.0 bandwidth. To get 2.0 bandwidth, multiply the number of lanes by 2. Example: PCIe 3.0 x8. Multiply 8 by 2 to get 16. 8 PCIe 3.0 lanes is roughly the same amount of theoretical bandwidth (not including overhead and other traffic) as 16 PCIe 2.0 lanes.
 


First of all thanks for the fast response. My PCIE is x16 and is running at 3.0. My question is why CPU-Z says i have a max supported of PCIE 3.0 x8 and NOT x16. Is it because my graphics card has only x8 link width?
 


Asus pulled this crap too with their Sabertooth 990FX V3 or whatever it was called.

Your board may be equipped with PCIe 3.0 capabilities, but it's running at PCIe 2.0 speeds because that's all the H61 chipset offers. http://ark.intel.com/products/52806/Intel-H61-Express-Chipset

What CPU do you have?
 


Hmm, now i remember. I just opened my mobo manual. It clearly states that "PCIE 3.0 is only supported with Intel Ivy Bridge CPU. With Intel Sandy Bridge CPU, it only supports PCIE 2.0. My CPU is Ivy definitely. I have an i-5 3340 (i think its 3450 series) at 3.1 (3rd gen, Ivy).
Just to sort it out, as i said all programs are correctly identifying a 3.0 speed (CPU-Z, GPU-Z, Radeon Settings).
The problem that i have is that CPU-Z is stating that my Max Supported link width is PCIE 3.0 x8 and not PCIE 3.0 x16. Again, could it be because i am using a x8 graphics card? (it has 8 lanes, not 16)

 


It is possible that your graphics card is making BIOS turn off the other 8 lanes, so that could be right there. Either way, if it's stable and performs as intended, I wouldn't worry about this little hiccup.
 


I don;t know how exactly x8 and x16 is measured but if you follow this picture you can see that about half of the lanes are missing! (no need to be disabled by bios, but you had a nice guess)
https://www.google.gr/search?q=sapphire+radeon+rx+460+nitro+pcie&client=firefox-b&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj77ojn9eXSAhWBHpoKHZKIC5YQ_AUICCgB&biw=1760&bih=888#imgrc=M7fYEiRo618lkM:
This is all i can guess too, therefore
 


Ok thank you. It does make sense
 


I always thought it measured by the slot, not the card. I always learn something when I hang out with the mods :)
 


Most cards have all x16 pins whether they need them or not, this card strangely doesn't have them. No contact = no slot speed detection.
 
Solution


I had the same thought and there we go :)
 


I walk the land....


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