ASRock Z390 Extreme4 LGA 1151 questions

[aafusc2988]

My GPU (RTX 2070) is mounted in the second PCIE slot (labeled PCIE4) on the motherboard. Apparently this is only x8... we mounted it here because my be quiet! Shadow Rock TF2 cooler fin stack is so large and protruding in my NZXT H500 case that I didn't think the GPU would fit in the first PCIE2 (x16) slot. In eyeballing it now, it looks like it may fit but with very minimal space between the top of the GPU and the bottom of the cooler fin stack (I'm guessing less than an inch of space). Is this a problem?

Is it worth mounting my GPU in the x16 from x8? I have seen pics of tests done on this to see FPS performance at 1440p (I am only at 1080p right now) and the difference mostly seemed negligible. From what I have seen, it would not be worth it at this point to even remount. Where it is mounted now is still 1.5 inches from the bottom of the GPU fans to the top of the bottom panel on the case where the holes are (with the PSU underneath). The PSU fan points down and out the bottom of the case so they are not competing for the same air....

I don't know what to do..

I am also wondering as a side note how to change the default lighting and effects on the motherboard? It is a default teal color and it is using a breathing effect. Do I just download the ASRock Polychrome driver from here? I did not use any other peripherals with RGB so it's just the default built-in LED I am trying to change.

https://www.asrock.com/mb/Intel/Z390%20Extreme4/index.asp#Download

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

It will still perform about the same I just pointed out in the other thread that the top was the x16 slot.
https://www.gamersnexus.net/guides/2488-pci-e-3-x8-vs-x16-performance-impact-on-gpus

 

[aafusc2988]

It will still perform about the same I just pointed out in the other thread that the top was the x16 slot.
https://www.gamersnexus.net/guides/2488-pci-e-3-x8-vs-x16-performance-impact-on-gpus

Thanks for helping me.. I'm just sort of freaking out. Spent a lot of money and just don't want anything going wrong. I saw your post there as well. Still trying to get an idea if it's okay for the exposed top of the GPU to be so close to the bottom of the fin stack blades from the cooler. It has to be .5 inches of space... perhaps less. I won't be able to tell until I power down and get the PC on it's side again so I can look straight down.

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

It's enough clearance , but if your not comfortable with it , it's a miniscule performance loss.

 

[aafusc2988]

It's enough clearance , but if your not comfortable with it , it's a miniscule performance loss.

Do you know anything about the lighting effects of this mobo? Do I just download the Polychrome drivers from manufacturer website? I don't like the default teal color and the breathing effect currently. I did no custom peripherals for color. Just trying to change stock LED lighting and effects.

And if I get that driver does this mean I still have to change these effects in the BIOS or is it a separate program for Windows?

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

No, I'm not familiar with the lighting on the board.