Question GTX 770 not running at x16

May 8, 2025
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Specs:
Windows 10 Home 64bit
MSI PC Mate z97 Motherboard
Intel i7 4790
16Gb DDR3 Ram 1600
GTX 770 EVGA FTW 4GB DDR5
1TB SSD
500GB SSD

So I built an older rig for some older gaming like Fallout 3 and stuff but I noticed with GPUz that my 770 was running at "PCIe x16 3.0 @ x8 1.1(3.0 with render test)"

It says my GPU is x16 but running at x8

Does this motherboard support full x16 because of the crossfire support of x4/x4. Im assuming X4/X4- 1 GPU is x8....

Any takers?
 
Welcome to the forums, newcomer!

MSI PC Mate z97 Motherboard
Is this;
https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/Z97-PC-Mate/Specification
the motherboard you're working with? If so, BIOS version for your motherboard at this moment of time?

You forgot to mention the make, model and age of the PSU in your build. Open up HWInfo and see if the speed for your GPU changes when the GPU is taxed.
Yes that is the motherboard. Latest Bios installed.

PSU is Corsair CX750M about 1 year old

I have the GPU hook up with 2 separate PCIe cables. 1 with 8xpin another with x6 pin. Instead on 1 cable.
 
Try the second pcie slot. If it still reports as 8x there try clean graphics card slot contacts with isopropyl and lint free qtips. Likewise for the first pcie slot if second slot functions properly.
Tried this. Same results. If I use 1 pcie cable the gpu only uses and 180 watts. 77% TDP. If I was 2x pcie cable hwinfo reports over 200% tdp…..513w lol. GPUz says 200w at 83% TDP
 
- Support x16, x4/x4 modes, a bit odd that 8x/4x also isn't supported, but shouldn't cause you to see 8x only.

4x/4x is just how crossfire would work. Since it couldn't be 8x/8x in that board for Crossfire or SLI.

Could be the motherboard or could be the GPU, and the GPU seems like it may be having other problems. And the rest of the system is fairly dated as well. Sounds like it is time to move on.

i7-4790 is not difficult to equal on the cheap. Not a great time to be looking for GPUs though.

GTX 1650 Super would equal a GTX 770 and then some. RTX 3050 6GB is the cheapest Nvidia worth getting, and it is overpriced at $200. There is an Intel B580 12GB for $310 right now. RX 7600 for $300 as well.

Used market is your best bet for a GPU.

CPU could be an Intel 12700K / 12700KF, or a 13600K/14600K depending on what you could spend.

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: Intel Core i3-13100 3.4 GHz Quad-Core Processor ($120.00 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Gigabyte Z790 S WIFI DDR4 (rev. 1.0) ATX LGA1700 Motherboard ($119.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws V 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR4-3600 CL18 Memory ($52.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: ONIX LUMI OC Arc B580 12 GB Video Card ($309.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $602.97
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2025-05-09 14:14 EDT-0400
 
Why are you talking about pcie cable? I meant slot on the motherboard. Unless you meant as an additional measure that you have tried then ok, i don't know.

Why are you talking about pcie cable? I meant slot on the motherboard. Unless you meant as an additional measure that you have tried then ok, i don't know.
Just like the GTX 1080 TI or let’s say an older 7990 you would want to run 2 PCI express cables to the GPU instead of piggybacking off of one.
 
- Support x16, x4/x4 modes, a bit odd that 8x/4x also isn't supported, but shouldn't cause you to see 8x only.

4x/4x is just how crossfire would work. Since it couldn't be 8x/8x in that board for Crossfire or SLI.

Could be the motherboard or could be the GPU, and the GPU seems like it may be having other problems. And the rest of the system is fairly dated as well. Sounds like it is time to move on.

i7-4790 is not difficult to equal on the cheap. Not a great time to be looking for GPUs though.

GTX 1650 Super would equal a GTX 770 and then some. RTX 3050 6GB is the cheapest Nvidia worth getting, and it is overpriced at $200. There is an Intel B580 12GB for $310 right now. RX 7600 for $300 as well.

Used market is your best bet for a GPU.

CPU could be an Intel 12700K / 12700KF, or a 13600K/14600K depending on what you could spend.

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: Intel Core i3-13100 3.4 GHz Quad-Core Processor ($120.00 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Gigabyte Z790 S WIFI DDR4 (rev. 1.0) ATX LGA1700 Motherboard ($119.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws V 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR4-3600 CL18 Memory ($52.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: ONIX LUMI OC Arc B580 12 GB Video Card ($309.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $602.97
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2025-05-09 14:14 EDT-0400
I don’t think the GPU have any issues because I scored higher FPS on unigine haven 4.0 then most 770s that aren’t overcooked past the manufacturer