GTX 970 isn't running in PCI-E 16x mode

[hedfones]

I recently got an ASUS Geforce GTX 970 and it isn't running in PCI-E 16x mode, just 8x and I was wondering what I need to do to get it to run at its full capacity. Does running in 16x vs 8x even make a difference? What kind of performance am I losing, if any?

Via CPUZ:

====================================
Chipset
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Northbridge Intel Ivy Bridge rev. 09
Southbridge Intel Z77 rev. 04
Graphic Interface PCI-Express
PCI-E Link Width x8
PCI-E Max Link Width x16
Memory Type DDR3
Memory Size 32 GBytes
Channels Dual
Memory Frequency 799.9 MHz (1:6)
CAS# latency (CL) 9.0
RAS# to CAS# delay (tRCD) 11
RAS# Precharge (tRP) 11
Cycle Time (tRAS) 29
Command Rate (CR) 2T
Host Bridge 0x0150

====================================
Description VGA Controller
Location bus 2 (0x02), device 0 (0x00), function 0 (0x00)
Common header
Vendor ID 0x10DE
Model ID 0x13C2
Revision ID 0xA1
PI 0x00
SubClass 0x00
BaseClass 0x03
Cache Line 0x10
Latency 0x00
Header 0x80
PCI header
Address 0 (memory) 0xF6000000
Address 1 (memory) 0xE0000000
Address 3 (memory) 0xF0000000
Address 5 (port) 0x0000E000
Subvendor ID 0x1043
Subsystem ID 0x8508
Int. Line 0x11
Int. Pin 0x01
PCI capability
Caps class Power Management
Caps offset 0x60
Caps version 1.2
PCI capability
Caps class Message Signalled Interrupts
Caps offset 0x68
PCI capability
Caps class PCI Express
Caps offset 0x78
Device type Legacy PCI-E Endpoint Device
Port 1
Version 2.0
Link width 8x (max 16x)

==================================

Display adapter 1
Name NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970
Board Manufacturer ASUSTeK Computer Inc.
Revision A1
Codename GM204
Technology 28 nm
Memory size 4 GB
Memory type GDDR5
PCI device bus 2 (0x2), device 0 (0x0), function 0 (0x0)
Vendor ID 0x10DE (0x1043)
Model ID 0x13C2 (0x8508)
Performance Level 0
Core clock 1348.7 MHz
Memory clock 3004.7 MHz

Win32_VideoController AdapterRAM = 0xFFF00000 (4293918720)
Win32_VideoController AdapterRAM = 0x84000000 (2214592512)
Win32_VideoController DriverVersion = 10.18.13.6191
Win32_VideoController DriverVersion = 10.18.10.3958
Win32_VideoController DriverDate = 02/08/2016
Win32_VideoController DriverDate = 09/30/2014

 

[JohnBonhamsGhost]

make sure it is installed to a 16x PCIe slot. check motherboard manual for an image or the board itself for 16x stamp near the slots.
i have run cards on 8x before when there was no room / something covering the 16x slot. i didn't notice a difference but that was quite a few years ago with weaker generation of cards.

 

[bailojustin]

if you crossfire or sli it will run in x8. If its a solo card it will run x16, if its not running x16 then you should check your power cables to the graphics card as these are what also powers the x16. check all the power connections to the motherboard aswell. If still no avail read your MOBO manual to figure out which slot you need to put it in.

Also remember that when utilizing the other pci-e slots you can actually reduce gpu performance by using other components in the slot dependent on the power the consume.

 

[rcald2000]

What is your motherboard model #? Can you post a photo of the inside of your build?

 

[flankerb]

I had the same problem with my gtx970 (asus strix series) on asrock z97 Extreme 4 mobo. Then I noticed that the mobo has a molex power connector right above pci-x connectors! Pluged an extra modular molex cable to my psu and then to the mobo-now my gtx 970 utilizes the full 16x width of the pcix lane. I've read the molex connector is supposed to be used for extra power for pci express lanes in case of crossfire configuration with a bit more power hungry amd graphic cards (like r9 280x, 290 or 290x) but it was also the case with my single gtx970.