GTX 980 running at PCI-e 4X not 16X

[Plekhanov]

Hi all,

I recently installed an MSI GTX 980 Gaming in my system which has an MSI Z87-GD65 Gaming motherboard. However, on checking the Bios board explorer and GPU-Z the link width is running at just 4X and not 16X.

I've tried flashing the Bios and also the render test on GPU-Z but it doesn't increase when under load.

It seems fishy to me. Am I right in thinking that something is wrong?

 

[Rapajez]

Check your Mobo manual, and be sure you're plugged into the x16 slot. It's usually the one closest to the CPU.

 

[Plekhanov]

Yes it's in the correct slot and the other two are X 8 slots anyway. I guess I'll have to tey remounting again tomorrow but I just wondered if theae cards have a power saving feature or something that limits the link width maybe.

 

[Rapajez]

Possibly. Can you run GPU-Z while a game is open in another window?

You can check the PCI Express Link State Power Management: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/292971-pcie-link-state-power-management-turn-off-windows.html

Might be dumb questions, but are all the latest drivers installed on the mobo? Is the BIOS/UEFI flashed to the latest version? Are you running the latest NVIDIA driver, from their websites (not the one Windows try's to auto-install).

 

[Plekhanov]

Yep I fresh installed the nvidia drivers and have flashed the bios. I've also tried running the benchmark on rome 2 on extreme and checked gpu-z but no change. 🙁

 

[garrickaking]

Interestingly enough I had this same problem on my Z77 Sabertooth with a GTX 680. I ended up RMAing the card after about 2 weeks, received a new one, and had the exact same experience. I messed with that card for another 2 weeks trying to figure it out, and then sent it back for a GTX 660 and a refund. I still suspect it had something to do with a bad Z77 Sabertooth rather than the cards though, and EVGA suggested it might be the PCIe slot on the mobo. The 660 always ran great though.

P.S. now I'm running a Z87 Sabertooth and a GTX 760... I didn't learn my lesson. The Sabertooth looks too cool.

EDIT: worth noting that I also did the driver uninstalls/reinstalls, flashed bios, tried all the other PCIe slots in every mode etc.

 

[Plekhanov]

I have tried uninstalling and removing the card, then remounting and reinstalling drivers but still no change. I have now tried to contact MSI but their online help is down until the 7th because of Chinese national day or something...

I thought that two MSI Gaming products would be ultimately compatible but I think maybe my motherboard is screwed... 🙁

 

[Rapajez]

It might just be the way it's reporting the speed, and you're actually running x16 fine.

If you run benchmarks, does it compare to similar configurations? Futuremark benchmarks have a quick compare button to compare your results against users with similar layouts (keep in mind that those user's could have overclocked, mod'd etc)

 

[flankerb]

Rapajez, it is probably not. I experienced the same issue with my gtx 970 on asrock z97 Extreme4. Moved to a different pciexpress modular cable and another connector on the modular psu and also added just in case that molex cable connected to the molex port just above pcix slots on my mother board (some extra juice for the pci-express lanes) and it now is detected as full 16x PCI-ex. 3.0