Mobo pcie.slots msi z170a m7

[Eyenvu]

Hello ; I am unsure if I have only one graphics card can I use the second metal plated pcie slot and still be at x16 . Because the cpu coolet is so big . Only running one card gtx 980 . Msi z170a m7 . Mobo .

 

[viewtyjoe]

Based on the information I can find, it looks like the it's x16 with one slot, x8/x8 with two, and x8/x8/x4 with all three full-length PCIe slots used.

 

[Leaps-from-Shadows]

If you stick anything at all into the second PCIe x16 slot, the GPU in the first x16 slot will revert to x8 lanes. It isn't that bad, as the actual performance difference between x8 and x16 is 5% or less typically.