Motherboard for SLI

[atos28]

Hey guys,

What is the best motherboard with the MOST space separating the top and bottom card. I have an 4790k cpu so the lga 1150 socket is the one I will be using.

 

[geofelt]

I don't know about MOST separation, but I think this ASUS has more than the minimum separation:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813132125

What graphics cards are you thinking of?

For dual cards, I would think first of using blower coolers that get heat out of the case more easily.

 

[atos28]

I don't know about MOST separation, but I think this ASUS has more than the minimum separation:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813132125

What graphics cards are you thinking of?

For dual cards, I would think first of using blower coolers that get heat out of the case more easily.

I've already purchase the gtx 980 reference coolers (blower) i have all pc parts ready just need the motherboard, i was thinking of the Gigabyte Z97X-GAMING-GT so i can put the gpu's in any slot, what do you think?

 

[MarkW]

I finally found a Z97 motherboard that uses triple slot spacing.

ASUS Z97-E LGA 1150 Intel Z97 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
https://www.asus.com/us/Motherboards/Z97E/

 

[MarkW]

The Gigabyte Z97X-GAMING-GT uses every other slot.

 

[atos28]

I finally found a Z97 motherboard that uses triple slot spacing.

ASUS Z97-E LGA 1150 Intel Z97 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
https://www.asus.com/us/Motherboards/Z97E/

cheers mark! sorry for bombarding with questions, but does that motherboard have more slot spacing than the asus maximus vii ranger? as my friend has that one and it looks very similar :/ also which motherboard is better Asus Z97-E or the Gigabyte Z97X-GAMING-GT

 

[geofelt]

Looking at the gigabyte, only two slots are X16, read the motherboard manual to see where those slots are.
I think it would be OK.
The ASUS I linked jumped out at me because the two separated slots were red.
Regardless, X8/X8 is no important difference.

Actually, I think you will have no issue with the cards with the blower coolers, even if they were adjacent.
GTX980 is not an overly hot card to begin with.

A good case might be more important.
What is your case.

 

[atos28]

Looking at the gigabyte, only two slots are X16, read the motherboard manual to see where those slots are.
I think it would be OK.
The ASUS I linked jumped out at me because the two separated slots were red.
Regardless, X8/X8 is no important difference.

Actually, I think you will have no issue with the cards with the blower coolers, even if they were adjacent.
GTX980 is not an overly hot card to begin with.

A good case might be more important.
What is your case.

I was thinking of getting the corsair 780t case or nzxt 820 case, still havnt decided but one will be purchase tomorrow

 

[geofelt]

Either case will have good airflow.
Two 140mm or one 200mm intake is sufficient.
The intake can be filtered, keeping your case free of dust.
Just do not use much, if anything in the way of exhaust fans or you will draw in unfiltered air.
A single 120mm exhaust in the rear is sufficient to direct the airflow.

 

[MarkW]

The Gigabyte Z97X-GAMING-GT uses every other slot, and you want triple slot spacing,

Looking at the Asus MAXIMUS VII RANGER, it seems that the slot next to the first 16x slot is not there, and then the next slot over is a 1x slot. So yes, it too is a triple slot board.

The Asus Z97-E is very likely more expensive than the Ranger since it is a larger motherboard. So if I were you, doing what you want to do, I would buy the ranger.

 

[i7Baby]

Triple slots will be x8/x4/x4. nVidia wouldn't want you putting one of their cards in there.

The exception might be the ASRock Z97 Extreme - http://www.asrock.com/mb/Intel/Z97%20Extreme9/?cat=Specifications - that can do 4 slots at x8 thanks to a PLX PEX 8747 chip.

For more than 2 cards, the usual way to go is with X99.

 

[MarkW]

He only wants to run 2 cards.

 

[i7Baby]

Why 3 slots then?

 

[atos28]

Triple slots will be x8/x4/x4. nVidia wouldn't want you putting one of their cards in there.

The exception might be the ASRock Z97 Extreme - http://www.asrock.com/mb/Intel/Z97%20Extreme9/?cat=Specifications - that can do 4 slots at x8 thanks to a PLX PEX 8747 chip.

For more than 2 cards, the usual way to go is with X99.

Yes, i decided to go with the gigabyte z97 gaming gt motherboard because it can run all slots at 8x/8x/8x/8x and therefore i can put 1 GPU in the first slot and the 2nd GPU in the 4th slot which will create a huge gap for cooling

 

[MarkW]

You know you could have done the same thing with those 2 Asus motherboards that have their PCie slots 3 slots apart.... And those motherboards have to cost less than any motherboard with Plex switches. Not to even mention the latency that the Plex switches add to the second video card...

 

[i7Baby]

This one - http://www.gigabyte.com.au/products/product-page.aspx?pid=4969#sp?

I gather its got a similar setup to the ASRock Extreme 9.

I don't know how they fit so many slots in atx mobos. You'd wonder if it'd be a bit squashy.

 

[atos28]

You know you could have done the same thing with those 2 Asus motherboards that have their PCie slots 3 slots apart.... And those motherboards have to cost less than any motherboard with Plex switches. Not to even mention the latency that the Plex switches add to the second video card...

I am not sure on how I can explain this to you, but i have made a photo with arrows for to explain to you.

this is the Asus maximus vii ranger (8x/4x/x4)

on this board i CANNOT use the BOTTOM for my 2nd card because it will be 4x

Here is the gigabyte z97x gaming gt (8x/8x/8x/x8 <--- because 4x 16x PCIE lanes)

I can USE the top and 4th slot and even the top and 3rd slot, the top and 3rd slot looks like a bigger gap than the one on the asus maximus vii ranger already but i can go EVEN further to top and 4th slot.

 

[MarkW]

Scroll back up and look at the Z97-E picture I posted. It does exactly what you want.

 

[i7Baby]

Not much choice then - either that or the ASRock.

 

[atos28]

Scroll back up and look at the Z97-E picture I posted. It does exactly what you want.

Look mark, i made another diagram for Asus Z97-E. This one is still only 2 (TWO) PCIE ports! but the gigabyte yet again HAS 4 USABLE ANY SLOT. The spacing on this one is the same as the VII Ranger and its not what i want. gigabyte has much bigger spacing even when you use the 3rd slot ( that means 1st and 3rd slot)

here is a diagram

 

[i7Baby]

Why do you want a big gap?

 

[atos28]

Why do you want a big gap?

for cooling, so the GPU on top doesn't run 10-20 degrees hotter and because I can't afford liquid cooling for them, this is much cheaper the noise of the fan was annoying me so much (the gpu fan, the case one i dont mind) but it goes crazy haha

 

[i7Baby]

The gap won't do much to alleviate the temperature differential. The top card works harder for a start. And the heat from the bottom card still rises.

980Tis won't be any worse than my 670s - currently sitting (idle) at 30C top and 26C bottom.