PCI-E 2.0 x16 GTX 260 on PCI-E 1.0 MBoard?

[Gneus]

Hi everybody, I'm getting a feeling that I screwed myself up pretty bad. Let me clarify.

About 3 weeks ago I got I purchased new components for a new PC built. I'm reusing CD burner and tower only. Running Win7 64bit and backup OS - XP SP2, 4gb 1066 ram, Intel e6300, WD 640GB SataII 32mb cache, 630W PS.

I got GTX 260 OC 896MB by MSI (link if you care to see it). The card has PCI-E 2.0 x16. My new video card arrived 5-6 days ago, but just today I got around gaming with it for the first time.

I noticed that games like COD4 which is over 2 years old game runs kind of slow and with serious lag sometimes. I can't say that I like the performance that the card delivers right now. Batman Arkham Asylum also has some lag at different moments. I do NOT think that the card is bad though.

I thought, it might be driver issue, but nobody really have complained from the new nvidia driver (191.07).

I took a closer look a my MBoard (link here) and it turns out it is PCI-E 1.0 x16 only!!!!!, NOT PCI-E 2.0 x16.

Is it possible such serious a lag in gaming to be due to my board PCI-E 1.0 bandwidth?

Is my MBoard limiting my video card's full potential?


The good news for right now are that I can still return the Mobo and exchange it for PCI-E 2.0 x16 compatible.

Should I do that? Should I change the Mobo while I can?

I will appreciate your comments and suggestions.

 

[rockyjohn]

I never said it would not work only that I don't know. Not all RAM works in all boards - even when it is the right speed. At times it may be even more selective with one model of RAM working most of the time with a particular mobo - but not for everyone.

On my last build I selected off the mobo list and still had problems. It would boot and run, but I had to spend a good part of two days futzing with the timings before I could get a good 8 hour memtest.

 

[Gneus]

That patriot vipet overclocks easy to 1066mhz and has 5-5-5-12. I dont have a clue how to or should i mess with the timings.

 

[rockyjohn]

First. I did not mean to overly alarm you, but simply to state that memory that works in one board does not always work in another. Memory today is fairly generic and certainly compatible with more boards that it used to be. And I had no personal knowledge about your memory.

I did go back and look at the memory compatibility chart for the Gigabyte board and it does list one model of Patriot memory by number that appears to be Viper memory:

http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/FileList/MemorySupport/motherboard_memory_ga-ep43-ud3l.pdf

Is that your memory? However newegg has what appears to be that memory but listed with 5-5-5-15 timings. Normally the last number in timings is the sum of the first three, or a few digits more. 5-5-5-12 sounds strange.

Second, normally you should not have to mess with the timings. I did not have a clue about them either when I ran into the problem with my build. I was walked through changing them - and not the ones that correlate to the 5-5-5-12 of your Patriot - but there are additional memory timings that can be adjusted in the BIOS - by expert help from a person at the Tweaktown forum.

Tweaktown has the official forum for Gigabyte mobos - and I believe their graphics card. The forum is very active and provides expert assistance. I strongly recommend it.

 

[Gneus]

Actually rockyjohn, I was looking at that memory compatibility list right before I saw your post. And yes, that patriot ram listed there under 1066mhz is what I have. I know that it is listed as 5-5-5-15, but with me as with others it runs 5-5-5-12.

I'm actually on the verge of purchasing GIGABYTE GA-EP43-UD3L that you also kind of recommended. It really has nice features. I like 8 USB's on it.....I have bunch of USB devices plugged at all times. I hope it does not have Lan connectivity issues like the one I RMAed not too long ago. I can't wait to see the full power of my gtx260.

 

[rockyjohn]

Good luck. Please let us know how it works - the mobo and the system with the 260

 

[Gneus]

Well, here is the update. Everything good so far. I put the new Gigabyte mobo yesterday and I'm happy. My 3Dmark score went 12681 points. Played COD4 with no hickups at all AAx4. I let the game set optimal performance but it was pretty much set to all max. Very pleased now. I'll try Crysis next because I finished COD4 this night

The new mobo has tons of features for overclocking. I was able to clock my cpu at 4Ghz but it was running kind of hot with the stock fan, so I defaulted it afterward. I was just playing around with EasyTune6(utility program) anyways.

BTW I'm using XP sp3 now only. I can figure out how to get to boot my win7-64bit after installing XP yet.

 

[rockyjohn]

Congratulations - I bet you feel a bit relieved and more relaxed.

 

[Gneus]

Yes, i do feel way more relaxed and happy now. Yesterday i was trying to play Crysis but the game crashed on me once and the the whole machine crashed when i continued. Hehe....turned out i got the cpu overclocked to 4.10Ghz from 2.8Ghz. Lowered it down a bit and now i have no complains. This video card is a monster! Huge dual fan, monster!