PCI-e Graphics Card slot location matters?

[Quinnsten]

Hi Guys,

I have a MSI Z97 Gaming 5 with a MSI 980 Ti. I just wanted to know if you can use my middle PCI-e rather than my top PCI-e and my gpu will still run at the same speed as the top port? My issue is that I have a H80i GT and I dont want my GPU that close to my Radiator it is very close as my Case is the HAF XB and I am using my rear 120mm fan slot for my radiator and fans.

Thanks again guys 😀

 

[avenseth12]

Installing into the 2nd PCIe slot should not be a problem. The board slows to 8x/8x when 2 cards are in SLI or xfire

 

[ahnilated]

Look in your owners manual and see if all 4 slots can run at x16 (no, I don't mean at the same time). Normally in those series boards it will auto select the right speed for each slot and run at the max the video card allows or you can select the slot speed.

 

[MarkW]

Most motherboards only feed 8x lanes into the second 16x PCIe slot. That is enough for most video cards, however, as long as you video card in slot 1 is not touching the CPU cooler block, there will be no problem with it there. That is why they have fans.