Question Riser Cards and PCI 3.0/4.0 Question

g-unit1111

Titan
Moderator
So I'm going to be getting ready to build my system soon and I'm using the riser card that came with my Node 202 to my motherboard (Asus ROG B550-I). However I read that in order to get the maximum performance you need a PCI riser card that is capable of running 4.0 speeds. Is that true or not, and do I need to buy one with my setup?

Here's the build that I am going with:

Case: Fractal Design Node 202 (bought)
PSU: Fractal Design Ion SFX 650 (bought)
Motherboard: Asus ROG B550i (bought)
CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 5600X (purchasing ASAP)
HD 1: WD Black SN750 1TB (bought)
HD2: Intel 665p 1TB (bought)
RAM: 32GB G. Skill Ripjaw V DDR4-3600 (bought)
GPU: EVGA RTX 2070 (reusing from previous rig)
OS: Windows 10 Home (purchasing ASAP)
 
You will be fine with the PCIe 3.0 riser card/adapter, though you will need an older PCIe 3.0 PU to enable PCIe 3.0 in BIOS as opposed to PCIe 4.0, then shutdown, then swap the PCIe 3.0 GPU for a PCIe 4.0 GPU and then get back into the system for installing the OS.

^ I just wrote that out...if you're going to be using the RTX3000 series cards. For now, you're going to be fine as is.
 
Yep, just a thing to keep in mind for the future. Probably be PCIe 5.0 risers available when you decide to upgrade GPUs next.
Risers may not be possible with PCIe 5.0. The total signal length keeps getting shorter and shorter with each generation as the clock speed increases. It may require that the card be plugged directly into the motherboard to get 5.0 speeds.
 
So I'm going to be getting ready to build my system soon and I'm using the riser card that came with my Node 202 to my motherboard (Asus ROG B550-I). However I read that in order to get the maximum performance you need a PCI riser card that is capable of running 4.0 speeds. Is that true or not, and do I need to buy one with my setup?

Here's the build that I am going with:

Case: Fractal Design Node 202 (bought)
PSU: Fractal Design Ion SFX 650 (bought)
Motherboard: Asus ROG B550i (bought)
CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 5600X (purchasing ASAP)
HD 1: WD Black SN750 1TB (bought)
HD2: Intel 665p 1TB (bought)
RAM: 32GB G. Skill Ripjaw V DDR4-3600 (bought)
GPU: EVGA RTX 2070 (reusing from previous rig)
OS: Windows 10 Home (purchasing ASAP)

Not while using a PCIe 3.0 GPU it, a 4.0 riser is a waste of money.

You don't even need to force it to 3.0 in the BIOS prior to install like Lutfij mentioned, only if you were attempting to use a PCIe 4.0 GPU.
 
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Risers may not be possible with PCIe 5.0. The total signal length keeps getting shorter and shorter with each generation as the clock speed increases. It may require that the card be plugged directly into the motherboard to get 5.0 speeds.

That's not possible with a Node 202 or any similar ITX case like mine.+

^ I just wrote that out...if you're going to be using the RTX3000 series cards. For now, you're going to be fine as is.

I don't think a RTX 3000 series could fit in my case, LOL. Maybe the 3060, but not a 3070 or 3080.
 
I actually tried 3060 in this case and reverted back to 2080, blower cards are ideal for itx builds...
Other thought: the angle extender that comes with it barely adds an inch so I would not mind trying it as 4.0 and shake the tree ))
P.S you did not list a cooler, I tried many and the best was Scythe Shuriken, had to trim RAM grille to fit things in.
 
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