Will 2 GTX 660's in SLI, run on PCI 2.0 (x8/x8)

[matrik3000]

I am slowly buying parts to build my first PC and I currently have an EVGA P67 SLI motherboard and am looking to buy a GPU to put in it. I am torn between getting a 560ti and a 660 (Both MSI Twin FROZR) and the only deciding factor is if I can run SLI with the 660.

I know PCI 3.0 cards (like the 660) run fine in 2.0 slots, but if I go SLI then the cards would only be running in x8/x8 in PCI 2.0, the equivilent of PCI 3.0 x4/x4.

Will I be bottle necking the 660's if I run with this configuration?



PC Specs sans GPU

CPU - Intel i7 2600k

MOBO - EVGA P67 SLI

PSU - CoolerMaster Silent Pro Hybrid 850W

RAM - Munchkin Enhanced Radioactive 16 GB (4x4GB) DDR3 1600

HDD - Seagate 2TB

SSD(for OS) - Samsung 830 series 64GB

OS - Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit - SP1

 

[clutchc]

If your board can do x8 x8 SLI, you won't notice any difference. The PCIe 2.0 bandwidth at x8 is more than those cards will be able to saturate. I don't think any card is available yet that can saturate the x8 bandwidth of PCIe 2.0.

As far as choosing between the 2 cards, I would go for the newer 660's. Yes, they both do SLI, if that is what you are asking.

 

[matrik3000]

If your board can do x8 x8 SLI, you won't notice any difference. The PCIe 2.0 bandwidth at x8 is more than those cards will be able to saturate. I don't think any card is available yet that can saturate the x8 bandwidth of PCIe 2.0.

As far as choosing between the 2 cards, I would go for the newer 660's. Yes, they both do SLI, if that is what you are asking.

Thanks. 😀 I knew that both could do SLI, I was just worried about bottle necking because the 660's are "3.0" cards, and although I knew that I could run one no problem in a 2.0 slot at x16, I was worried that it would bottle neck at x8 when I put in SLI.

 

[matrik3000]

Best answer selected by matrik3000.