Pcie slots for GPU

TheValeyard

My old Pcie slot for my 1080 will not fit my new GPU. It hits off against the USB hub on the motherboard.

Does it really matter if I install a GPU on another slot that fits, or will I be doing damage?

Bios looks like this

TheValeyard

Screenshot of it

Homelander

It's running on an 8x lane rather than 16x though this should be pretty much fine unless you have an RTX3080, even then you would have slight but not big performance loss.

According to the bios you have another 16x slot free though. Might as well put it in that.

TheValeyard

Homelander wrote: »

It's running on an 8x lane rather than 16x though this should be pretty much fine unless you have an RTX3080, even then you would have slight but not big performance loss.

According to the bios you have another 16x slot free though. Might as well put it in that.

I'd my dedicated audio card in that. Currently moving things around without trying to destroy my cable management. Since I've had kids I'm convinced my brain has gone to mush with PC things.

SickBoy

TheValeyard wrote: »

My old Pcie slot for my 1080 will not fit my new GPU. It hits off against the USB hub on the motherboard.

Does it really matter if I install a GPU on another slot that fits, or will I be doing damage?

Bios looks like this

Can you take a few pics of what you're running into?
I doesn't make sense to me.

Homelander

It does, I think he means the GPU is so long that it's overshadowing the USB3 header. One some motherboards the header is vertical not horizontal, so bigger cards can cause this issue.

Only solution is a different slot, or just sacrifice your USB3 ports on the front of the case (or get a pci-e USB3 card).

SickBoy

Homelander wrote: »

It does, I think he means the GPU is so long that it's overshadowing the USB3 header. One some motherboards the header is vertical not horizontal, so bigger cards can cause this issue.

Only solution is a different slot, or just sacrifice your USB3 ports on the front of the case (or get a pci-e USB3 card).

Oh I get you now.
I'd sacrifice the front USB then

TheValeyard

I must be very thick or something.
I moved it to slot three, but it doesn't see it as slot three in Bios?

JoyPad

Homelander wrote: »

It does, I think he means the GPU is so long that it's overshadowing the USB3 header. One some motherboards the header is vertical not horizontal, so bigger cards can cause this issue.

Only solution is a different slot, or just sacrifice your USB3 ports on the front of the case (or get a pci-e USB3 card).

The USB3 cable is a joke, really. You do cable management the best you can, and then the USB3 cable sticks out. Why can't they make it horizontal, like the SATA ones?

My son's new motherboard has it next to the ATX 24pin power connector.

MidlanderMan

move your GPU to slot 1, more your sound card somewhere else.

TheValeyard

MidlanderMan wrote: »

move your GPU to slot 1, more your sound card somewhere else.

Cant use slot one, that was the original problem. I could with my 1080ti, but the 3090 cant fit because the USB connectors and ethernet cable located there. Wonder would be safe to remove the plastic casing. It literally just needs an extra 1-3 mil to fit.

MidlanderMan

TheValeyard wrote: »

Cant use slot one, that was the original problem. I could with my 1080ti, but the 3090 cant fit because the USB connectors and ethernet cable located there. Wonder would be safe to remove the plastic casing. It literally just needs an extra 1-3 mil to fit.

Get and adaptor and vertically mount it with a riser so you can use the 16x slot?

You're bottlenecking yourself.

TheValeyard

MidlanderMan wrote: »

Get and adaptor and vertically mount it with a riser so you can use the 16x slot?

You're bottlenecking yourself.

Might be best solution.

Something like this?

https://www.amazon.com/Phanteks-PH-VGPUKT_02-Universal-Vertical-Pci/dp/B07MW73HTJ/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=vertical+gpu+mount&qid=1604333444&sr=8-3

MidlanderMan

TheValeyard wrote: »

Might be best solution.

Something like this?

https://www.amazon.com/Phanteks-PH-VGPUKT_02-Universal-Vertical-Pci/dp/B07MW73HTJ/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=vertical+gpu+mount&qid=1604333444&sr=8-3

Yeah, if it's compatible with your case it would be a decent solution. Can look really cool too.

K.O.Kiki

TheValeyard wrote: »

I must be very thick or something.
I moved it to slot three, but it doesn't see it as slot three in Bios?

What motherboard model do you have?

It's possible that you have too many drives & thus some of your PCIe slots are no longer functional.

JoyPad wrote: »

The USB3 cable is a joke, really. You do cable management the best you can, and then the USB3 cable sticks out. Why can't they make it horizontal, like the SATA ones?

My X570 Tomahawk has 1x side-mounted USB3 port (below the SATA ports).

TheValeyard

K.O.Kiki wrote: »

What motherboard model do you have?

It's possible that you have too many drives & thus some of your PCIe slots are no longer functional.



My X570 Tomahawk has 1x side-mounted USB3 port (below the SATA ports).

Im using an Axus x-99 Rampage V Extreme.

And yes, I am using five SSD and One HDD on the system.

MidlanderMan

Are you using the USB3 connector at the bottom of the board too? Do you need all the USB3 ports? there's 10 gen 3 ports and 2 gen 2 on the back like?

minitrue

Ethernet cable in the way?

For the usb 3 perhaps a 90 degree adapter would be enough to get it out of the way? Something like https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tangxi-Motherboard-Header-Degree-Internal-default/dp/B07XF6D5FJ (packs of 5s seem to be common on Amazon with singles about as expensive from my quick glance).

TheValeyard

MidlanderMan wrote: »

Are you using the USB3 connector at the bottom of the board too? Do you need all the USB3 ports? there's 11 gen 3 ports on the back like?

Actually also have a usb 3.1 card in a slot at the back too. Using that for keyboard and mouse.

Suppose I could remove that. Am using a fair few slots at the back, since the ones at the front (four of them, are been used, regularly)

TheValeyard

K.O.Kiki wrote: »

What motherboard model do you have?

It's possible that you have too many drives & thus some of your PCIe slots are no longer functional.



My X570 Tomahawk has 1x side-mounted USB3 port (below the SATA ports).

Very similar layout to mine alright.

MidlanderMan

your board is weird af

slots 1, 2, 4, and 5 are x16. slot 4 and 5 will show as slots 16x_3 and 16x_4 on the bios and slot 3 will show as 4x_1.

So confusing.

any of the red slots will be fine to use, but it would be better in theory to use 16x_1

TheValeyard

MidlanderMan wrote: »

your board is weird af

slots 1, 2, 4, and 5 are x16. slot 4 and 5 will show as slots 16x_3 and 16x_4 on the bios and slot 3 will show as 4x_1.

So confusing.

any of the red slots will be fine to use, but it would be better in theory to use 16x_1

Yeah, sorry if I'm not been clear about this. Been consulting the manual and everything. It's in slot 3 now, should I just put it back in slot two for the moment until I can fit it into slot one or get a vertical mount?

MidlanderMan

TheValeyard wrote: »

Yeah, sorry if I'm not been clear about this. Been consulting the manual and everything. It's in slot 3 now, should I just put it back in slot two for the moment until I can fit it into slot one or get a vertical mount?

slot 3 (black slot?) is x4. it's the worst slot to use.

TheValeyard

MidlanderMan wrote: »

slot 3 (black slot?) is x4. it's the worst slot to use.

No its a red slot. Black slot is free.

Its in slot 4 for now, PCIE_X16/X8_3. (my mistake about 3, my motherboard is kinda inverted)

Which bios recommended if slot one not free, but just doest not seem to like it.

Slot 3, is the PCIe 2.0 (black one) nothing in there.

ED E

For clarity:



And OPs diagram:

ED E

Looks like you're using the m.2 yeah? Thus scuppering slot marked with the blue 4, thus the blue 1 is the only full bandwidth slot you have.

TheValeyard

ED E wrote: »

Looks like you're using the m.2 yeah? Thus scuppering slot marked with the blue 4, thus the blue 1 is the only full bandwidth slot you have.

yeah, im using the m.2 for a boot drive.

wasnt aware about the bandwidth issue!

ED E

Lots of boards do it unfortunately. IMO it'd be much better to drop one of the other slots but I suspect some low end CPUs that are compatible don't have enough lanes thus the malarky that goes on.


As mentioned before, you probably won't notice the difference between x8 and x16 but using x16 would be optimal.

TheValeyard

Lads would ye like me to take some pics later to show you my setup? See where I can improve things.

Cordell

I don't think you have any other option than to have the GPU in slot 1. Depending on the CPU you may only have a single 16x slot and depending on the motherboard and bios and firmware it can only be the first one if you have other devices attached (and you have the NVME SSD).
I think it may make more sense to try to make the GPU fit in the first slot.

ED E

Something along these lines.


EDIT:
From a glance you have another header in the "normal" position? Move the front USB cable to bottom edge of the board and its sorted?

TheValeyard

ED E wrote: »

Something along these lines.


EDIT:
From a glance you have another header in the "normal" position? Move the front USB cable to bottom edge of the board and its sorted?

I'll have a look when kids are asleep. Top risky to open up now!

Loweface

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Low-Profile-USB-3-0-Header-Extender-Cable-/264038809371

Could be another option, similar to the 90 degree adapter but a bit more flexible. Disclaimer: Complete novice!

TheValeyard

So an update.

I removed the creative AE5 soundcard and USB 3.1 card and now it turns at x16 native.

Still red error in Bios, but think that should be alright?

TheValeyard

ED E wrote: »

EDIT:
From a glance you have another header in the "normal" position? Move the front USB cable to bottom edge of the board and its sorted?

Sorry, but not exactly able to find this. Still looking.

SickBoy

TheValeyard wrote: »

Sorry, but not exactly able to find this. Still looking.

Bottom of the board

TheValeyard

That's how my mobo is currently looking

The card is above.

TheValeyard

My other worry, but the card so high as seen here, could damage the connections?

MidlanderMan

You should be using this slot, closest to the CPU.

That slot shouldn't interfer with anything, it's be over the SATA connectors and shouldn't touch the USB 3, but if it doesm, don't use the USB3.

https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/attachment.php?attachmentid=531553&stc=1&d=1604356165

TheValeyard

MidlanderMan wrote: »

You should be using this slot, closest to the CPU.

That slot shouldn't interfer with anything, it's be over the SATA connectors and shouldn't touch the USB 3, but if it doesm, don't use the USB3.

https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/attachment.php?attachmentid=531553&stc=1&d=1604356165

Cheers,

Yeah that was original slot for my 1080ti but the 3090 wont fit, keeps hitting the 'Extreme' case that houses the USB, etc. So unless I vertical mount, which not sure that's an option yet, or may have to remove that casing or ports.

MidlanderMan

TheValeyard wrote: »

Cheers,

Yeah that was original slot for my 1080ti but the 3090 wont fit, keeps hitting the 'Extreme' case that houses the USB, etc. So unless I vertical mount, which not sure that's an option yet, or may have to remove that casing or ports.

Use the next one down so?

TheValeyard

MidlanderMan wrote: »

Use the next one down so?

That's what I moved it to and gave me x8 native.

Current one, slot four, now giving me x16 native

MidlanderMan

Such a weird board.

Vertical mount and riser would be my work around so.

TheValeyard

MidlanderMan wrote: »

Such a weird board.

Vertical mount and riser would be my work around so.

Cheers, I'll consider it

JoyPad

MidlanderMan wrote: »

Vertical mount and riser would be my work around so.

I don't think he can use a vertical mount if he has other PCIe cards. Those mounts usually take up all the PCIe slots.

djan

I'd recommend a L shape USB3 adapter, and if not just forego the USB3. There's plenty around the back.

TheValeyard

djan wrote: »

I'd recommend a L shape USB3 adapter, and if not just forego the USB3. There's plenty around the back.

Cheers, I'll look into it.

Metric Tensor

Do you mean it is hitting the shield over the rear IO connectors? Coloured black with Extreme written on it.

Up until now I think everyone here thought that you meant it was oversailing the USB header that's built in to the motherboard on far end. Red connector with pins next to your Sata connectors.

If I'm right your problem makes more sense now but I'm afraid I have no solution.

TheValeyard

Metric Tensor wrote: »

Do you mean it is hitting the shield over the rear IO connectors? Coloured black with Extreme written on it.

Up until now I think everyone here thought that you meant it was oversailing the USB header that's built in to the motherboard on far end. Red connector with pins next to your Sata connectors.

If I'm right your problem makes more sense now but I'm afraid I have no solution.

Yeah, it's hitting the shield. Is it safe to remove that or best to keep it on?

Cordell

https://www.asus.com/media/global/products/SNYTZvOdMa6xGWYL/b1Ejrqqd7qcYir69_setting_fff_1_90_end_500.png
It looks like it's a heatsink rather than a simple shield. I can't see any fins so it won't be doing too much, especially if you're running an AIO with no airflow in that area, but still I wouldn't remove it.

LE: Actually, I though about it some more. If you're not pushing the power delivery with a top end CPU and you're not overclocking, I think you can just remove it. I don't think it does anything for VRM cooling anyway. Or you can cut it a bit to make the GPU fit but make absolutely sure that this is the only thing that prevents it to fit, and make sure you don't bend or nick the heatpipe. Do a test fit and a test run to verify that it fits and it runs at 16x.

TheValeyard

So update.


Managed to push down the 'extreme' compartment a lil bit more, small bit of jigging around.

GPU now working x16 native in slot one.

USB 3.1 hub and soundcard both working in other slots.

Problem seems to be solved.

Cheers for all the advice and help in here. It's greatly appreciated. I owe some of ye beer.