Primary PCI E 2.0 x16 slot vs Secondary

[relikpL]

Hi,

Does it matter which one I use for my video card if I don't plan on doing Crossfire/SLI? Will it still run at x16?

One slot is in a more convenient location and doesn't block as many PCI slots.
Also, how do you determine the primary if it's not labeled?

Thank you

 

[farinha]

What mobo do you have?

 

[relikpL]

What mobo do you have?

It's an MSI 870-G45 AM3 AMD 770 ATX AMD Motherboard.

Appreciate it.

 

[farinha]

According to your mobo specifications you have a 16x PCI-E 2.0 (primary) and a 4x PCI-E2.0 (secondary). You should use the primary one since the 4x port will cap your gpu performance. The primary should be the one on the top.

 

[relikpL]

According to your mobo specifications you have a 16x PCI-E 2.0 (primary) and a 4x PCI-E2.0 (secondary). You should use the primary one since the 4x port will cap your gpu performance. The primary should be the one on the top.

For some reason this is the second instance that the specifications online said that there are 2x 16x PCI-E slots. I find this misleading.

I'm assuming only true SLI/Crossfire mobos have them?

 

[Slaymate]

according to the MSI product page that mobo has (1) X16 slot and (1) 4X slot.
MSI USA ? Computer, Laptop, Notebook, Desktop, Mainboard, Graphics and more

 

[relikpL]

according to the MSI product page that mobo has (1) X16 slot and (1) 4X slot.
MSI USA ? Computer, Laptop, Notebook, Desktop, Mainboard, Graphics and more

Wow, that's very interesting, because on the back of the MSI 870-G45 box it says "Video: 2 x PCI Express 2.0 x16 slots". Not sure what to make of that other than false advertisement...

 

[Muffin Man]

well that's what the actual slot is called though, pci-e x16 slot

so they are correct it has 2 x16 slots. although the second slot is physically full size on the board, the actual transfer rate of it is capped at x4.

that's how i see it anyway.

 

[relikpL]

well that's what the actual slot is called though, pci-e x16 slot

so they are correct it has 2 x16 slots. although the second slot is physically full size on the board, the actual transfer rate of it is capped at x4.

that's how i see it anyway.

now that makes sense. thank you for clarifying.