SLI Rampage II Extreme 3d PCI-E slot

[Robert]

hello everybody

i wanted to ask, i cancelled my gtx 295 order 1 month ago, and i want to switch to a EVGA GTX 285 Black Edition Sli setup, only right now iam using a Creative Xfi Xtreme Gamer soundcard, and i still want to keep using it, to do so, i will have to use the 3d slot instead of the second slot, the manual says i can set its bandwith to x8, and becouse its pcie 2.0 it wont matter much, becouse its equal to pcie x16 1.1.

but i just wanted to be sure, can anyone tell me if this is possible? run the first card in slot 1, and the second card in slot 3.

 

[FarFarAway]

I've got an Asus Xonar in one of my spare PCI-E x8/16 lanes and it's no problem at all mate, should be fine.

 

[Robert]

I've got an Asus Xonar in one of my spare PCI-E x8/16 lanes and it's no problem at all mate, should be fine.

well thats a soundcard, i actualy ment running the videocards, becouse i dont know if it accepts sli when not using the recommended slot1+slot2 setup. but the slot1+slot3 sli setup.

PS: i hope my led,start,reset pins dont block the last slot when i want install the second GTX 285

 

[FarFarAway]

Surely just move the soundcard down to slot 3?

 

[Robert]

Surely just move the soundcard down to slot 3?

its a PCI soundcard, so i cant use a dual slot card in the second one, thats why i was hoping to be able to use the second graphics card in the 3d slot when placed in sli.

 

[SwaleSmith]

Should be fine but you will have to put the 285 in the 2nd slot as it will be blocked by the m/board headers or any USB/Firewire cables you have plugged one other thing to be aware off is that in this setup the bottom 285 does tend to struggle for air due to clearence.....to be honest the 295 is simpler neater option (used to run gtx 280sli)

 

[Robert]

Well i got a Thermaltake Armor+, wich gots 10 slots of room, and enough space at the bottow, and there is even place for a fan under it to later, i was informed that the gtx 285 does fit in the 3d slot, as long as u have 8 slot +, but it is tight.

 

[SwaleSmith]

no the problem is not the case but the board most if not x58 boards have this problem unless you have watercooled cards as they are thinner, I have the the same board if you look where the bottom slot is you will notice the usb and firewire slots close by, the 285 280 etc is too thick and you will be unable to have the card there with the cables. I have tried.

there will be next to none if not no difference in performance with 8x pci-e speeds by the way

 

[tinytomlogan]

With cards like that you HAVE to run them in 16x slots matey, theres just not enough bandwidth for them with 8x.

 

[SwaleSmith]

With cards like that you HAVE to run them in 16x slots matey, theres just not enough bandwidth for them with 8x.

There you have it take note of this man

 

[DeMoB]

With cards like that you HAVE to run them in 16x slots matey, theres just not enough bandwidth for them with 8x.

Even though it's PCIe 2.0 8x which is essentially the same as PCIe 1 16x?

Dan

 

[Robert]

Even though it's PCIe 2.0 8x which is essentially the same as PCIe 1 16x?

Dan

ye thats what iam reading all over google when i google this question, so its actualy more like a PCI x16 2.0 and a PCI x16 1.1 in bandwith.

if anyone has a rampage II and more than 1 card, lets say 2, then could you check it out for me if the 1st and 3 slot run correctly in SLI?

about the cables, iam doing Electric Engineering, i might be able to mod the on off cable, and thus able to run the 3d card with the cables.

 

[SwaleSmith]

Yes they do I have used triple sli/ SLI GTX 280 and now a single gtx 295 so long as the there is nothing in slot 2 you will get 16x in the 3rd slot, but I am telling you and have already told you that you will not get the card in slot 3 due to M/board header, USB and Firewire cables resticting the 3rd slot!!!! unless you have a WC block for the 3rd card. this is a silly and suprising flaw with many x58 boards!!!

You will only get the 2nd card in slot 2 and I'd imagine that the sound card will have no problem with slot 3 should you decide to use it which could hinder the performance of the 2nd card...something you will need to test unless you can find out otherwise.

p.s are you aware that I am useing the Rampage II x58 and have been since December 08 (see sig)???