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    M17 PCI Express 16x Locked?

    Discussion in 'Alienware' started by Rodolphe2, Dec 17, 2008.

  1. Rodolphe2

    Rodolphe2 Notebook Enthusiast

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    I noticed that the PCI Express 16x is supported by the M17 but the 8x is selected by default.

    Is there a way to select the 16x?
    Do you think that running in 16x can improve the performance?

    I tried to change it in the bios but it is locked.

    If someone is using a NON Alienware Bios, Can you tell me if you can select the PCI Express 16x?

    Thanks
     
    Rodolphe2, Dec 17, 2008
    #1
  2. CooLMinE

    CooLMinE Notebook Deity

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    Use gpu and check it :)
     

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    CooLMinE, Dec 17, 2008
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  3. Rodolphe2

    Rodolphe2 Notebook Enthusiast

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    I tried the software and I have the result 16x @ 8x but do you know how to change it to 16x @ 16x in order to use all the bandwidth?
     
    Rodolphe2, Dec 17, 2008
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  4. Axman

    Axman Notebook Evangelist

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    thats a good question. The OCZ bios has no option to change it. Maybe E-wrecked has a thought on this?
     
    Axman, Dec 17, 2008
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  5. CooLMinE

    CooLMinE Notebook Deity

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    Hm, checking around. I think that if you only run with one card it will run at x16, but if you run them in crossfire they automatically go down to x8, still not sure why, reading some more :p Might be a motherboard/crossfire thing :p
     
    CooLMinE, Dec 17, 2008
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  6. Axman

    Axman Notebook Evangelist

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    that would make sense.
     
    Axman, Dec 17, 2008
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  7. Templesa

    Templesa Notebook Deity

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    Pretty sure this is a Crossfire // SLi deal where it does allocate a certain bandwidth to each card.
     
    Templesa, Dec 17, 2008
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  8. Rodolphe2

    Rodolphe2 Notebook Enthusiast

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    But an SLI or Crossfire motherboard is supposed to have 2 independents PCI-E x16 and not sharing the same.
     
    Rodolphe2, Dec 18, 2008
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  9. Axman

    Axman Notebook Evangelist

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    this is the 3870x2 card, its more like 2 gpus on one card both with their own ram, if im not mistaken.
     
    Axman, Dec 18, 2008
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  10. martynpd

    martynpd Notebook Consultant

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    no its 2 cards in 1 machine
     
    martynpd, Dec 18, 2008
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  11. martynpd

    martynpd Notebook Consultant

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    its 2 3870s not 3870x2
     
    martynpd, Dec 18, 2008
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  12. ScottY_06

    ScottY_06 Notebook Consultant

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    The 3870's work together. Therefore x8 + x8 over both cards is the x16.
     
    ScottY_06, Dec 18, 2008
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  13. CooLMinE

    CooLMinE Notebook Deity

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    Depends on the motherboard i think. There are motherboards with 36+ lanes which means you can get an sli/crossfire system at x16. M17 motherboard probably has 16 so when you use it for crossfire it instantly put it in half.

    Good news is that it barely affects performance, so no reason to worry about it :)
     
    CooLMinE, Dec 18, 2008
    #13