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    difference PCIex8 vs PCIex16 in laptops

    Discussion in 'Gaming (Software and Graphics Cards)' started by shatter star, Jan 17, 2010.

  1. shatter star

    shatter star Notebook Guru

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    Good Morning.

    I just now learning that there are two different PCI buses in for the video card interface. Can someone explain to me the importance of these two type speeds or point to a website that explains. Basically I am looking at a laptop that has dual nvidia cards running SLI but they have PCIex8 bus while this other laptop which has the same video card (but only one) is running PCIex16. So I'd like to know if having the SLI cards running on a slower bus is gonna matter or is it just smarter to go with the single card on PCIex16 bus. :confused:
     
    shatter star, Jan 17, 2010
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  2. nanohead

    nanohead Notebook Guru

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    There's no difference in real world performance with 8x or 16x in any kind of computer, especially a laptop. Don't confuse yourself with this stuff :eek:

    Even in the most powerful desktop gamers, 8X lanes are more than plenty for even the most demanding GPUs, with the possible exception of a pair of DUAL GPU cards like a pair of 4870X2 cards in crossfire running a total of 4 graphics processors.

    8X PCIe has so much stinkin bandwidth, it'd be hard pressed to ever saturate the bus.

    There is a tremendous amount of internet mis information out there about this subject, but many (including myself) have done tests and found that there is absolutely zero difference.
     
    nanohead, Jan 17, 2010
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  3. Levenly

    Levenly Grappling Deity

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    yeah, in many desktop crossfire/sli applications the x8 lanes versus the x16 do not show too much differences abroad.
     
    Levenly, Jan 17, 2010
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  4. shatter star

    shatter star Notebook Guru

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    OK.

    Thanks for taking the time to post. X8100 here I come. ;)
     
    shatter star, Jan 17, 2010
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  5. JCMS

    JCMS Notebook Prophet

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    Yes. I think there's yet to be a chipset that can run dual/triple video card in 16x. Or is the X58 able to?
     
    JCMS, Jan 17, 2010
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  6. Amnesiac

    Amnesiac 404

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    Nice. Dual GTX 285M's are going to be awesome. Hopefully they will be better than the 4870's in the M17x.
     
    Amnesiac, Jan 17, 2010
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  7. shatter star

    shatter star Notebook Guru

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    Yah I hope it will be good. I am just wondering when xoticpc.com will be selling it. I know eurocom.com will be selling their's by Feb 2.
     
    shatter star, Jan 17, 2010
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  8. key001

    key001 Notebook Evangelist

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    key001, Jan 17, 2010
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  9. usapatriot

    usapatriot Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    ^ As key001 one said, it depends whether it's PCI-E 1.0 or PCI-E 2.0.
     
    usapatriot, Jan 17, 2010
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  10. dondadah88

    dondadah88 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    there is no difference. max 2 percent performance loss.
     
    dondadah88, Jan 17, 2010
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