Probably a dumb question...

[VoodooChi|d]

Can you use a normal PCI-E x16 card in the PCI-E x4 slot on the MSI K8N Neo4 Platinum?

When googleing for an actual use to the slot I found something that said it worked with minimal side effects (1-2 fps drop) with some dual processor MoBo, but this motherboards PCI-E x4 slot was the same size as the PCI-E x16 slot. Then when I was looking at the PCI-E x4 slot in the Neo4 I noticed that the "back" of it was open, like you could put a full size PCI-E x16 card in there. My x800xl is somewhere in the back of a UPS truck right now so I can't test it out but I was wondering if anyone had done this or would try just for shits and giggles...

As I said it's probably a dumb question because there are connectors on the card that wouldnt be connecting with anything through the slot but hey I figured it was worth a try.

 

[VoodooChi|d]

What I'm talking about...

I got the picture from a hardwarezone.com review (don't worry I hosted it myself) and on that review the caption of the picture was "Open ended PCIe x4 slot to support a second independent graphic card. On its own, it runs at PCIe x2 mode. Quad monitor display setup is certainly a possibility with this board like the DFI board we've showcased earlier."

 

[VoodooChi|d]

http://www.msi-hungary.com/presscenter/press_center/K8N_Neo_Platinum_DBS/

"Based on benchmarks results on PCI Express X16 and PCI Express X2, there is only 3% drop on 3D Mark 2003 and 15% on DOOM3. These facts indicate that PCI Express X2 is sufficient for moderate 3D Graphics and daily usage."

Ok so I guess I answered my own question pretty well...





Now my next question... SLI?

 

[1c3d0g]

Nice monologue... Hope somebody can help ya out.

 

[VoodooChi|d]

Nice monologue... Hope somebody can help ya out.

haha... I guess that's what happens when you're up late and no one else is


I also sorta answered the SLI question...

http://www.hexus.net/content/reviews/review.php?dXJsX3Jldmlld19JRD05NTc=

I still want to see if someone here has done it and to compare 2 of the same cards in SLI with this board and the actual SLI version of the Neo4 Platinum...

Now I'm really thinking about sending the x800xl back for a 6800GT

 

[1c3d0g]

The 6800GT >>> X800XL hands down.

 

[VoodooChi|d]

The 6800GT >>> X800XL hands down.

This isn't a 6800GT vs x800xl debate... there's plenty of those already

If Crossfire would work with Nvidia chipsets I'd actually rather do that because I like how it's implimented more.



I still want to see if anyone with the motherboard has done this "SLI" and what their results were...

 

[Lazn_Work]

It will not do SLI. The drivers will not let it. Unless you find the old 6x.xx ones that worked before Nvidia removed this ability from the drivers.

==>Lazn

 

[VoodooChi|d]

It will not do SLI. The drivers will not let it. Unless you find the old 6x.xx ones that worked before Nvidia removed this ability from the drivers.

==>Lazn

Oh well... it was a thought...

It was never my intention to go SLI or else I would have bought the SLI version of the motherboard, but I figured it woulda been cool just to have that option as a surprise.

Thanks for the info though...