Tom's Hardware > Forum > Motherboards & Memory > Motherboards > Will the Maximus IV Gene-z/gen3 mobo fit 2x HD 7950s?

Will the Maximus IV Gene-z/gen3 mobo fit 2x HD 7950s?

Forum Motherboards & Memory : Motherboards Will the Maximus IV Gene-z/gen3 mobo fit 2x HD 7950s?

I was considering possibly working a x2 Radeon 7950 CrossFire rig, but was wondering if it would fit on a Maximus IV Gene-z/Gen3 Micro ATX with x2 PCI 3.0 slots. Although on the description of the 7950 says that the fan and etc usually causes it to take up more space, is it possible to still fit it on the board???

Reply to NewbieLemonz

Yes they will fit and unfortunatly that will be all you will be able to fit as they will cover the bottom x4 slot. The two full x16 slots are pci-e 3.0 so when Ivy Bridge comes out and you want to switch to one of those then you will be able to utilize the Pci-e 3.0 with the slot , video card and cpu all being pci-e 3.0 complient.

Reply to inzone

I got the first part, but I'm pretty new to this and don't know much.. What is Ivy Bridge? And when you mention switching "one of those," what do you mean? Could you please explain. Thanks.

Reply to NewbieLemonz

Ivy Bridge cpu is the next release from Intel and right now with that motherboard you would have a Sandy Bridge cpu , which doesn't support the pci-e 3.0 so those two x16 slots will be pci-e 2.1. When Intel releases that new cpu you have the option to buy the new cpu and sell the old one and you would have the ability to run your video card at pci-e 3.0.

Reply to inzone

So basically what you're saying is, when the new Ivy Bridge that is set to be released on March 8th comes out I can basically just switch without having to go through the trouble of obtaining a new mobo etc.

Btw what's the difference between the current Sandy Bridge and the coming Ivy Bridge? I checked up on some news regarding it and some reviews weren't exactly giving great credit to intel due to a recent performance. Although it said something about graphical improvement?

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Reply to NewbieLemonz

yes it will fit BUT, that will be the only items to populate the PCI slots, they will cover up the other lanes because of their size.
mATX SLi/CF-X boards are basically 'gaming only' boards because of this.
some mATX boards may have a different PCI slot layout and possibly allow you one other plug-in card but not the Maximus Gene.

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Reply to malmental

NewbieLemonz wrote :

So basically what you're saying is, when the new Ivy Bridge that is set to be released on March 8th comes out I can basically just switch without having to go through the trouble of obtaining a new mobo etc.

BTW what's the difference between the current Sandy Bridge and the coming Ivy Bridge? I checked up on some news regarding it and some reviews weren't exactly giving great credit to Intel due to a recent performance. Although it said something about graphical improvement?

yes, depending on your LGA 1155 motherboard (most models will allow says Intel) but with a BIOS update
your motherboard will be able to run Ivy Bridge, the next move after Sandy Bridge.
several changes from Sandy to Ivy.
Ivy is smaller processing technology and uses the new tri-gate technology.
upgrade graphics like you already stated.
some advantages are less power consumption and less heat and that equals higher overclocks..

------------------------------ A+, Net+, MCDST, DSCE (Dell)
Reply to malmental

Ahh alright then.. However I never quite understood what the x4 slot was used for? Possibly sound cards?

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Reply to NewbieLemonz

whatever you want to put in there..

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Reply to malmental

The question you must ask is not whether those two cards will fit in the board (they will, it's a gaming XFire/SLI board). The question is will they fit in your case? Its a small board and usually people use small boards in small cases. Make sure your case can accommodate those very long cards.

Reply to larkspur

good point.

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Reply to malmental

And of course make sure your PSU can handle them!

Reply to larkspur

well my PSU is a Corsair Professional Gold series 750W.
my case is a INWIN Dragon Slayer (16.80" x 7.70" x 16.90" )

The Sapphire HD 7950 Factory OC is bout 10.5in in length right?

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Reply to NewbieLemonz

NewbieLemonz wrote :

well my PSU is a Corsair Professional Gold series 750W.
my case is a INWIN Dragon Slayer (16.80" x 7.70" x 16.90" )

The Sapphire HD 7950 Factory OC is bout 10.5in in length right?

your good all the way around..

------------------------------ A+, Net+, MCDST, DSCE (Dell)
Reply to malmental

NewbieLemonz wrote :

Ahh alright then.. However I never quite understood what the x4 slot was used for? Possibly sound cards?

Believe it or not they actually make video cards that are for a x4 slot and yes you can use sound cards there as well. I have an OCZ RevoDrive that requires a x4 slot and if the back end of the slot was open you could put a regular video card in there. Thw performance would be a little less but not as much as you would think. There are also raid cards that are for the x4 slot.

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Message edited by inzone on 02-08-2012 at 02:04:44 AM

Reply to inzone

inzone wrote :

Believe it or not they actually make video cards that are for a x4 slot and yes you can use sound cards there as well. I have an OCZ RevoDrive that requires a x4 slot and if the back end of the slot was open you could put a regulsr video card in there. Thw performance would be a little less but not as much as you would think. There are also raid cards that are for the x4 slot.

------------------------------ A+, Net+, MCDST, DSCE (Dell)
Reply to malmental

Sorry, guys,i don't quite understand... So, if i have Maximus IV GENE-Z/GEN3, a video card with PCIe3 and a i7 2600k sandy bridge, what will i have to do, when the ivy comes out, to vga to run pcie3? Sorry, never had my own build before...

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Reply to tukimuki

tukimuki wrote :

yes..

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Reply to malmental

malmental wrote :

yes..

So i just have to buy a new processor?

Reply to tukimuki

yes..
Ivy Bridge.

------------------------------ A+, Net+, MCDST, DSCE (Dell)
Reply to malmental

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