ok so my after market fan isn't coming until next week, I already have my mobo and everything set up and want to test it out. I have a tube of artic silver. Should I scrape the thermal stuff off the stock heatsink and replace it with arctic silver? That way I wont have to worry about cleaning it off when I get my new heatsink/fan?
Ok, this gets weirder. I e-mailed Gigabyte to ask them if it was x8 or x16. They answered the question that the chipset holds it back to x8. Now, I know the g-31 chipset doesn't limit it to x8.
So I downloaded GPU-Z and it says... Bus Interface-PCI-E 16 @ 16. So who is right? Does GPU-Z actually read the physical stats of the mobo?
Ok, did some research on the g-31 chipset. It looks like its a PCI-E 16 1.1 slot from intels spec sheet....
"One, 16-lane PCI Express port intended for graphics attach, compatible to the PCI Express* Base Specification revision 1.1"
So the stats on the g31 chipset allow for full 16x 1.1 slot, BUT... what I dont know is- does that make this mobo automatically 16x, or could Gigabyte be saving a few pennies by making it a 8x slot? I dont know exactly how that works.
It looks like matrix563 is right, its 16x OR 8x, but would like some further clarification if anyone knows.
So I got this mobo... GIGABYTE GA-G31M-ES2L I didn't realize it had only a x8 slot on the PCI-E 16 (it didn't state that in the stats of course, I found it out digging around on Gigabytes website). This is not a xfire/sli mobo, this is the only GPU slot on the board.
So, how much will this slot hold back a 4830, 4870, or GTX 260/280? Basically what I am wondering is will a faster video card be held back by this slot to the point it makes more sense to buy a cheaper, less powerful card.
The newegg page lists it as one PCI Express x16 slot. The Gigabyte page linked lists it as "PCI-Express X16 (X8 )". What is up with that?
you are Better to take the best 2x2GB DDR2 1200mhz (overclocked) Or the Best Lowest Latencty 1066mhz then 4x2GB at 800mhz http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/memory/2008/10/27/low-latency-ddr2-800mhz-versus-1066mhz/6 marcthpro
Should I go with this ram instead for like $2 more? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231226
I personally would go with the second one to be a little more futureproof, but im not sure if there are programs that will need 8gb of ram. Handheld_Dude91
Yeah no programs, and I'm not a heavy multitasker, but I've heard 8gb makes performance smoother, and tabbing out of games and stuff faster. Also I heard ram is supposed to go up in price around march
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