7800GT running in x2

[Salvy1430]

Okay, I Have an XFX 7800 GT Overclocked Pci express card (X16) running through a DFI Lanparty NF4 Sli-D Board. For as long as I can remember, I have ran the card in the bottom PCI-express slot, due to the northbridge fan getting kind of in the way of the graphics card.
However, I took note yesterday that when I went to change some settings through the Nvidia control panel, that the bus speed is stated to be running at x2, instead of x16
http://img144.imageshack.us/img144/6241/cardrf3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img144.imageshack.us/img144/cardrf3.jpg/1/w600.png (http://g.imageshack.us/img144/cardrf3.jpg/1/)

If I am undoubtedly reading this correctly, my card isn't running at its' full potential bus speed. Nothing in my BIOS seems to address this issue. So I thought perhaps the top slot might yield better results, being the primary slot and all. When the card is inserted into the top slot, I POST with a video error and the computer goes no further. I Cleared and reset the CMOS, no dice. Why would my mobo not allow this? My card a long time ago used to function in that slot. Is there another way to change the bus speed or remedy the fact that I can't put the card in the top slot? thanks in advance!

[Rick James]

Okay, I Have an XFX 7800 GT Overclocked Pci express card (X16) running through a DFI Lanparty NF4 Sli-D Board. For as long as I can remember, I have ran the card in the bottom PCI-express slot, due to the northbridge fan getting kind of in the way of the graphics card.
However, I took note yesterday that when I went to change some settings through the Nvidia control panel, that the bus speed is stated to be running at x2, instead of x16
http://img144.imageshack.us/img144/6241/cardrf3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img144.imageshack.us/img144/cardrf3.jpg/1/w600.png (http://g.imageshack.us/img144/cardrf3.jpg/1/)

If I am undoubtedly reading this correctly, my card isn't running at its' full potential bus speed. Nothing in my BIOS seems to address this issue. So I thought perhaps the top slot might yield better results, being the primary slot and all. When the card is inserted into the top slot, I POST with a video error and the computer goes no further. I Cleared and reset the CMOS, no dice. Why would my mobo not allow this? My card a long time ago used to function in that slot. Is there another way to change the bus speed or remedy the fact that I can't put the card in the top slot? thanks in advance!

Just because you have an X16 slot doesn't mean it will run at 16X. My 7950GX2 ran at 8X. 2X might be the fastest a 7800GT will do.

[iLoki]

no, that should definitely run at 16x, I had a 7800GT sli setup for awhile and it was 8x per card, and 16x with one.

If it didn't run at 16x it wouldn't be an 16x slot, and the mobo manufacturer would have indicated this.

[Rick James]

no, that should definitely run at 16x, I had a 7800GT sli setup for awhile and it was 8x per card, and 16x with one.

If it didn't run at 16x it wouldn't be an 16x slot, and the mobo manufacturer would have indicated this.

I did not know that loki. Thanks for correcting me.

Thats why my 9800GX2 ran at 8X.. 2 cards duh haha

[iLoki]

XD yup, no problem :D A lot of newer boards have the capacity to run at least 2 full x16 slots, boards with the nforce 200 chip can run a 3rd full x16 slot.

@the OP, try looking at the same thing using GPU-z

if you don't already have it:
http://www.techpowerup.com/gpuz/

that way, we can tell if the nv control panel is just being stupid, or if we should look elsewhere for a solution.

On a related-side note, how is performance with that 7800GT. at PCI-e x2 it should be bottlenecked a little bit, and wouldn't perform quite as nicely as it would in x8 or the full x16 mode.

[jason4207]

I did not know that loki. Thanks for correcting me.

Thats why my 9800GX2 ran at 8X.. 2 cards duh haha

9800X2 is just 1 card (it has 2 GPU's, but it's still only 1 card, and only goes in 1 slot). It should run at x16 if that's the only card installed.