maximus vi formula build

[Bobded]

I'm building a new gaming pc. I recently purchased a maximus vi formula motherboard, along with an intel 4770k cpu and 32 gb of gskill ddr3 2666 ram. With the 6 pcie slots, my original intent was to install 3 raidr xpress drives in raid 0 as well as 2 matrix 780 ti's in sli, and a xonar phoebus sound card. I am not sure, however that they will all fit without risers (or even with them). I definitely want the 2 gpus, so my question is will I be able to utilize the other 4 pcie slots natively, or must I use risers or even give up the idea of a sound card (and possibly even 1 of the raidr express cards)?

[jab383]

Hi, Bobded and welcome

That's a good set of stuff. I think if there is a fit issue, it's in the PCIe lane count. The SLI pair of VGAs will occupy the first two PCIe3x16 slots which will make them run at x8 -- the limit of the 4770K is a total of x16. SLI requires x8 lanes for each board. The third PCIe3 slot will not be useable since using it for anything would reduce the second slot to x4 lanes.

The other slots are PCIe2x1. Is one lane enough for a Raidr? All three x1 slots look like they would have room with 2-wide VGAs in the x16 slots, but I haven't tried it. The first x16 slot looks clear, but there may be an air flow problem to the second x16 with a long card in the next x1 slot. How long are the Raidr cards compared to the fan location on the Matrix 780Ti? One of the Raidr may be a candidate for an extender.

If there is any motherboard integrated audio that does not need a plug-in card, it's the M6F. I use the integrated audio for casual listing, games, recording and audio processing . I suggest that the xonar sound card be the first item removed from the list.

Have fun with the build.

Jeff

[kkn]

gpu's are gone be either 2 or 3 slot cards .
top pcie ( 16x ), can handle 2 and 3 slot card.
if 2 slot card you can fit a 1 slot card between the gpu's, BUT its going to run hot since its so close.
2'nd pcie ( lanes drops to 8x 8x ), 2 slot, its covers the 1x slot, 3slot card it covers 1x and bottom pcie slot.
top pcie1x slot, you have to take off the armor for enny thing to fit there.

[Tokens210]

From the research I did when building my formula 6 build you wouldn't be able to do sli with the raidr at all

The raidr is (if I remember correctly) a physical x1 but is an electrical x8 may be electrical x4 either way wouldn't work

You can just go sli and get 2 evo's and raid them, JJ says in multiple videos (even 1 where he compares them) that 2 ssd's in raid are pretty much just as fast if not faster then the raidr currently due to whatever limitations on the board

As for sound card as jab said the formula vi has the supremefx one stage higher then the rest of the vi board since the formula came out around the rampage black edition and they redid the supremefx so both the formula vi and rampage black have newer versions and hardware compared to all other vi boards

I'd suggest here like jab to drop it from the list but just for now as idk you audio preferences so you may feel you need it later or you may not, I'm not sure if a sound card will have any issues with sli, I'm pretty sure an electrical x1 sound card would work if it would fit, but you may wanna google it and look for ppl rocking sli and a sound card