Graphics Card running at x8 instead of x16

[JamesHarper]

Hello,
I just installed this card "http://www.asus.com/Graphics_Cards/GT640DCSL2GD3/#support_Download" and in BIOS as well as Windows (GPU-Z) it reads as running at PCIe-3.0 x8 Native... i understand that there is no performance loss in itself but still would like to have it running at correct specifications... any help/suggestions are very appreciated.
Many Thanks,
James

Maximus VI Gene
i7-4770k (stock speed)
16GB DDR3-1600
SSD

[HiVizMan]

Hello James

If you look at the GPUz where it tells you that the card is running at x8 you will see a ?

Click that and let the small stress sequence start that will push your card up to 16x I am sure. I do assume you have the card in the 16x PCIe slot of course.

[JamesHarper]

Hi HiVizMan,
thank you for quick reply,
the card is indeed in the top X16 slot (in the second slot it is not recognized at all, resulting in a black (standing by) monitor screen though Windows booting normally. I did run GPU-Z Render Test and it would change PCI-E 3.0x16 @ x8-1.1 to PCI-E 3.0x16 @ x8-3.0. I also tried different settings in BIOS with no luck. Physically the card looks undamaged...

[HiVizMan]

No worries then.

Have you made any changes in the BIOS at all?

You can go in to the bios and set the PCIe lane to Gen3 manually. Currently it is set to auto and picking up Gen2 (you are correct there is no difference between the two) but you way wish to see if you can force the Gen2. The CPU controls the PCIe lane not the motherboard by the way.

[JamesHarper]

Yes, i did set the 1st PCIe 3.0 x16 to Gen3 manually (i did try all kinds of settings and combinations) with no change, it just recognizes the card as X8 no matter what...

[HiVizMan]

See if you get a 16x result by changing your PCIe slots - we are now trying to see where the issue is.

[JamesHarper]

I actually put the card into the 2nd slot 1st as i had a large CPU cooler covering the 1st and the card was not recognized at all, so i took the large heat sink off and put the card into the 1st... the 2nd slot is marked as x8 only anyway (1st slot being x16/x8)

[HiVizMan]

Save your BIOS settings as an OC profile.

Place your card in the top slot, and clear CMOS. Do you still have the issue?

[JamesHarper]

Yes i have done also the bios is updated to the latest version

[JamesHarper]

I just looked at the BIOS again and noticed under
Advanced / PCH Configuration / PCI Express Configuration / PCIe Speed:
Auto
Gen1
Gen2

...and no Gen3 entry... - is this normal?

Thnx