using Angelbird Wings PX1 PCIe x4 M.2 Adapter on Maximus VIII Hero Alpha

[acerzr2]

If on the Maximus VIII Hero Alpha board I have a 980Ti in the first PCIe X16 slot (gray), and I put the
Angelbird Wings PX1 PCIe x4 M.2 Adapter with a Samsung 950 pro on it in the second PCIe X16 slot (gray),
will the 980Ti run at X16 speed, or will it run at X8? Also, will I have to change something in the BIOS
for the Angelbird in the PCIe configuration to make it run at X4?

[Chino]

Your GPU will drop to x8. Any reason why you wouldn't want to use the M.2 slot instead?

[EasyLover]

It would be better if M.2 drive is run off the M.2 slot or adapter is installed on the last PCIe slot getting lanes from the chipset not from the CPU. In this way, you will get x16 for the graphics card.

[acerzr2]

EasyLover, if I put the adapter card in the third PCIe slot (the black one) won't the 950pro run slower
than if it's getting lanes from the CPU in the second slot? The main reason I want the adapter card
is to help keep the 950 pro cooler.

[MNMadman]

No, you don't need to do anything in the BIOS for the adapter card to run normally.

And no, there is no real performance difference between CPU PCIe 3.0 lanes and chipset PCIe 3.0 lanes.

All you need to keep the 950 Pro cool is one of two things:
1. A fan pointed directly at it. Even a 60mm fan would work. I use a 120mm and I peeled the sticker off the drive.
2. One of those Raspberry Pi heat sink kits with three heat sinks.

Either of those will prevent the 950 Pro from thermal throttling and keep it running at peak performance.

[EasyLover]

Getting lanes from CPU or Chipset won't make much difference. In my understanding, your M.2 won't run that much hotter.

[BlippyCheese]

Are people actually seeing heat issues with the 950 NVMe m.2? I have not been monitoring that heat at all (don't even know if it has a sensor...don' tsee one in HWiNFO...

[Menthol]

AIDA64 can monitor the 950, 951, Intel 750, and every other drive I have