Alienware Aurora R6 - Issues with GTX 1080 & PCIe 3.0 lanes

Question

Hi All,

I'd like to preface by saying that I essentially know next to nothing about PCs. I've read a few threads on this forum and elsewhere regarding concerns that the GTX 1080 is running at x8 as opposed to x16 on the PCIe 3.0 lanes, and that some people have opened the case and confirmed that the MB lists "x8," and not x16. With that being said, I wasn't able to come across a definitive answer/solution to this issue, although it appears that it may be related to the m.2 SSD. I've also seen the tests with benchmarks indicating that there really isn't a noticeable performance difference between x8 and x16 (I believe the differing results were within the acceptable margin of error).

Anyways, I'd like to see if anyone can kindly shed some more light on this issue. I've attached a screenshot showing Nvidia Control Panel and GPUz, both of which show that it's running at x8 (even when I click on the "?" in GPUz to run the render test).

I do not plan on ever running SLI GPUs. If anything, I will upgrade to 1080 Ti after a price drop. I'd like to know if this is something to be concerned about, or it's more of "the principle." Especially considering that Alienware advertises the Aurora R6 as having two PCIe 3.0 x16. So I'd like to make sure that I'm not doing something wrong!

I can provide whatever specs might be useful, but I have i7-7700, GTX 1080, 850w PSU.

Thanks in advance, much appreciated as always!

Josh

Tesla1856 · Answer

1. the GTX 1080 is running at x8 as opposed to x16 on the PCIe 3.0 lanes,

2. and that some people have opened the case and confirmed that the MB lists "x8," and not x16.

3. it may be related to the m.2 SSD.

4. I've also seen the tests with benchmarks indicating that there really isn't a noticeable performance difference between x8 and x16 (I believe the differing results were within the acceptable margin of error).

5. Anyways, I'd like to see if anyone can kindly shed some more light on this issue. I've attached a screenshot showing Nvidia Control Panel and GPUz, both of which show that it's running at x8 (even when I click on the "?" in GPUz to run the render test).

6. If anything, I will upgrade to 1080 Ti after a price drop.

7. I'd like to know if this is something to be concerned about, or it's more of "the principle."

8. I have i7-7700, GTX 1080, 850w PSU.

1. In the Aurora-R6, this is normal

2. Correct, it is marked x8

3. No, I don't think it is. Just an Alienware design choice . See my Feb 27, 2017 and later posts in this thread:

Alienware Aurora R5 NVMe M.2 SSD / GTX1080 issues

4. Correct, at least not at 1080p or even 2K. I doubt even a single 4K monitor would suffer significantly. Not sure about a 3-monitor 2K or 4K gaming setup (I don't have that setup and it's hard to find those who do and test it that way). No problems running multiple monitors in Windows Extended desktop or course.

5. Looks normal to me.

6. That should work fine also, but that's a lot of money for just a little more power. GTX-1080 should work fine.

7. I wouldn't. If you are, you could return it or sell it and buy an Area51-R3/R4. Remember that the Aurora-R6 is the affordable mainstream desktop machine in the line-up.

8. Nice config. I hope you also got M.2-NVMe-SSD and Liquid-Cooler for processor. Two exactly-matching DIMMs in proper slots will enable the faster true Dual-Channel memory Mode.

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Alienware Aurora R6 - Issues with GTX 1080 & PCIe 3.0 lanes

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