2-18 Chapter 2: Hardware information
• In single card mode, we recommend that you use the blue PCI
Express x16 (PCIEX16_1) slot.
• Due to chipset limitation, the black PCI Express x16 (PCIEX16_2)
slot can only operate at x8 speed.
• Connect a rear chassis fan to the chassis (CHA_FAN1 or CHA_
FAN2) connector when using two graphics cards for better thermal
environment. See page 2-28 for details.
• We recommend that you provide sufcient power when running
NVIDIA
®
SLI™ mode. See pages 2-29 and 2-30 for details.
PCI Express x 16 black slot
(at x8 speed)
PCI Express x16 blue slot
(at x16 speed)
PCI slots
PCI Express x1 slot
2.5.5 PCI Express x1 slot
This motherboard supports PCI Express x1 network cards, SCSI cards and
other cards that comply with the PCI Express specications. Refer to the
gure below for the location of the slot.
2.5.6 PCI Express x16 slots
This motherboard supports PCI Express x16 graphics cards that comply
with the PCI Express specications. Refer to the gure below for the
location of the slots.
Recommended PCI Express x16 congurations
Mode
PCIEX16_1 (Blue) slot PCIE16_2 (Black) slot
Card type Speed Card type Speed
Non-SLI mode PCIe x16 graphics card x16 NA
PCIe x16 graphics card x8 PCIe x16 graphics card x8
PCIe x16 graphics card x8 Other PCIe devices x8, x4, x1
Dual graphics
card in SLI Mode
Two identical NVIDIA
®
SLI™ Edition graphics cards at x8, x8 speed