ASRock Z77 Extreme3 User Manual

Page 21

ASRock Z77 Extreme3 Motherboard

English

2.6 Expansion Slots (PCI and PCI Express Slots)

There are 2 PCI slots and 4 PCI Express slots on this motherboard.
PCI slots: PCI slots are used to install expansion cards that have the 32-bit PCI

interface.

PCIE slots: PCIE1 (PCIE 2.0 x1 slot) is used for a PCI Express x1 lane width card,

such as a Gigabit LAN card, SATA2 card, etc.

PCIE2 (PCIE 3.0 x16 slot) is used for PCI Express x16 lane width
graphics cards, or to install PCI Express graphics cards to support
CrossFireX

or SLI

function.

PCIE3 (PCIE 3.0 x16 slot) is used for PCI Express x8 lane width graph-
ics cards, or to install PCI Express graphics cards to support CrossFi-
reX

or SLI

function.

PCIE4 (PCIE 2.0 x16 slot) is used for PCI Express x4 lane width graph-
ics cards, or to install PCI Express graphics cards to support 3-Way
CrossFireX

function.

1. In single VGA card mode, it is recommended to install a PCI Express

x16 graphics card on PCIE2 slot.

2. In CrossFireX

mode or SLI

mode, please install the PCI Express

x16 graphics cards on PCIE2 and PCIE3 slots. Therefore, both these

two slots will work at x8 bandwidth.

3. In 3-Way CrossFireX

mode, please install the PCI Express x16

graphics cards in PCIE2, PCIE3 and PCIE4 slots. PCIE2 and PCIE3

will work at x8 bandwidth, while PCIE4 works at x4 bandwidth.

4. Please connect a chassis fan to the motherboard’s chassis fan

connector (CHA_FAN1, CHA_FAN2 or CHA_FAN3) when using

multiple graphics cards for better thermal environment.

5. Only PCIE2 and PCIE3 slots support Gen 3 speed. To run the PCI

Express in Gen 3 speed, please install an Ivy Bridge CPU. If you

install a Sandy Bridge CPU, the PCI Express will run only at PCI

Express Gen 2 speed.