ASRock Z68 Extreme7 Gen3 - Manual (Page 18)

18
ASRock Z68 Extreme7 Gen3 Motherboard
English
2.4 Expansion Slots (PCI and PCI Express Slots)
There are 1 PCI slot and 6 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/PCIE4 (PCIE 2.0 x16 slot) is used for PCI Express x16 lane
width graphics cards.
PCIE2 (PCIE 3.0 x16 slot) is used for PCI Express x16 lane width
graphics cards.
PCIE3 (PCIE 2.0 x1 slot) is used for PCI Express cards with x1 lane
width cards, such as Gigabit LAN card, SATA2 card, etc.
PCIE5 (PCIE 2.0 x16 slot) is used for PCI Express x4 lane width graph-
ics cards.
PCIE6 (PCIE 2.0 x16 slot) is used for PCI Express x8 lane width graph-
ics cards.
1. If you want to install one graphics card only, we suggest installing it
on PCIE2 slot; in this situation, PCIE1, PCIE4 and PCIE6 slots will be
disabled.
2. Only PCIE2 slot supports up to Gen 3 speed. To run the PCI Express
in Gen 3 speed, please must install the Ivy Bridge CPU. If you install
the Sandy Bridge CPU, the PCI Express will run only at PCI Express
Gen 2 speed.
3. In CrossFireX TM mode or SLI TM mode, please install PCI Express x16
graphics cards on PCIE1 and PCIE4 slots. Therefore, both these two
slots will work at x16 bandwidth.
4. In 3-Way CrossFireX TM or 3-Way SLI TM mode, please install PCI
Express x16 graphics cards on PCIE1, PCIE4 and PCIE6 slots.
Therefore, PCIE1 slot will work at x16 bandwidth while PCIE4 and
PCIE6 slots will work at x8 bandwidth.
5. Please connect a chassis fan to motherboard chassis fan connector
(CHA_FAN1, CHA_FAN2 or CHA_FAN3) when using multiple
graphics cards for better thermal environment.
Installing an expansion card
Step 1. Before installing the expansion card, please make sure that the power
supply is switched off or the power cord is unplugged. Please read the
documentation of the expansion card and make necessary hardware
settings for the card before you start the installation.
Step 2. Remove the system unit cover (if your motherboard is already installed
in a chassis).
Step 3. Remove the bracket facing the slot that you intend to use. Keep the
screws for later use.