Hi there.  I just went and read the whole way through the thread about having two cards run at x16/x16
 
I have a single video card in PE1 that's running at x8 instead of x16.
 
Since x16/x16 with two cards can only be done through PE2+PE4, does this mean that PE2 is the slot that runs off the CPU and not PE1? Should I move my single card to PE2?
 
I'm trying to find a configuration that will allow it to run at x16, but I really don't want the card to be running through PLX as it has some latency AFAIK, and latency is more important to me than raw performance.  (I'd rather have x8 with the CPU rather than x16 with PLX)
 
I have a sound card in PE3 (initially it was in PE4; I tried moving it up see if that would change anything, but it didn't), I also have a USB card in PE5 and NIC in PE6.  All of these cards are x1.
 
Can someone fill me in as to what the "proper" configuration would be here, in order to get my graphics card running at x16 with the CPU lanes, and still have my other cards work?
 
Thanks a bunch.
 

I have mine in slot 1 running at X16, 3.0. See attached.

I just got done trying pretty much every combination of slots, with no desirable outcome.
 
I guess I'll have to settle for putting my sound card in the x1 slot and ditch my nic/usb cards for onboard... Oh well.

Maybe this will help. Put your gpu in 1 and your other cards in 3,4,5 or 6 leave 2 blank.

PCI-E Slot Breakdown
PCI-E Lane Distribution

PE1 – x16 (x8 if PE2 is used)

PE2 – x16 (x8 if PE3 is used)

PE3 – x8

PE4 – x16 (x8 if PE6 is used)

PE5 – x1

PE6 – x8

The way I understand it, if you populate any other slot (with the exception of the pci-e x1 slot), it will activate the PLX chip and cause slot 1 to run at x8.  Ditch the sound card and use the MB on-board sound. It's pretty good.

CptSpig
Maybe this will help. Put your gpu in 1 and your other cards in 3,4,5 or 6 leave 2 blank.

PCI-E Slot Breakdown
PCI-E Lane Distribution

PE1 – x16 (x8 if PE2 is used)

PE2 – x16 (x8 if PE3 is used)

PE3 – x8

PE4 – x16 (x8 if PE6 is used)

PE5 – x1

PE6 – x8

Incorrect. Slot 1 runs on cpu, all other slots run on plx.

Anything in any lane other than slot one will force lane 1 into x8. Slot 2 and 4 run off the plx which mimic both being x16, but are only actually running at x8 to the cpu. If slot 3 has anything in it, it will change the plx lanes to x8 for lane 2. Same with slot 6 and 4 together.

I haven't read up on this in a while but is it still true that difference between x16 and x8 together vs x16 and x16  or even x8 and x8 together is pretty negligible?

It is still negligible indeed. The plan does add a very minor amount of latency, but not really noticeable unless you are seriously effected by placebos, lol. I ran the z87 Classified and really enjoyed it. I only changed to go for the bigger processors.

Thanks!  Was wanting this board but the spacing was bothering me on the 2 x16 but I don't mind if it runs at 2 x8 sli so it's still in the running.

It will show the lower lane always run at x16 on the lower lane unless you occupy the lane below it. Just don't let that part bug you, lol.