LockedHow to enable PCI-E 3.0 in Windows 7

Read all you members links.  Here is the Official Intel Data Sheet /specification on PCIe.  Paragraph 1.2
 PCI Express*
•  Support for PCI Express* 2.0 (5.0 GT/s), PCI Express* (2.5 GT/s), and capable of
up to PCI Express* 8.0 GT/s.
•  Up to 40 lanes of PCI Express* interconnect for general purpose PCI Express
devices capable of up to 8.0 GT/s speeds that are configurable for up to 10
independent ports.
•  Negotiating down to narrower widths is supported, see Figure 1-2
— x16 port (Port 2 & Port 3) may negotiate down to x8, x4, x2, or x1
— x8 port (Port 1) may negotiate down to x4, x2, or x1
— x4 port (Port 0) may negotiate down to x2, or x1
— When negotiating down to narrower widths, there are caveats as to how lane
reversal is supported
So PCIe 3.0 can be supported on/by 2011 CPUs

KenMcC

Read all you members links.  Here is the Official Intel Data Sheet /specification on PCIe.  Paragraph 1.2
PCI Express*
•  Support for PCI Express* 2.0 (5.0 GT/s), PCI Express* (2.5 GT/s), and capable of
up to PCI Express* 8.0 GT/s.
•  Up to 40 lanes of PCI Express* interconnect for general purpose PCI Express
devices capable of up to 8.0 GT/s speeds that are configurable for up to 10
independent ports.
•  Negotiating down to narrower widths is supported, see Figure 1-2
— x16 port (Port 2 & Port 3) may negotiate down to x8, x4, x2, or x1
— x8 port (Port 1) may negotiate down to x4, x2, or x1
— x4 port (Port 0) may negotiate down to x2, or x1
— When negotiating down to narrower widths, there are caveats as to how lane
reversal is supported
So PCIe 3.0 can be supported on/by 2011 CPUs

 
Thanks Ken, good post.
 
I don't understand the continued discussion though of whether or not it's supported.  We all should know it is because we're running it that way on X79 setups simply by setting PCIE to GEN3 in the BIOS and adding the line to the right Display registry key.
 

Deleted - incorrect response!  I misread the post

Because every driver update breaks this it's easier if you have a method of adding the same registry key again and again just by using a .REG file tailored to the registry directory that needs this added value.
 
1. Open notepad.
2. Copy/Paste this quote:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Video\{47CB24C6-D2B5-424E-BCA4-F8F7D1DD5152}\0000]
"RMPcieLinkSpeed"=dword:00000004

**YOU MUST CHANGE THE VALUE IN BOLD TO THE CORRECT DIRECTORY FOR YOUR SPECIFIC REGISTRY** 
*SEE POST #1 FOR IDENTIFYING THE CORRECT PATH* 
 
3. Save as RMPcieLinkSpeed.REG or whatever you want, doesn't matter.
4. Whenever you update drivers and need to add the value again you can just double-click this created .REG file to add it.
 
I have only tested this on my setup just for the sake of others because my setup doesn't use PCI 3.0. I do not know if the path would remain the same when drivers are updated. If it does, this should work and you'd only have to set up this file once. Much quicker than opening up the registry after every single driver update to re-add the same value.

vernacular

Because every driver update breaks this it's easier if you have a method of adding the same registry key again and again just by using a .REG file tailored to the registry directory that needs this added value.

1. Open notepad.
2. Copy/Paste this quote:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Video\{47CB24C6-D2B5-424E-BCA4-F8F7D1DD5152}\0000]
"RMPcieLinkSpeed"=dword:00000004

**YOU MUST CHANGE THE VALUE IN BOLD TO THE CORRECT DIRECTORY FOR YOUR SPECIFIC REGISTRY** 
*SEE POST #1 FOR IDENTIFYING THE CORRECT PATH* 
 
3. Save as RMPcieLinkSpeed.REG or whatever you want, doesn't matter.
4. Whenever you update drivers and need to add the value again you can just double-click this created .REG file to add it.

I have only tested this on my setup just for the sake of others because my setup doesn't use PCI 3.0. I do not know if the path would remain the same when drivers are updated. If it does, this should work and you'd only have to set up this file once. Much quicker than opening up the registry after every single driver update to re-add the same value.

 
In the time that it takes you to look up the new Display ID, you might as well just type in RMPcieLinkSpeed and 0004... especially if you're running SLI.
 
It's not hard, just mildly inconvenient.
 
As for why it's not done by default, I don't know.  If PCIE 2.0 is all that's available for hardware, it runs PCIE 2.0 so it makes no difference on the software side to have it there and enabled by default.
 
I suppose it's a contractual thing with PCI SIG that requires the qualification to be complete first... or something legal versus techincal.
 
Still, the bottom line is that they run PCIE 3.0 with the added entry.  The hardware supports it and the drivers to do with that one small tweak.

SB-E supports PCIE 3.0. Just not certified as no PCIE 3.0 cards were avaialble at launch. It is that simple.

Reg hack only needed for Nvidia. AMD drivers enable PCIE 3.0 out of the box.

I'm with J Utah, I have been running PCIE 3.0 with my crossfire 7970s for the last 3 months. Worked fine right out of the box.

Sorry for my off topic post. mdzcpa-I have the same motherboard and CPU that you do. I assembled this machine in December. The first CPUs were not the C2 stepping that is available now. This has something to do with VT-d, or something like that. I actually don't overclock my CPU. My question is whether the lack of support for VT-d in the first batch of SB-E processors is even important? I don't know enough about this issue. Sorry again for this being off topic. Thanks.

So we're all in agreement that the PCIe 3.0 controller hardware must pre-exist in order to be enabled for use?   Software can't pull rabbits out of hats unless there was already a hat, a rabbit, and a way to pull it out.  This seems pretty similar to conversations folks wre having when the GTX260/GTX280 first appeared where some cards allowed votlage control only because a special voltage regulator was physically installed, and without it no software could control that voltage.  Similarly, the only reason the registry hack works is because something was already there, but disabled. 
 

RainStryke
Hmm... I have not heard of that one. Intel claims their 2011 socket processors only have a PCI-E 2.0 controller.
http://ark.intel.com/products/63696/Intel-Core-i7-3960X-Processor-Extreme-Edition-(15M-Cache-3_30-GHz)

Since I didn't read the whole thread, just to let you know that the i7's aren't the only LGA2011 processors, in which the rest all have PCIe 3.0 by default, so SB-E also has 3.0 and is just not enabled by nVidia drivers. 
 
Johnny_Utah already mentioned using PCIe 3.0 via AMD cards with his X79 since January, so AMD was being proactive with support, nVidia was not. 

Just thought I'd post this as added info:
http://nvidia.custhelp.co...ci-express-3.0-support

mwparrish 
In the time that it takes you to look up the new Display ID, you might as well just type in RMPcieLinkSpeed and 0004... especially if you're running SLI.

It's not hard, just mildly inconvenient.

As for why it's not done by default, I don't know.  If PCIE 2.0 is all that's available for hardware, it runs PCIE 2.0 so it makes no difference on the software side to have it there and enabled by default.

I suppose it's a contractual thing with PCI SIG that requires the qualification to be complete first... or something legal versus techincal.

Still, the bottom line is that they run PCIE 3.0 with the added entry.  The hardware supports it and the drivers to do with that one small tweak.

So it changes the ID on every driver update? That's a shame. It'd be nice to just have it enabled by default or have a check box in nVidia control panel to enable it.

vernacular

mwparrish 
In the time that it takes you to look up the new Display ID, you might as well just type in RMPcieLinkSpeed and 0004... especially if you're running SLI.

It's not hard, just mildly inconvenient.

As for why it's not done by default, I don't know.  If PCIE 2.0 is all that's available for hardware, it runs PCIE 2.0 so it makes no difference on the software side to have it there and enabled by default.

I suppose it's a contractual thing with PCI SIG that requires the qualification to be complete first... or something legal versus techincal.

Still, the bottom line is that they run PCIE 3.0 with the added entry.  The hardware supports it and the drivers to do with that one small tweak.

So it changes the ID on every driver update? That's a shame. It'd be nice to just have it enabled by default or have a check box in nVidia control panel to enable it.

 
It literally takes about 5 seconds, but sometimes they change, sometimes they don't.  I run SLI and when I updated from 301.10 to 301.42 GPU2 still had the key while GPU1 had it removed.  I'm not entirely sure if the key itself changed.  The other trick is to be sure SLI is disabled when you add the keys and then re-enable it.

Hopefully we won't have to do it much longer...Nvidia needs to get off their behinds and get those drivers certified to run on X79 (as they stated they are doing).  It's quite ridiculous that we have to do this in the first place.

Ilikebeans (and others), Nvidia site posted was over 2 Months ago.  I would hope Nvidia has been able to do validation in that period of time..... Very strange issues??? 

Tried it with my X79 FTW and 3820, but it still says 2.0 for some reason? Maybe I didn't do it right, but I did follow instructions pretty closely. Is it just the 3820 that doesn't support 3.0?

my scores in heaven benchmark @6080x1080 went from 1750 to 2260 just by enabling pci3 in the registry

KW-Sparhawk

Tried it with my X79 FTW and 3820, but it still says 2.0 for some reason? Maybe I didn't do it right, but I did follow instructions pretty closely. Is it just the 3820 that doesn't support 3.0?

 
All the socket 2011 chips support 3.0.  Maybe you just missed something?

KW-Sparhawk

Tried it with my X79 FTW and 3820, but it still says 2.0 for some reason? Maybe I didn't do it right, but I did follow instructions pretty closely. Is it just the 3820 that doesn't support 3.0?

I am having the same problem. X79 SLI + 3820. GPU-Z shows up as 2.0 after registry tweak.
 
Is there an option to turn it on in the BIOS? I haven't been able to find it.

driftefx

KW-Sparhawk

Tried it with my X79 FTW and 3820, but it still says 2.0 for some reason? Maybe I didn't do it right, but I did follow instructions pretty closely. Is it just the 3820 that doesn't support 3.0?

I am having the same problem. X79 SLI + 3820. GPU-Z shows up as 2.0 after registry tweak.

Is there an option to turn it on in the BIOS? I haven't been able to find it.

 
Yep, have to change PCIE bifurcation from GEN2 to GEN3.  It's in the IOH submenu.

mwparrish

driftefx

KW-Sparhawk

Tried it with my X79 FTW and 3820, but it still says 2.0 for some reason? Maybe I didn't do it right, but I did follow instructions pretty closely. Is it just the 3820 that doesn't support 3.0?

I am having the same problem. X79 SLI + 3820. GPU-Z shows up as 2.0 after registry tweak.

Is there an option to turn it on in the BIOS? I haven't been able to find it.

Yep, have to change PCIE bifurcation from GEN2 to GEN3.  It's in the IOH submenu.

 
 
Thank you! I got it to come up as 3.0 =)

driftefx

mwparrish

driftefx

KW-Sparhawk

Tried it with my X79 FTW and 3820, but it still says 2.0 for some reason? Maybe I didn't do it right, but I did follow instructions pretty closely. Is it just the 3820 that doesn't support 3.0?

I am having the same problem. X79 SLI + 3820. GPU-Z shows up as 2.0 after registry tweak.

Is there an option to turn it on in the BIOS? I haven't been able to find it.

Yep, have to change PCIE bifurcation from GEN2 to GEN3.  It's in the IOH submenu.

 

Thank you! I got it to come up as 3.0 =)

 
No problem, it's buried in there and not really obvious what it is!  Glad you're off and running at 8 GT/s

KW-Sparhawk: I have the X79 FTW, i7-3820, and GTX 680, and GPU-Z is showing it as "PCI-E 3.0 x 16 @ 1.1". Once I start running games it hops to "PCI-E 3.0 x 16 @ 3.0". The important part is "PCI-E 3.0 x 16". The "@ 1.1", "@ 2.0" and "@ 3.0" changes depending on load.

1. Enable GEN-3 in the BIOS for the slots (IOH menu I think)
2. Double-check your registry edit

The 3820 definitely supports 3.0.

jbgrobler

KW-Sparhawk: I have the X79 FTW, i7-3820, and GTX 680, and GPU-Z is showing it as "PCI-E 3.0 x 16 @ 1.1". Once I start running games it hops to "PCI-E 3.0 x 16 @ 3.0". The important part is "PCI-E 3.0 x 16". The "@ 1.1", "@ 2.0" and "@ 3.0" changes depending on load.

1. Enable GEN-3 in the BIOS for the slots (IOH menu I think)
2. Double-check your registry edit

The 3820 definitely supports 3.0.

Awesome man! Awesome! It's all good now! Much Thanks to OP and others for the help. Now this board is starting to live up to my expectations, ...it's been a lot of work, but as soon as I get these USB ports working I'll be one happy customer. (sometimes they work, and sometimes they don't...still trying different combos)

KW-Sparhawk

jbgrobler

KW-Sparhawk: I have the X79 FTW, i7-3820, and GTX 680, and GPU-Z is showing it as "PCI-E 3.0 x 16 @ 1.1". Once I start running games it hops to "PCI-E 3.0 x 16 @ 3.0". The important part is "PCI-E 3.0 x 16". The "@ 1.1", "@ 2.0" and "@ 3.0" changes depending on load.

1. Enable GEN-3 in the BIOS for the slots (IOH menu I think)
2. Double-check your registry edit

The 3820 definitely supports 3.0.

Awesome man! Awesome! It's all good now! Much Thanks to OP and others for the help. Now this board is starting to live up to my expectations, ...it's been a lot of work, but as soon as I get these USB ports working I'll be one happy customer. (sometimes they work, and sometimes they don't...still trying different combos)

 
USB 3.0 only works reliably with memory set to automatic.  Not all devices USB 2.0/3.0 work well though, but it's the best you get until a fix is released.

anybody else missing this slot?
 

Got Pcie 3.0 working great on my x79 FTW and i7 3820!

Iluv2raceit

For those of you who have been asking the directions on how to enable PCI-E 3.0 within Windows 7, here are the instructions!
 
These are instructions on how to enable PCI-E 3.0 using the REGEDIT function within the Microsoft Windows 7 operating system:

Hardware requirements in order for these directions to work properly:
 
1) Motherboard is PCI-E 3.0 hardware certified
 
2) Graphics card (NVidia or AMD) is PCI-E 3.0 hardware certified (currently, NVidia 600 series cards and AMD 7000 series cards are PCI-E 3.0 hardware certified)
 
NOTE: I highly recommend you ensure the motherboard is updated to the most current BIOS version and that PCI-E 3.0 is enabled within the BIOS settings.

CRITICAL!! Back up your registry before proceeding! This will ensure that you can restore your registry should you enter an invalid value or conduct one of the steps incorrectly.
 
Step 1: Update your graphics drivers to the latest version (doesn't matter if you use the WHQL or beta version) and restart your computer.

Step 2: Download the latest version of GPU-Z:
http://www.techpowerup.com/downloads/SysInfo/GPU-Z/

Step 3: Run GPU-Z and verify that the “Graphics Bus interface” value shows PCI-E 2.0 for each card

Step 4: Disable SLI -or- Crossfire (if enabled). If SLI -or- Crossfire are not enabled, skip to Step 5

Step 5: Click on the Windows button (located on the lower left corner of the start bar)

Step 6: In the search index entry window, type in “Regedit” (the Registry Editor window will open)

Step 7: Select the following registry:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SYSTEM/CurrentControlSet/Control/Video

Step 8: Identify the correct registry folders for each of graphics cards you have installed. There will be one associated folder for each card installed. To identify the correct folder for each card, you will need to review the names of each folder within the “HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SYSTEM/ CurrentControlSet/ Control/Video” registry directory. The folder associated with a graphics card will have three or more subfolders (depending on how many PCI-E slots available on the motherboard). The values listed for each subfolder will be 0000, 0001, 0002, 0003, 0004, and Video. Review only the subfolders labeled as "0000". You will know you have selected the correct "0000" subfolder when you see a registry labeled “DriverDesc” with a value that matches the graphics card you have installed. Example, the value in my “DriverDesc” registry value reads “NVIDIA Geforce GTX 680”.

Step 9: Right click on the folder labeled “0000”. Select “New”, then select “DWORD (32-bit) Value“, then enter “RMPcieLinkSpeed” for the name of the registry.

Step 10: Right click the “RMPcieLinkSpeed” registry you just created, then select “Modify”, then enter “4” as the data value and verify that the “Hexadecimal” option is checked under “Base”, and then select “OK”.

Step 11: Repeat steps 9 and 10 for each graphics card associated folder (named “0000”)

Step 12: Once you have completed creating the RMPcieLinkSpeed registry for each card, close the Registry Editor window and restart your computer.

Step 13: Once your system is back into Windows 7 operating system environment, run GPU-Z and verify that the “Graphics Bus interface” value shows PCI-E 3.0 for each card.

Step 14: Re-enable SLI -or- Crossfire as needed.

CONGRATULATIONS!! PCI-E 3.0 is now fully enabled within Windows 7

*UPDATE*  Please note that if you update your graphics drivers, this registry hack will be undone and PCI-E 2.0 will be enabled again.  Due to this issue, I added a step at the very beginning of these instructions to have you update the graphics drivers BEFORE doing the registry hack.  Hopefully, this will save you a bit of time and hassle.

 
Just wondering, since I'm most definitely not an expert in Registry editing..., but the options for a new DWORD entry give both a 32 bit and a 64 bit option.  If one is running a 64 bit OS, should not the new entry be a 64 bit entry..., or does it not make a difference?

comrade

Iluv2raceit

For those of you who have been asking the directions on how to enable PCI-E 3.0 within Windows 7, here are the instructions!
 
These are instructions on how to enable PCI-E 3.0 using the REGEDIT function within the Microsoft Windows 7 operating system:

Hardware requirements in order for these directions to work properly:
 
1) Motherboard is PCI-E 3.0 hardware certified
 
2) Graphics card (NVidia or AMD) is PCI-E 3.0 hardware certified (currently, NVidia 600 series cards and AMD 7000 series cards are PCI-E 3.0 hardware certified)
 
NOTE: I highly recommend you ensure the motherboard is updated to the most current BIOS version and that PCI-E 3.0 is enabled within the BIOS settings.

CRITICAL!! Back up your registry before proceeding! This will ensure that you can restore your registry should you enter an invalid value or conduct one of the steps incorrectly.
 
Step 1: Update your graphics drivers to the latest version (doesn't matter if you use the WHQL or beta version) and restart your computer.
 
Step 2: Download the latest version of GPU-Z:
http://www.techpowerup.com/downloads/SysInfo/GPU-Z/

Step 3: Run GPU-Z and verify that the “Graphics Bus interface” value shows PCI-E 2.0 for each card

Step 4: Disable SLI -or- Crossfire (if enabled). If SLI -or- Crossfire are not enabled, skip to Step 5

Step 5: Click on the Windows button (located on the lower left corner of the start bar)

Step 6: In the search index entry window, type in “Regedit” (the Registry Editor window will open)

Step 7: Select the following registry:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SYSTEM/CurrentControlSet/Control/Video

Step 8: Identify the correct registry folders for each of graphics cards you have installed. There will be one associated folder for each card installed. To identify the correct folder for each card, you will need to review the names of each folder within the “HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SYSTEM/ CurrentControlSet/ Control/Video” registry directory. The folder associated with a graphics card will have three or more subfolders (depending on how many PCI-E slots available on the motherboard). The values listed for each subfolder will be 0000, 0001, 0002, 0003, 0004, and Video. Review only the subfolders labeled as "0000". You will know you have selected the correct "0000" subfolder when you see a registry labeled “DriverDesc” with a value that matches the graphics card you have installed. Example, the value in my “DriverDesc” registry value reads “NVIDIA Geforce GTX 680”.

Step 9: Right click on the folder labeled “0000”. Select “New”, then select “DWORD (32-bit) Value“, then enter “RMPcieLinkSpeed” for the name of the registry.

Step 10: Right click the “RMPcieLinkSpeed” registry you just created, then select “Modify”, then enter “4” as the data value and verify that the “Hexadecimal” option is checked under “Base”, and then select “OK”.

Step 11: Repeat steps 9 and 10 for each graphics card associated folder (named “0000”)

Step 12: Once you have completed creating the RMPcieLinkSpeed registry for each card, close the Registry Editor window and restart your computer.

Step 13: Once your system is back into Windows 7 operating system environment, run GPU-Z and verify that the “Graphics Bus interface” value shows PCI-E 3.0 for each card.

Step 14: Re-enable SLI -or- Crossfire as needed.

CONGRATULATIONS!! PCI-E 3.0 is now fully enabled within Windows 7

*UPDATE*  Please note that if you update your graphics drivers, this registry hack will be undone and PCI-E 2.0 will be enabled again.  Due to this issue, I added a step at the very beginning of these instructions to have you update the graphics drivers BEFORE doing the registry hack.  Hopefully, this will save you a bit of time and hassle.

Just wondering, since I'm most definitely not an expert in Registry editing..., but the options for a new DWORD entry give both a 32 bit and a 64 bit option.  If one is running a 64 bit OS, should not the new entry be a 64 bit entry..., or does it not make a difference?

 
It should be 32-bit.  Not sure the specifics but it's 32-bit.

STrangely, doing this causes all sorts of suttering problems for me in battlefield 3. Going back to pci-e 2.0 remedies this problem. 

nVidia has officially updated the specifications of the GTX 680:

"*GeForce GTX 680 supports PCI Express 3.0. The Intel X79/SNB-E PCI Express 2.0 platform is only currently supported up to 5GT/s (PCIE 2.0) bus speeds even though some motherboard manufacturers have enabled higher 8GT/s speeds."

See the footnotes at the bottom, here:

http://www.geforce.com/hardware/desktop-gpus/geforce-gtx-680/specifications

jbgrobler

nVidia has officially updated the specifications of the GTX 680:

"*GeForce GTX 680 supports PCI Express 3.0. The Intel X79/SNB-E PCI Express 2.0 platform is only currently supported up to 5GT/s (PCIE 2.0) bus speeds even though some motherboard manufacturers have enabled higher 8GT/s speeds."

See the footnotes at the bottom, here:

http://www.geforce.com/hardware/desktop-gpus/geforce-gtx-680/specifications

 
Those specs have been there since the release of the GTX 680 when the reviewers noted this issue.

I only noticed it today. Anyway, it is there in black and white, so protecting nVidia from any issues regarding PCIe 3.0 on the X79 platform.

mwparrish

jbgrobler

nVidia has officially updated the specifications of the GTX 680:

"*GeForce GTX 680 supports PCI Express 3.0. The Intel X79/SNB-E PCI Express 2.0 platform is only currently supported up to 5GT/s (PCIE 2.0) bus speeds even though some motherboard manufacturers have enabled higher 8GT/s speeds."

See the footnotes at the bottom, here:

http://www.geforce.com/hardware/desktop-gpus/geforce-gtx-680/specifications

Those specs have been there since the release of the GTX 680 when the reviewers noted this issue.

 
It's so silly, they make it sound like it has nothing to do with their product.  OR  that certain motherboards can run this while others can't.  Not the REAL reason that Nvidia didn't get their drivers certified to run on X79/2011 platforms.  AMD managed to do this and released 3 months earlier.  Lame.

Johnny_Utah

mwparrish

jbgrobler

nVidia has officially updated the specifications of the GTX 680:

"*GeForce GTX 680 supports PCI Express 3.0. The Intel X79/SNB-E PCI Express 2.0 platform is only currently supported up to 5GT/s (PCIE 2.0) bus speeds even though some motherboard manufacturers have enabled higher 8GT/s speeds."

See the footnotes at the bottom, here:

http://www.geforce.com/hardware/desktop-gpus/geforce-gtx-680/specifications

Those specs have been there since the release of the GTX 680 when the reviewers noted this issue.

It's so silly, they make it sound like it has nothing to do with their product.  OR  that certain motherboards can run this while others can't.  Not the REAL reason that Nvidia didn't get their drivers certified to run on X79/2011 platforms.  AMD managed to do this and released 3 months earlier.  Lame.

 
I don't think the reason is at all technical or about certification.  I think it's a legal matter with PCI SIG and saying it's PCIE 3.0 on X79 which isn't PCI SIG certified even though we all know it works and works great. Blah, lawyers.

CYA
 
Cover Yo Ass.

great guide! thanks for the share

Thanks for this guide. Very helpful. I just noticed this link today, and I wonder if this little .exe does the same thing?? Thanks.
 

Oh, the post is over at nvidia forums. Admin here won't let me post it due to low post number. Sorry. It is a little exe that provides for 3.0 spec for capable boards.
 

Intel is just playing it safe.  When the chips were being developed the standard wasn't quite finished and there were no cards out to validate them with in any case, which is why they're not claiming PCI-E 3.0 support.  So officially they only support PCI-E 2.0, but the chips are fully capable of PCI-E 3.0.

This was posted yesterday at the nVidia forums:
 
http://forums.nvidia.com/index.php?showtopic=232153
 
They have been testing existing X79 motherboards and found too many signal timing issues, so no official PCIe 3.0 support for the X79 platform for the foreseeable future.

Yes, that's it. Thanks. Just wondering if that .exe does the same thing.

The .exe file works great.

When i installed my new build it said i was running PCIE 3.0 already is this correct? not done any mods to windows 7.
 

thank you patch!

Well..., I've tried the BIOS mod, I've tried the patch..., and I've tried just about every combination of settings in the BIOS that I can, but no matter what I try, I cannot get PCIE 3 to run stable at all.  I can get it to boot into Windows after many attempts, and CPU-Z will show PCIE 3, but whatever benchmark or game I try, it runs at a snails pace or I get a BSOD after a short time, or it freezes and I have to shut it off and reboot.
 
I've got the setup listed in my signature and I've RMA'd my MB once and it's running BIOS 37, but just no luck at all with PCIE 3.
 
Also..., no luck with the USB 3 ports.  They just will not work, no matter what.
 
My setup is perfectly stable with PCIE 2 and everything set at AUTO including the memory set on AUTO, which runs it at 1333 mhz, but I just have to say that at this point, I'm rather disappointed.  I'm stuck with just the two USB 2 plugs on the back and I have to run over $1000 worth of PCIE 3 video cards at PCIE 2 speeds.
 
I see others have been able to get USB 3 and PCIE 3 to work, but I can't.
 
So..., what do I do?  Ask for another RMA and hope the next replacement will work, or wait for a BIOS update that might or might not work?
 
 

I do not have any problems using the pcie 3.0 hack in non-sli driver mode. If I enable sli in the nvidia driver that's when the freezing starts when benchmarking, and the solution is to make the bios change for the second pcie card slot to run at GEN 2.

Run hack executable, reboot for it to take effect, for sli setups may or may not need to make bios change. Once in Windows run latest GPU-Z. For me with with both card slots set at GEN 3 the primary GPU-Z screen shows both cards are running at pcie 3.0, and performing the test will show both are indeed pcie 3.0 (though benchmarking & playing games may result in freezes). When I make the bios change (for sli setup) the main GPU-Z screen shows the cards are running at pcie 2.0, but when you run the test it shows one is running at pcie 3.0 and the other at pcie 2.0 - can benchmark and play games normally. 
 
Note: Newest Nvidia beta driver allows more time gaming/benchmarking before freezes occur (3DMark11 score of 17957 w/pcie 3.0 hack and GEN 3 for both slots), so there is hope I'll be able to run both pcie slots at GEN 3.  But for now I'll use the pcie 3.0 hack and make a change in my bios so one card slot is  running at pcie 3.0 and the other card slot at pcie 2.0 -- 3DMark11 score is basically the same as above. 

jbgrobler

This was posted yesterday at the nVidia forums:

http://forums.nvidia.com/index.php?showtopic=232153

They have been testing existing X79 motherboards and found too many signal timing issues, so no official PCIe 3.0 support for the X79 platform for the foreseeable future.

 
As of today, Aug. 19'th, the Nvidia forums have been down for two months.  It appears they just don't want to hear any more criticism or see any discussion of their failure of their 'flag-ship' X79 chipset!

Very informative post guys, look forward to using info when I get my rig together. Thanks again for all the great info. ;)

Same here brother! Sucks to BS'd into new tech that doesn't work!
 

I haven't read the whole thread so this might have been answered. Look at this screenshot: http://i.imgur.com/GbUyU.jpg
 
How is that possible? What are my cards really running at?

flagstang

I haven't read the whole thread so this might have been answered. Look at this screenshot: http://i.imgur.com/GbUyU.jpg

How is that possible? What are my cards really running at?

Thats in idle mode. run the full screen stress test. the button is right next to where it shows the port speed.

Hmm, I'll be using the i7 3820 and EVGA X79 FTW board as well as a GTX680 Sig2 2GB SC card. Seems this 3.0 PCIe hack is more work than just a setting to choose from the BIOS to keep on AUTO..

Most inexperienced people may have difficulties!

PCIE bifurcation from GEN2 to GEN3 in the IOH submenu.

Anyone know the correct option to disable Gen3? I'm unstable in gen 3 and can't disable in bios (asrock pro4). I want to just go Gen2...

I use the -revert on the enable gen3 pcie application.

suddenstop

Anyone know the correct option to disable Gen3? I'm unstable in gen 3 and can't disable in bios (asrock pro4). I want to just go Gen2...

Just reinstall your video drivers. It will set it back to gen2. make sure you have the bios set for gen2.
 
that or go get a 690 and you can run gen3 all day long.

All I know is that if Intel doesn't fuse Ivy Bridge-E heatspreaders properly, all this talk about PCI-E 3.0 support is going to be moot. 
 
Motherboard OEM's can claim PCI-E 3.0 support all night long, but if you have a SB-E i7, then all you're going to have is full support for PCI-E 2.0, that's it until IB-E is released sometime next year. All you'll have to do then is a cpu swap and a UEFI flash and then and only then will you have PCI-E 3.0. That is, if your motherboard already supports PCI-E 3.0, but to my knowledge all LGA2011 motherboards already do. .. but someone somewhere forgot that starting with SB-E for LGA2011 the PCI-E controller is on the cpu die. This little software hack just makes Windows 7 report that it's running on PCI-E 3.0 even though the cpu can't support it at this time. I just tried it on my system and my graphics card temps just jumped up between 10-15C. Sandy Bridge-E only support PCI-E 2.0 and we'll have to wait for Ivy Bridge-E. 

mellowfluff

All I know is that if Intel doesn't fuse Ivy Bridge-E heatspreaders properly, all this talk about PCI-E 3.0 support is going to be moot. 

Motherboard OEM's can claim PCI-E 3.0 support all night long, but if you have a SB-E i7, then all you're going to have is full support for PCI-E 2.0, that's it until IB-E is released sometime next year. All you'll have to do then is a cpu swap and a UEFI flash and then and only then will you have PCI-E 3.0. That is, if your motherboard already supports PCI-E 3.0, but to my knowledge all LGA2011 motherboards already do. .. but someone somewhere forgot that starting with SB-E for LGA2011 the PCI-E controller is on the cpu die. This little software hack just makes Windows 7 report that it's running on PCI-E 3.0 even though the cpu can't support it at this time. I just tried it on my system and my graphics card temps just jumped up between 10-15C. Sandy Bridge-E only support PCI-E 2.0 and we'll have to wait for Ivy Bridge-E. 

 
hey man,
I just need to correct you so you don't sound ignorant.
 
http://gpuz.techpowerup.com/12/11/11/cx3.png

 
I know some people have an issue with the 680 on certain sandy-e motherboards but the processor it self does infact support gen3... I wasn't able to run my 680 @gen3 but I sure as hell am running my 690 at gen3 all day long without a hickup.
 

ı try and write here.
i7 3930k - asus saber x79 - gtx 680 slii

dustingg

mellowfluff

All I know is that if Intel doesn't fuse Ivy Bridge-E heatspreaders properly, all this talk about PCI-E 3.0 support is going to be moot. 

Motherboard OEM's can claim PCI-E 3.0 support all night long, but if you have a SB-E i7, then all you're going to have is full support for PCI-E 2.0, that's it until IB-E is released sometime next year. All you'll have to do then is a cpu swap and a UEFI flash and then and only then will you have PCI-E 3.0. That is, if your motherboard already supports PCI-E 3.0, but to my knowledge all LGA2011 motherboards already do. .. but someone somewhere forgot that starting with SB-E for LGA2011 the PCI-E controller is on the cpu die. This little software hack just makes Windows 7 report that it's running on PCI-E 3.0 even though the cpu can't support it at this time. I just tried it on my system and my graphics card temps just jumped up between 10-15C. Sandy Bridge-E only support PCI-E 2.0 and we'll have to wait for Ivy Bridge-E. 

hey man,
I just need to correct you so you don't sound ignorant.

http://gpuz.techpowerup.com/12/11/11/cx3.png


I know some people have an issue with the 680 on certain sandy-e motherboards but the processor it self does infact support gen3... I wasn't able to run my 680 @gen3 but I sure as hell am running my 690 at gen3 all day long without a hickup.

 
Ok, so it can work. It hasn't worked for me and I'm not going to spend ~1000$ for a GTX690 to get it to work. As far as my LGA2011 system in concerned, I plan on upgrading to IB-E whenever it's available. I still don't think forcing PCI-E 3.0 is a good idea going forward, when you consider my GTX680 temps jumped up as much as they did. I'd just rather wait for official support. No point in breaking something that's not broke. Single monitor usage @ 1080p on a GTX680 in most cases probably wouldn't use more then 2Gb's vram anyways. Now if you're running a single 4GB GTX680 @ 5760x1080 then yes forcing PCI-E 3.0 might get you some performance improvements. Either way, why not wait for official support anyhow? Not going to upgrade to IB-E? 

This works fine for me. At least it says 3.0 in GPU-Z but can I rely on that?
 
Anyway, I want to make a .bat file that automatically adds these edits and then reboots the computer, but I don't have the knowledge or courage to make one my self. Does anyone know anything about this and hopefully post a solution?

flagstang

This works fine for me. At least it says 3.0 in GPU-Z but can I rely on that?

Anyway, I want to make a .bat file that automatically adds these edits and then reboots the computer, but I don't have the knowledge or courage to make one my self. Does anyone know anything about this and hopefully post a solution?

Why reopen a dead thread?