F5F Stay Refreshed Hardware Desktop Check the CPU specifications to see if it supports PCIe Gen 4 and whether your motherboard is compatible.

Check the CPU specifications to see if it supports PCIe Gen 4 and whether your motherboard is compatible.

Check the CPU specifications to see if it supports PCIe Gen 4 and whether your motherboard is compatible.

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ItsuwariNoKami
Member
70
11-08-2021, 02:57 AM
#1
Hello everyone! Here’s what I have assembled so far: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/D2Dj4s I currently have an i7-11700K and plan to replace it with the latest model (i7-10700K). I’m sure my motherboard supports a BIOS update, which will enable PCIe Gen 4 functionality. I’m not very tech-savvy about the number of lanes unlocked by the new CPU or what PCIe lanes actually refer to—usually they relate to GPU slots and possibly SSDs or RAM. I’m hoping to build something that can handle future upgrades for gaming, since I won’t be using it for heavy work beyond browsing and occasional school tasks. Upgrading my motherboard should unlock PCIe Gen 4, but I need your help checking the specifications and clarifying whether running certain modules will slow down others at those speeds. Also, I’m curious if my board supports DDR5 RAM—though I haven’t used it yet. Don’t worry, you don’t need PCIe Gen 4 to run DDR5 RAM, just make sure your system is compatible!
I
ItsuwariNoKami
11-08-2021, 02:57 AM #1

Hello everyone! Here’s what I have assembled so far: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/D2Dj4s I currently have an i7-11700K and plan to replace it with the latest model (i7-10700K). I’m sure my motherboard supports a BIOS update, which will enable PCIe Gen 4 functionality. I’m not very tech-savvy about the number of lanes unlocked by the new CPU or what PCIe lanes actually refer to—usually they relate to GPU slots and possibly SSDs or RAM. I’m hoping to build something that can handle future upgrades for gaming, since I won’t be using it for heavy work beyond browsing and occasional school tasks. Upgrading my motherboard should unlock PCIe Gen 4, but I need your help checking the specifications and clarifying whether running certain modules will slow down others at those speeds. Also, I’m curious if my board supports DDR5 RAM—though I haven’t used it yet. Don’t worry, you don’t need PCIe Gen 4 to run DDR5 RAM, just make sure your system is compatible!

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TheRedPhoenixx
Member
95
11-08-2021, 04:13 AM
#2
PCIe 4.0 adoption depends on the CPU, not a BIOS update. The 11th generation processor you install will utilize PCIe 4.0 in the PCIe lanes connected to the CPU ports—specifically PCI_E1 and PCI_E3, which are typically marked on the motherboard. These lanes act like highways for data transfer. The CPU allocates these resources among all connected devices, meaning the GPU, other PCIe-enabled components, and even M.2 NVMe drives (unless they use SATA instead) share the same lanes. Each RAM module requires a distinct slot due to differing pin configurations; mixing standards without separate slots would cause confusion and malfunctions. It's important to note that PCIe and DDR specifications are independent systems.
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TheRedPhoenixx
11-08-2021, 04:13 AM #2

PCIe 4.0 adoption depends on the CPU, not a BIOS update. The 11th generation processor you install will utilize PCIe 4.0 in the PCIe lanes connected to the CPU ports—specifically PCI_E1 and PCI_E3, which are typically marked on the motherboard. These lanes act like highways for data transfer. The CPU allocates these resources among all connected devices, meaning the GPU, other PCIe-enabled components, and even M.2 NVMe drives (unless they use SATA instead) share the same lanes. Each RAM module requires a distinct slot due to differing pin configurations; mixing standards without separate slots would cause confusion and malfunctions. It's important to note that PCIe and DDR specifications are independent systems.

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JuDaKoMo
Junior Member
16
11-14-2021, 03:42 PM
#3
Intel.ARK indicates the i7-11700K supports 20 PCI_e lanes. It’s probable that a modern GPU utilizes 16 of these in its highest slot (x16 meaning 16 lanes). Once allocated, you’re left with 4 lanes, which can fit into an M.2 PCI_e SSD. Typically, chipset reserves these for storage and may include extra slots or M.2 ports, but avoid using them for main graphics or primary storage. SATA SSDs work just fine. Regarding DDR5, according to the Memory QVL data on your motherboards, the conclusion is no—regardless of CPU generation.
J
JuDaKoMo
11-14-2021, 03:42 PM #3

Intel.ARK indicates the i7-11700K supports 20 PCI_e lanes. It’s probable that a modern GPU utilizes 16 of these in its highest slot (x16 meaning 16 lanes). Once allocated, you’re left with 4 lanes, which can fit into an M.2 PCI_e SSD. Typically, chipset reserves these for storage and may include extra slots or M.2 ports, but avoid using them for main graphics or primary storage. SATA SSDs work just fine. Regarding DDR5, according to the Memory QVL data on your motherboards, the conclusion is no—regardless of CPU generation.