Also if the motherboard has an issue with blocked this or that, why consider this one and not another?
Here's where I start my motherboard search:
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/best-intel-amd-motherboard,3902.html
Bob
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I'd love to buy the new Asus x99 PRO but it looks like if I run two 980's in SLI x16x16, I would not have access to and use of the PCIEx1 slots. The cards will cover those.
I'd want to be able to have the sli in x16 x16 (slot 1 & 3) and the PCEI slots usable for my Creative Z sound card and the add on M.2 PCIE add on card.
I currently have the z77 sabertooth that has the PCEI slot offset as to not be blocked by the video card. All the x99 boards have this issue. It seems like a very poor design and layout to me! Or am I missing something? Please help me understand. Thank you.
Discussion is locked
Asus because of past poor experience with Asrock. Gigabyte has the layout I need for sli and sound card but is poorly reviewed and does not have the OC features Asus has added. Asus z77 has been a great board for me. MSI has the same poor layout, sli video cards blocking the pcei slots needed for the Creative Z
On board sound has never been as good as a dedicated sound card for gaming.
For me, I never overclock since I want stability. But your choice. maybe this build will have to wait till you find your board.
Just wondering, SLI tends to be a magnet for problems. And some folk get very upset over failures in SLI due to crashes, no support and more. The single card solutions seem less problematic.
Bob
The z77 has been very stable for me for over two years now-2600k oc'ed today 4.4 with evga 670's in sli.