Four Multi-GPU Z77 Boards from $280-$350 - PLX PEX 8747 featuring Gigabyte, ASRock, ECS and EVGA

With only sixteen PCIe 3.0 lanes available on a Z77 motherboard paired with an Ivy Bridge CPU, when we get to three or four-way GPU solutions these GPUs are itching to get more bandwidth. The Z77 specification limits us to three GPUs anyway, at x8/x4/x4. For some extra cost on the motherboard, we can add in a PLX PEX 8747 chip that effectively increases our PCIe 3.0 lane count, giving 32 PCIe 3.0 lanes overall. Today we discuss this technology, and look at four motherboards on sale today that utilize this PLX chip - the Gigabyte G1.Sniper 3, the ASRock Z77 Extreme9, the ECS Z77H2-AX and the EVGA Z77 FTW.

Multi-GPU on Z77

Aiming for users for 3-way and 4-way GPU setups is aiming for a very niche sub-section of an enthusiast crowd. Here we are pinpointing those that have the hard cash to create a very nice system, capable of powering several large monitors at high resolution for fast paced and detailed gaming. Many of these setups are bespoke, specifically designed in modded cases, and a good number use water-cooling to get around the generation of heat. Let us not forget the power draw, with multiple GPU setups requiring significant power supplies or even a dual power supply solution. It gets even worse if everything is overclocked as well.