A dual-GPU PCIe choice that affects local AI cost
The current system uses an Asus ROG MAXIMUS Z790 DARK HERO , an Intel Core i9-14900K, and four 48GB DDR5 memory sticks, with two sticks currently installed. The cannot run two GPUs at PCIe 5 x16 at the same time, so a dual Max-Q setup would run each card at x8. The alternative is moving to a PRO platform that supports multiple PCIe 5 x16 slots, but that would raise the cost a lot.
The workloads in question are v, , LoRA work, Flux.2, z-image, and . The practical question is whether dual PCIe 5 x8 is fast enough, or whether the more expensive platform is worth it.
Key points
- The Z790 drops dual GPU slots from PCIe 5 x16 to x8.
- A PRO system would provide more PCIe 5 x16 slots but at much higher cost.
- The workloads include v, , LoRA, Flux.2, z-image, and .
- If performance loss is small, staying with the current system could reduce cost.
- The item does not provide measured speed differences between x8 and x16.