Why is my PCI-Express 3.0 graphics card running as PCI-Express x16 v2.0?

My new computer is a top value machine:

Motherboard ASUS CrossHair V Formula Z
CPU FX-9370
DRAM 2.133MHz
GPU Radeon R9 280X
PSU Corsair AX1200i

All drivers are up to date (as for today: September 2014), both Motherboard and GPU BIOS are to its latest version too.

But TechPowerUp GPU-Z yields (translated from my spanish version):

"The graphics card reports PCI-Express x16 v3.0 capable, but it is working at PCI-Express x16 v2.0"

Why is not my graphics card at its maximum, and what can I do to solve this?

(Please request any other data if needed)

Sopalajo de Arrierez

Posted 2014-09-15T00:13:50.620

Reputation: 5 328

Answers

From http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/CROSSHAIR_V_FORMULAZ/ :

AMD® 990FX Chipset is designed to support up to 5.2GT/s HyperTransport™ 3.0 (HT 3.0) interface speed and dual PCI Express™ 2.0 x16 graphics. It is optimized with AMD® latest AM3+ and multi-core CPUs to provide excellent system performance and overclocking capabilities.

Your board only goes up to PCI-E 2.0.

LawrenceC

Posted 2014-09-15T00:13:50.620

Reputation: 63 487

Well... there goes the best board for AM3+ that I could find in the shop. The answer was too obvious. Thanks you, @ultrasawblade. – Sopalajo de Arrierez – 2014-09-15T00:37:30.563