EVGA Z87 Classified Motherboard Review

The Hardware Asylum Multi-GPU index is a portable set of data we can use to determine the multi-GPU potential of any motherboard.  A higher index number indicates a favorable condition for multiple graphics cards while a lower number indicates a hindrance in one of our leading indicators.  Since the Index is not dependent on system architecture it can be applied to any motherboard regardless of processor or chipset generations.

Index: 3.375
Optimized: 3x
Max Support: 5x

NVidia SLI
AMD Crossfire
Lucid Virtu

As indicated by the PCI Express layout chart there are a total of five 16x PCI Express slots on this motherboard with all five using bandwidth earmarked for video cards.  Slot one is your primary video card slot and will run at a full 16x when only a single card is installed.  Slots three, four, five and seven are all powered by the onboard PLX 48-lane PCI Express switch. 

The primary graphic slots in the PLX region will be Three and Five which in turn share bandwidth with their nearest downstairs neighbor. 
 
For best video performance you will want to populate slots one and three with video cards.  If you want to run a triple card configurations, using either NVidia SLI or AMD Crossfire, you'll populate slots one, three and five.  This configuration will give you ample room for dual slot coolers and still remain within the confines of the standard ATX form factor.

Be sure to plug in the PCI Express power located at the bottom of the motherboard to activate the PLX chip.