One of the main features of socket 1156 processors is the presence of an integrated PCI Express 2.0 controller inside the CPU. This controller supports one x16 connection or two x8 connections. Maximus III Gene has two PCI Express x16 slots and therefore the first one works at x16 only if the second slot is empty. If there is a video card installed on the second slot both the first and the second slot will work at x8. If you have just one video card install it on the first slot for best performance. These slots are compatible with SLI and CrossFireX arrays.

The portrayed motherboard comes with one PCI Express x4 slot and one standard PCI slot. Keep in mind that the absence of PCI Express x1 slots is not a problem, because PCI Express x1 expansion cards can be installed on any type of PCI Express slot (i.e., x16, x8, x4 and x1).

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Figure 2: Slots.

Near the standard PCI slot you can see a power button and a reset button.