Author: Xaltar
Subject: Z170 OC Forumla 6 GPU detection on Windows 10
Posted: 16 Sep 2016 at 4:08pm
5 GPUs seems to be the golden number from what I have seen. You are not the first here to have trouble getting 6 to work. The problem isn't simply the PCIe lanes but also system resources as a whole. This is an issue you will have to take up with Tech Support directly. As I recall the last few similar instances of the issue you are facing either were unresolved or required a BIOS update.
Subject: Z170 OC Forumla 6 GPU detection on Windows 10
Posted: 16 Sep 2016 at 4:08pm
5 GPUs seems to be the golden number from what I have seen. You are not the first here to have trouble getting 6 to work. The problem isn't simply the PCIe lanes but also system resources as a whole. This is an issue you will have to take up with Tech Support directly. As I recall the last few similar instances of the issue you are facing either were unresolved or required a BIOS update.
Given the instance where a BIOS update resolved the issue, that was a high end socket 2011 board with a PLX chip paired with a Xeon. Server class boards/systems tend to have more resources available and better allocation protocols. The Z170 OC formula is a consumer grade product, it is certainly the top tier of consumer grade products but ultimately falls short of true enthusiast/enterprise grade products both in features and cost.
6 GPUs is a tall ask for any consumer grade hardware. If you look around online the common number is 5 and even then people had to jump through hoops to get it all working. Now, if you look at server class boards (Socket 2011) you see the number increase to as many as 10. Now I am not saying it is impossible but I do find it highly unlikely. Tech Support should have a more definitive answer for you and I believe they love problems like yours, they tend to be rather challenging/exciting to work with.
Good luck to you.