Both options are also not fully certified yet. Certification of these types of things take time. I have zero interest in giving people a cable that I know isn't standards-certified for PCIE Gen 4. This is why all of these cables also have a ton of issues with various Motherboard / GPU combinations. None of them are actually following the PCIE 4.0 standard. They're just developing cables with better signal integrity, hoping to make it work, but none of these cables have passed the 4.0 standards yet.
Actual, Certified PCIE 4.0 cables, will not be out until late 2021. At that time, we will offer 4.0 Cables with Winter One, and an upgrade path for existing users.
Yes, it's "compatible", mainly because the 3M Cable has excellent signal integrity. But,
look at the 3M Website where that riser cable is listed.
They still do not list this cable as PCIE 4.0 compliant. This creates a problem. I cannot sell you a cable that I claim "should work" with PCIE 4.0, but if you look up the cable, PCIE 4.0 is literally not mentioned in the official Spec on the 3M website.
If something goes wrong, and your cable doesn't work with PCIE 4.0, and I ask 3M for a replacement, they'll say "nope -- you're using it out of spec". If it doesn't work with PCIE 4.0, then I cannot support / replace those cables, if they are working fine with PCIE 3.0
T
his is what I mean when I say it makes customer support and testing Incredibly complex. Does 4.0 Not work because of your GPU? Your Motherboard? a Bad Cable? Impossible to know, unless we have a standards verified cable,
which, none of the PCIE 4.0 cables on the market right now, are actually standards compliant
.
This is why they are all labeled "PCIE 4.0 compatible" until someone makes a "PCIE 4.0 x16 riser" Cable (without the "compatible" moniker) there isn't a cable I can source and sell to all of you that will work with **all** PCIE 4.0 motherboards and GPUs. It may work, but it also might not. There is no guarantee.
The Riser Mess is just a matter of waiting until
Properly Certified 4.0 Risers are a thing. This unreliability with various 4.0 risers is because none of the cables / risers are certified yet.
Preventing this mess is EXACTLY why standards
and standards bodies exist. Personally, I do not see the point of charging anyone more for a "maybe 4.0" cable, when there are reliable 3.0 cables that I can fully support, If something goes wrong.
Exactly. I choose to wait because I would rather tell everyone "Switch the X16 slot to PCIE 3.0 mode" as a warning in the user manual. (currently, no performance difference) and have a constant, reliable experience, than charge you all an extra $40 for a "Maybe PCIE 4.0" Cable, that I cannot even support should something go wrong, because it's not in-spec per the manufacturer.
Paying extra for a 4.0 cable, that doesn't actually work with your particular 4.0 motherboard / GPU combo, would lead to a huge number of upset people. I don't want anyone to feel awful if they pay extra for 4.0 cable, but it doesn't work for your hardware. I also don't want to charge anyone for a cable I cannot be sure will work with your hardware.
I am just as frustrated with the Riser Cable situation right now. However, I refuse to sell you a cable that I cannot be sure will work with 100% of PCIE 4.0 hardware. I hear your requests for this feature, and they're not being ignored -- a certified cable just does not exist yet. As soon as it does, that option will be made available.