256Mb graphics card for Dell PowerEdge 2900

McGintyMcGoo

Firstly, apologies to the MOds because I already posted this in the Graphics section but I think that this section has more viewers.

I'm not sure how to put this so I'll summarise it by saying: "HELP!"

We have purchased a Dell PowerEdge 2900 but need to get a 256Mb graphics card for it because of some specialised software that we will be installing on it. It is running Win2003 Server.

On the motherboard there are the following slots:
One x8 PCI Express slot (i.e. PCI-e)
Three x4 PCI Express slots (i.e. PCI-e)

We originally purchased a x16 PCI Express card because we were not aware of the various sizes.

Is it possible to get a 256Mb GFX card for either of these slots, preferrably one that is compatible with Win2003 Server?

Any help on this would really be appreciated.

Cheers

McGintyMcGoo

8T8

x16 PCI-E cards are electrically compatible with PCI-E x8 slots* your graphics card can be used in the slot no problem.

You wont see any change in performance either the impact is minute.

* If the slot is the same physically as an x16 slot but wired to x8 lanes - never seen or heard of an x8 physical only slot myself just x1, x4 and finally x8/x16 both of which share the same phyiscal slot.

McGintyMcGoo

Cheers for the reply 8T8.

The Dell spec that they sent to confirms that ports that I listed. The ports are also described on the inside of the casing. There is an x8 port but unfortunately it is not the same size as an x16 port. This is all new to me.

I going to call Dell themselves to see if they can "off-the-record" suggest a card that might work. They obviously won't support it but that doesn't bother me.

Cheers

McGintyMcGoo

8T8

Are you certain it is different do you have or seen an x16 slot to compare against ?

Take a look at this picture from top to bottom you are looking at;

PCI-E x4 slot
PCI-E x16 slot (also accepts x8 devices)
PCI-E x1 slot
PCI-E x16 slot (also accepts x8 devices)
PCI 32-bit slot

It seems very unusual they would go make another connector, if that is the case all hope is not lost as some PCI-E x1 graphics cards were recently introduced though performance could be hampered depending on what you are trying to do as it only has 128MB real RAM the rest is acquired from the system RAM.

PogMoThoin

Could it be Agp?

WizZard

Why did you buy a server for something that needs a workstation graphics card?
Dell do Precision workstations that are equivalent in power (less redundancy though) to the PE 9G servers.

McGintyMcGoo

The x8 slot on the motherboard is the exact same size as the x4 slot. But it actually says x8 beside it and on the Dell spec too.

We needed a server because of everything else that needs to be installed on it. We were made aware at the time that finding graphics cards that work fine with servers running Win2003 would be a challenge but not impossible. The software that needs the graphics card is only one of a host of applications that will be installed so a workstation was not an option. A card was recommended to us but it was a PCI-e x16 card. until the server arrived, I didn't know the difference between PCI, PCI-X and PCI-Express and certainly wasn't aware of the different number of channels.

McGintyMcGoo

Sorry to wreck your head here but do you think that the x1 card that you sent the link of, would work in a x4 slot? If there's even half a chance then I'll order it.

8T8

So its x8 lanes in a x4 slot thats a new one and bad news by the looks of it.

Yeah the HIS X1300 x1 card will work in the x4 slot.

No idea where you can get one though as they are very new, try checking out HIS's where to buy section.

Out of curiosity what kind of software program is this in relation to that requires 256MB of RAM ?


{Oh yes and remember this card only has 128MB onboard RAM it uses ATI's Hyper-memory feature to syphon off system RAM to work for the GPU, so your servers total memory will be slightly reduced as it will have to take another 128MB to get 256MB in total}