Pci x8 graphics?

[b0redom]

Hi,
I've generously donated my Q6600 server to my folks for use as a desktop. Unfortunately it only seems to have a pci-x1 x4 and x8 slot. Are there any modernish gpus with those connections? I can't seem to find any anywhere.

Cheers

B0redom

[Fjo]

Do you mean it's an AGP x8? Those are only older cards like the ATI 3XXX series and Nvidia 6XXX series - all of which are pretty scarce now. Only the Nvidia 6200 is really around for new, with some not so reputable online stores with the odd ATI card - otherwise you're looking at eBay.
http://www.dabs.com/products/evga-ge...42220000&src=3
Found some on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/ATI-Radeon-H...481881&sr=1-14
http://www.amazon.co.uk/ATI-Radeon-V...481881&sr=1-21
http://www.amazon.co.uk/AXLE-GeForce...481881&sr=1-24

Unless you've only got the smaller PCI-Ex slots and no full-size graphics option (x16), which afaik just doesn't happen unless you've a motherboard specifically designed for server use.
In which case, you need to look for specifically PCI-Ex x1 cards:
http://www.scan.co.uk/products/512mb...ub-hdmi-dl-dvi
http://www.kikatek.com/P251218/CGNX-...PCI-Express-X1

[b0redom]

Yeah it's an Econel 100 S2 server, so it only has 1x, 4x, 8x. That's PCI-x not AGP.

How does the GT610 stack up against a 9500GT? That's what my folks have right now.

[shaithis]

The 9500GT will be a bit better for gaming (although neither are much cop in that regard)....for everything else you won't be able to tell them apart.

You could always find a slot with good clearance next to it and cut the end off the PCI-E slot...and then put electrical tape over half the 16x gfx cards PCI-E connector to be extra safe

[directhex]

Yeah it's an Econel 100 S2 server, so it only has 1x, 4x, 8x. That's PCI-x not AGP.

How does the GT610 stack up against a 9500GT? That's what my folks have right now.

PCI-X is not PCIe

PCI-X looks like this:



As to PCIe 8x cards, I've never heard of a GPU being released on that form factor - x16 is the norm, and x1 cards are around (although not too common).

Because PCIe 1x is so bandwidth-constrained, they don't bother putting good chips on 1x cards (since the chips wouldn't get driven remotely fully). So enough to draw a desktop, but not a lot more. Fjo's couple of links are probably all you'll find.

[Fjo]

You could always find a slot with good clearance next to it and cut the end off the PCI-E slot...and then put electrical tape over half the 16x gfx cards PCI-E connector to be extra safe

Haha, i read about people trying this. Canny, but then this happens:

Because PCIe 1x is so bandwidth-constrained, they don't bother putting good chips on 1x cards (since the chips wouldn't get driven remotely fully).

So it's not worth shelling out more than £30 on a PCI-Ex 16x to tinker like that anyway.

b0redom, can you confirm if they really are PCI-X or PCI-Ex slots?
I'm still finding it hard to be sure but i suspect it's the latter.
Do the slots look like one of these:


Or directhex's pic above?

[scaryjim]

Firsly, check if either of the PCIe x8 or x4 slots is open-backed - some of them are built like that as standard so you can put longer cards in anyway. If it is, you can just slot any old x16 card in there and it'll run fine, it'll just have some of the card not in the slot - as shaithis says you might want to put some insulation tape over that bit just to make sure that nothing shorts on it. At that point you'll be running on x8 or x4 bandwidth; the former is fine, the latter would restrict a high end card a bit. However, if you're looking at reusing a 9500GT I doubt you'd notice the different between x16 and x4, tbh.

Otherwise you've got two options. Pay slightly over the odds for a low-end card on a native x1 connector, or get some tools out and cut out the back end of one of the PCIe slots (a much better plan than hacking the PCB connector off the card (although I've seen pictures of that having been done!).