Any PCIe x8 (physical size) video cards? (re: virtualize HTPC)

[sofakng]

I'm looking to virtualize my HTPC because my ESXi host has plenty of extra CPU and RAM and it also supports Intel Vt-d (PCIe passthrough), but my motherboard (Supermicro X9SCM-F) only has PCIe x8 physical-size slots.

Are there any PCIe video cards that are x8 physical size? (I'd prefer Nvidia but AMD would work I guess)

I just need something with hardware H.264 decode capabilities and don't need anything fast at all.

 

[Burpo]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/PCIE-16X-to...rnal_Port_Expansion_Cards&hash=item3ce2cbd85a

 

[SunnyD]

You'll either need a riser or a 1x video card (though I believe there are a few 4x physical cards floating around out there). The other alternative is modding your board since it doesn't have open-ended PCIe slots, but you probably don't want to do that for obvious reasons.

 

[ShintaiDK]

I dont think I seen any GFX cards that was outside the x1 and x16. And I checked your board, a shame its not open x8 slots. Then x16 should have worked.

 

[Burpo]

Dremel moto-tool would open the end of a slot in 5 minutes

 

[Ferzerp]

Dremel moto-tool would open the end of a slot in 5 minutes

This. Technically you can either cut the end off the slot, or cut the fingers of your board. Cutting the end off the slot is far safer.


Yes, it will work

 

[sm625]

An x1 card would be plenty fast for what you need.

 

[PingSpike]

Buy a riser. They're cheap now since there's tons of them, they used to be kind of expensive when only a few companies made them. Don't bother with a 1x card, they're marked up an insane amount and only totally crap cards are offered anyway. I wouldn't cut the back off the motherboard slot, especially an expensive motherboard like a supermicro one because I see no reason to risk doing damage to the board or lowering its resale to avoid buying a $8 riser. With some types or risers you can still secure the card to the back of the case using motherboard standoffs and maybe some small washers. Other types I've seen can turn a low profile card into a high profile one for easy install, or at least they claim too.