Are there any PCI-Express x8 cards on the market?

[jot23]

SC420 , it comes with 8x PCI express slot.... and cheesy "extreme" built-in gpu....am i stuck with it or there are (will be) some options for me? (8x slot has 2 extra notches in a slot, making 16x cards unusable)

 

[Matthias99]

Actually, the slot is just too short. 16x cards will work at 8x (and theoretically, all the way down to 1x) speeds if you have an appropriate slot.

But, to get back to your question: no, there do not appear to be any graphics cards with a PCIe-8x interface. Dell screwed you good.

 

[batmanuel]

Actually, from what I've heard, Dell used a non-standard x8 slot that is the same size as a x16 slot with half the conductors missing (unlike a real x8 which is half the length), but with some extra plastic to keep you from using their cheap server as a budget gaming box. If you are feeling lucky, it is rumored that you can cut off the extra plastic pieces and an x16 card will run in x8 mode.

Thread about modding the slot.

Sounds a bit risky, but since there are no x8 cards available the slot is pretty useless to begin with so breaking it in the process of trying to mod it really isn't going to ruin your day.

 

[batmanuel]

Sorry, I meant to edit not double post.

 

[ponyo]

You got to do the mod on the slot.

 

[jot23]

thanks guys,

it worked just fine, drilled these two plastic dividers out, slid normal pci-e card in, and it works!
not bad for a $300 machine (came with 2.8 presscott, which now runs in different rig @ 3.4, replaced it with cel-d 2.53)

 

[fozzmo]

I am currently contending with the same problem with a Dell SC1420. Rather than the E7221 chipset in the SC420, it has the E7520 chipset.

A successful mod of the 420's slot makes me think that I should be able to do the same thing. I'm hoping for a sanity check before I get out my metal file: is there some reason that this would work on the 420 and not the 1420?

Many Thanks

 

[Jeffyboy]

Now why would they ship it like that? Seems crazy huh

 

[jot23]

i think the disclaimer is a new thing, funny...

"The PowerEdge SC420 is ideal for your first server & network.
Note: For server use only; CANNOT BE USED AS A DESKTOP.
Dell does not support the use of a graphics card on the SC420."

 

[brucesenator]

I picked up four of these units. Heck, at $350 delivered to my door, it was a good way to have solid workstations and backup entry level servers in case one bites the dust.

But I do want to try a modification on the PCIe x8 slot so to accept a standard PCI-Express video card.

Can you provide me with some more complete details on the exact 'steps' to take, and 'tools' to use.

Thanks much.

 

[zakee00]

wow jot, awesome job! thats uber cool.

 

[Geomagick]

Originally posted by: brucesenator
I picked up four of these units. Heck, at $350 delivered to my door, it was a good way to have solid workstations and backup entry level servers in case one bites the dust.

But I do want to try a modification on the PCIe x8 slot so to accept a standard PCI-Express video card.

Can you provide me with some more complete details on the exact 'steps' to take, and 'tools' to use.

Thanks much.

Originally posted by: batmanuel
Actually, from what I've heard, Dell used a non-standard x8 slot that is the same size as a x16 slot with half the conductors missing (unlike a real x8 which is half the length), but with some extra plastic to keep you from using their cheap server as a budget gaming box. If you are feeling lucky, it is rumored that you can cut off the extra plastic pieces and an x16 card will run in x8 mode.

Thread about modding the slot.

Sounds a bit risky, but since there are no x8 cards available the slot is pretty useless to begin with so breaking it in the process of trying to mod it really isn't going to ruin your day.

There are pictures on the first post in this thread. They are quite hazy but enough to get the gist out of what needs to be done.