Can a std 32-bit PCI card work in a 64-bit PCI slot?

[dutrizacd]

I've got and old HP ML330 G3 server and it does not have USB 2.0, only 1.1. I'm looking to add a USB 2.0 PCI card in the server but it only has 64-bit PCI slots.

My question is this. Will old school 32-bit PCI cards work and/or fit in 64-bit slots? Is this a stupid thing to do? I'm having a hard time finding a 64-bit PCI card that'll give me the USB 2.0 support I need.

Thoughts?

-Dan

 

[WildW]

Assuming I'm thinking of the same slots you're thinking of, yes, you can stick a regular PCI card in them. I used to have a motherboard with some in and did exactly that.

They're known as PCI-X slots. . . http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pci-x

 

[RebateMonger]

It seems to depend on the particular server configuation. I ran across an HP server last year that apparently couldn't change speeds on its PCI-X slots. All the PCI-X slots were only running at higher speeds (66MHz, 100MHz, or 133MHz) than the two standard PCI NICS I tried could handle. The two cards we tried would fit...but they'd freeze the server at boot.

I've seen other PCI-X machines (Dell 1600SC or 2600, for instance) that would boot fine with standard PCI cards in PCI-X slots. But in the case of the older HP server, it looked like we were going to need specialized PCI-X NICs.

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: dutrizacd
I'm having a hard time finding a 64-bit PCI card that'll give me the USB 2.0 support I need.

Thoughts?

Finding a MB would be easier.

 

[dutrizacd]

According to the spec sheet, on that server

Quote: "Expansion support includes four 64-bit, 33Mhz PCI expansion slots".

I'm gonna try it. Worst case scenario, the server freezes up and I have to find a different solution.

Thanks for the help guys.

 

[Blain]

Worst case is the PCI card kills the MB, which takes out the PS, which in turn zaps the HDs.

I don't think you'll have to worry about a fire. :thumbsup:
But just in case, keep an extinguisher handy when you fire up the system with the 32-bit PCI card installed.

 

[dutrizacd]

Just for S#@its and giggles I decided to throw an old 32bit PCI NIC in the server. Booted right up, no problems.

 

[RebateMonger]

Originally posted by: dutrizacd
Just for S#@its and giggles I decided to throw an old 32bit PCI NIC in the server. Booted right up, no problems.

Yeah, as long as they are 33MHz slots, I wouldn't anticipate a problem. The other issue is older 5 Volt PCI cards. But those are pretty old, and most won't fit into a PCI slot that can't handle them.

Thankfully, PCI-X slots seem to be going away, replaced by standard PCI-Express slots. Native PCI-X cards mostly cost a fortune.