PCI Express and PCI Express 2.0 compatibility

[ph0enix]

I need to install a video card with more than 1GB of RAM in a server that has a PCI Express slot (not 2.0). It seems that all cards with over 512MB are PCI Express 2.0. The hardware vendor tells me that the server doesn't have the right power connector on the motherboard for PCI Express 2.0. How compatible is PCI Express with PCI Express 2.0 and what are my options?

Thank you! :)

J.

 

[BoBBYI986]

PCI-Express x16 2.0 is just a higher bus frequency (4GB/s) than PCI-Express x16 1.0 (2GB/s). What power connectors does the card take? 2x 6pin?
A PCI-Express x16 2.0 card will work on a PCI-Express x16 1.0 motherboard just has a lower bus cap.

 

[ph0enix]

My understanding is that the slot in the server is PCI-Express x1. Can I use a PCI-Express 2.0 card in it even though it obviously won't work as fast as it would in a x16 slot?

 

[BoBBYI986]

when you say PCI-Express 2.0 card is it PCI-Express x1 card? If so yea you can. you can also use a PCI-Express x1 card in PCI-Express x4, x8 or x16 slot the card will just use up the bus lanes needed.

 

[ph0enix]

when you say PCI-Express 2.0 card is it PCI-Express x1 card? If so yea you can. you can also use a PCI-Express x1 card in PCI-Express x4, x8 or x16 slot the card will just use up the bus lanes needed.

I'm trying to figure out what video card to get and all the ones with 1GB (and more) that I've seen so far are PCI-Express x16. I just want to make sure that they will work in that server.

 

[ph0enix]

It seems that nobody makes a PCIe x1 card with more than 512MB of memory. I need one with 1GB.

 

[Big B]

Well, at least right now, 1GB+ cards are the high-end ones which require more than the 250MB/s transfer rate the 1x slots provide. The number (1x, 2x, 4x, 8x, 16x) refer to the number of lanes going said PCIe slot. This is independent of the 1.0, 1.1 or 2.0 PCIe revision. It's been awhile since I read up on it, but 1.0 and 2.0 can have some compatibility issues at the hardware level. However, 1.0 hardware is pretty old and not as common. Besides a higher transfer rate 2.0 offer, they also allow for more power to be delivered via the PCIe connection.
As far as connectors for 2.0, the only thing I can think of is the lack of an 8-pin PCIe power connector, which is present on high-end cards.

Of course, if this is a server, they're typically not designed with a high-end graphics solution in mind, so finding the accommodations are generally lacking.