GPU in x1 slot?

[Judahnator]

I am interested in getting another card folding, but i only have an extra pci-e (2.0) 1x slot available.

 

I know a 16x card can run on an 8x slot, but can it go all the way down to 1x? The card is a GTX 280 i got off craigslist, and the machine id be putting it in is an old DELL. I can meet the power requirements, but would it work for folding?

[Phalonx]

You may need to do some work with a dremel to cut out a notch in the socket so that the unused part of the x16 connector can fit but there shouldn't be a problem with putting it in a x1 slot.  Be sure to plug your monitor into your primary graphics card though (the x16 socket one), because some BIOSes will not recognize a video card in the x1 slot as the primary display card.

[fishymamba]

I am pretty sure that it will be OK for folding, PCIE 2 1x slots have a bandwidth of 500MB/s in each direction which should be more than enough.

But like Phalonx said you might run into problems with the motherboard not detecting the card. 

[GoodBytes]

Hmm.. while technically it should work. I wonder if the graphic card requires to draw power from the PCI-E lanes. Meaning that, despite plugged it from the PSU for additional power, the circuit of the graphic card is expecting power from the PCI-E lane.. making it not work on a PCI-E 2.0 1x slot, and really need at least 8x PCI-E slot, if you get what I mean.

 

I am interested to see the results.

[eshbop]

Hmm.. while technically it should work. I wonder if the graphic card requires to draw power from the PCI-E lanes. Meaning that, despite plugged it from the PSU for additional power, the circuit of the graphic card is expecting power from the PCI-E lane.. making it not work on a PCI-E 2.0 1x slot, and really need at least 8x PCI-E slot, if you get what I mean.

 

I am interested to see the results.

Only the very first part of the PCIe slot supplies power, so power draw isn't an issue. In short, it'll work fine but there will probably be some performance loss.

[Judahnator]

Thanks a ton for the prompt reqlies. Ill try it out and let you know how it works

[GoodBytes]

Only the very first part of the PCIe slot supplies power, so power draw isn't an issue. In short, it'll work fine but there will probably be some performance loss.

Ah, interesting! Thanks!

[Judahnator]

I got it plugged in, and my computer can "see" it.

gpu-z immediatly picks it up. and all is well, but...

 

drivers are being a pain. Cant seem to make them work. im not going to give up yet, but its being a real pain.

if i can figure this out ill let you all know.

 

[fishymamba]

Does it show up in folding at home? You don't really need the newest drivers for running it. 

[Judahnator]

nope, cant see it in the folding at home client. My CPU shows up, but not the card.

Im going to try an old 4770 in the same slot and see if i can get that to work.

[edschofield15]

Pretty certain for folding it would work just fine in a Gen2 x1 slot. But trying to game off of it in a x1 slot could cause problems due to bandwidth. 

[Art Vandelay]

It might work for folding. The card's performance might be degraded a bit by the bandwidth.

 

If you're putting it in a dell, buy a new power supply. Dell OEM power supplies tend to explode when you try to draw any more power than the original system drew.

[Judahnator]

played with it a bit, and it works. I did need to replace the power supply, but thanks for the tip.

 

The problem was windows detected there was no monitor plugged in, and it disabled the card to save power (how nice of them <_< ).
 Once i got a monitor plugged in it works great, i just cant unplug the monitor. Im going to try a VGA Plug (see url below) to try to trick it into thinking there is a monitor plugged in.

 

the machine is my home's server, and i cant always have my monitor plugged into it.

 

http://www.geeks3d.com/20091230/vga-hack-how-to-make-a-vga-dummy-plug/

[Judahnator]

its all setup now, and im folding away. Works great, and i dont see any performance loss from a normal 16x slot..Thanks all for the help.

 

I think what finally made it work was the vga plug, without that i dont think i could make it work.

[Mentalguy]

It will work if your mobo allows it, Whaler has a setup like that. If it doesn't work, post on the folding section and maybe he can help out.

[cyberlocc]

It actually worked weird I have a pci x16slot that runs at x4 on my s abertooth and it won't even register a card is there

[AMICLG]

You could alway do this if you're feeling risky. http://3.14.by/en/read/videocard-pcie-conversion-x16-x1

[cyberlocc]

adam dont give me ideas i will fill every slot on a old mobo with gcards i have laying around lol

[AMICLG]

adam dont give me ideas i will fill every slot on a old mobo with gcards i have laying around lol

Dedicated Physx cards that are single slot on x1 lane. I'm just itching to try that.