Optiplex GPU/PSU Issue

[benny001]

So I have an older Dell Optiplex 3060 with an i5 8500 running as my primary Linux home server machine. 

I have a 10-series GPU I want to install in it, but it only has a 200W PSU. Thankfully, we can limit the power to the GPU in software after installing the Nvidia drivers via the network.

 

However, this is where the problems begin. When I install the GPU and turn on the computer, the link lights for the motherboard NIC don't turn on, because the GPU sucks up all the power and for whatever reason there is none left over to power the Ethernet port. So you have no network, but without network you can't install the GPU drivers. But uninstalling the GPU and letting the NIC have power again causes the driver install to fail because the kernel doesn't find an install candidate (GPU) without it installed.

 

Any ideas? Is there a way to download drivers onto a USB and do it that way? Thanks in advance for your help and if you have any questions let me know. Sorry if my post was a little confusing.

[Electronics Wizardy]

What GPU are you installing?

 

Can you plug a display into the GPU?

 

Do you get a display out of either GPU?

 

What software are you using? If this is linux it could be adding a GPU is changing the name of the NIC so it isn't configured now.

[jaslion]

What gpu?

 

If it doesnt get all the power it needs it simply wont work as well as the psu will usually go into safety.

 

Id be very carefull here as this is usually a very easy way to end up with dead/damaged hardware. That 200w psu in those optiplexes is usually half used by the system itself already a pcie slot only 75w card is already pushing it

 

[benny001]

8 hours ago, Electronics Wizardy said:

What GPU are you installing?

 

Can you plug a display into the GPU?

 

Do you get a display out of either GPU?

 

What software are you using? If this is linux it could be adding a GPU is changing the name of the NIC so it isn't configured now.

I believe it is a Gigabyte Nvidia GT 970. I can plug a display into it via HDMI. You are able to get display out from the integrated graphics when it is installed (haven't tried plugging in to the GT 970). 

I'm running Debian 12. 

I also have a PCIE NIC I could try but I would prefer being able to download the drivers onto a USB or something.

[Needfuldoer]

Do you have the mini-tower or the SFF version?

 

Dell part numbers 4FWF7 and Y7R0X are a 500 watt power supply that should drop right in. It says it's for the 7080, but as far as I can tell the connectors are the same.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/363751700725

 

You can also get ATX adapters that will let you connect any commodity power supply you want.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/125292974505

[benny001]

2 hours ago, jaslion said:

What gpu?

 

If it doesnt get all the power it needs it simply wont work as well as the psu will usually go into safety.

 

Id be very carefull here as this is usually a very easy way to end up with dead/damaged hardware. That 200w psu in those optiplexes is usually half used by the system itself already a pcie slot only 75w card is already pushing it

 

It's a Gigabyte Nvidia GT 970. Thanks for your advice.

[benny001]

1 minute ago, Needfuldoer said:

Do you have the mini-tower or the SFF version?

 

Dell part numbers 4FWF7 and Y7R0X are a 500 watt power supply that should drop right in. It says it's for the 7080, but as far as I can tell the connectors are the same.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/363751700725

I have the SFF version. I would prefer a workaround that didn't result in me putting more money in to this but thanks for your advice.

As far as you know, is there a way to download the Linux drivers for my GPU onto my Mac, so I can put them on a USB stick and load them onto my system without network? Or is there some kind of proprietary handshake when running apt install nvidia-smi? Thank you for your help.

[Needfuldoer]

What exactly do you want to use the GeForce card in it for?

 

If it's for transcoding video, your integrated video can do that (Intel Quick Sync).

 

3 minutes ago, benny001 said:

As far as you know, is there a way to download the Linux drivers for my GPU onto my Mac, so I can put them on a USB stick and load them onto my system without network?

You should be able to save the .deb file to a flash drive.

[jaslion]

7 hours ago, benny001 said:

It's a Gigabyte Nvidia GT 970. Thanks for your advice.

How are you powering its pcie connector at the moment? A sata or molex to 6/8pin is legit asking for fire.

 

What do you want that gpu to do? The media codec in the intel igpu is at least as good if not better than the 970.

 

The gtx 970 has very very poor linux support as its from the time nvidia did not want to support linux at all basically.

 

[Echothedolpin]

I have never seen heard or can find anything about a GT970, I assume you mean a GTX 970. You’re not going to get that working on a dell OEM 200w psu. You will need a higher wattage psu. That card consumes 145-220watts depending on load if I recall correctly. Plus those slim dells often can’t properly supply a full 75watts over pcie without some power issues.