Installing GTX 660 in PE T420

Question

Hi everyone, i was hoping to be able to do this but i can't seem to find a way to do so. I have a Nvidia GTX 660 GPU that i have had lying around, and thought it might give a good boost to my encoding activities I perform on my PE T420. However it takes an additional 6pin power plug on the side, and i haven't found any extra cords within the server to accommodate that. Do i really need that to use the GPU, like would it run off of bus power, or would i be opening a can of worms if i tried? Thanks!

DELL-Charles R · Accepted Answer

Hello the.mknabster,

For systems with a single GPU card, connect the GPU card power cable to the GPU power connector CN11 on the

power distribution board. (distribution board behind the PSU's with all the cables)

For systems with two GPU cards, connect the first GPU card power cable to the GPU power connector CN11 on the

power distribution board and the second GPU card power cable to the GPU_POWER connector on the power

interposer board. (interposer board behind PSU's that the PSU's connect to)

The slot priority is - Slot 3, 5. (Slot 5 will only work with CPU2 populated.)

More information including installation and removal on the link I provided page 81.

the.mknabster · Answer

Thanks Charles, I actually have a Geforce GT 620 in there currently and it works great, but i would like to replace that with the GTX since it's a bit more robust. Looking at the Q600, while it's much better than the GTX 660, it does have the same 6pin power plug as the 660. Do you know where the power plug goes into the motherboard, or the power supplies? I do have redundant power supplies as well.

DELL-Charles R · Answer

Hello the.mknabster,

Dell only validated nVidia Q4000 and nVidia Q6000 for the T420.

Maybe someone in the community has tried the GTX 660 and share their experience.

I would recommend looking over the GPU installation guidelines

Page 81 : https://dell.to/3iqHD9G

*Your system supports only Q4000 single-width GPU cards and Q6000 double-width GPU card.

*GPU cards must be installed on a system with redundant 1100 W AC power supplies.

This should be the power cable. I can't say if it will fit the GTX 660.

Pn#3692K - ASSY,CBL,PWR,GRPHC,2X4,T620

ASSY 2X4 GPGPU power cable, (From PIB Interposer to GPGPU Card, Poweredge T640)

(it says T620 but is valid for T420 also)

the.mknabster · Answer

Ok, i found the interposer card, but it doesn't look like the GPU power cable i have that came out of a Dell Precision fits, some of the individual plugs are square and not trapezoidal like the interposer card requires. I'm guessing there's no other spot to plug the GPU power cable into? Do you know what will happen if i just run the GPU off of bus power alone?

DELL-Charles R · Answer

Hello the.mknabster,

There is no other place designated to connect the GPU power cable.

You can try to run off bus power alone. I don't have any information supporting the GTX 660 on the T420.

We can see if anyone has tried this GPU in the T420 and can share their experience.

the.mknabster · Answer

Ok, thanks for your help Charles, let's see if anyone else has comments on this thread.

PowerEdge Hardware General

Installing GTX 660 in PE T420

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