Skip to main content
  • Place orders quickly and easily
  • View orders and track your shipping status
  • Create and access a list of your products
  • Manage your Dell EMC sites, products, and product-level contacts using Company Administration.

Dell PowerEdge R6525 Installation and Service Manual

Expansion card installation guidelines

The following table describes the supported expansion cards:

Table 1. Expansion card riser configurationsThe table provides information about the expansion card riser configuration:
Expansion card riser PCIe slots on the riser Processor connection Height Length Slot width
R1a (Riser 1) Slot 1 Processor 1 Full Height 3/4th Length x16
R2a (Riser 2) Slot 1 Processor 1 Low Profile Half Length x16
Slot 2 Processor 2 Low Profile Half Length x16
R3a (Riser 3) Slot 3 Processor 2 Low Profile Half Length x16
R4c + R4d (Riser 4) Slot 2 Processor 2 Full Height 3/4th Length x16
NOTE:The expansion-card slots are not hot-swappable.

The following table provides guidelines for installing expansion cards to ensure proper cooling and mechanical fit. The expansion cards with the highest priority should be installed first using the slot priority indicated. All the other expansion cards should be installed in the card priority and slot priority order.

Table 2. Configuration 0 - No riserNo riser configuration.
Card type Slot priority Maximum number of cards
Broadcom (OCP: 25 Gb) Internal Slot 1
QLogic (OCP: 25 Gb) Internal Slot 1
Mellanox (OCP: 25 Gb) Internal Slot 1
Intel (OCP: 10 Gb) Internal Slot 1
Broadcom (OCP: 10 Gb) Internal Slot 1
QLogic (OCP: 10 Gb) Internal Slot 1
Inventec (ASSY,CRD,CTL,BOSS,ADPT,S2V2,15G) Internal Slot 1
Broadcom (OCP: 1 Gb) Internal Slot 1
Intel (OCP: 1 Gb) Internal Slot 1
SolarFlare (OCP: 25 Gb) Internal Slot 1
FOXCONN (Front PERC) Internal Slot 1
ASSY,CRD,CTL,H755,FRONT Internal Slot 1
Table 3. Configuration 1: R1aRiser configuration R1a.
Card type Slot priority Maximum number of cards
Mellanox (NIC: 100 Gb) 1 1
Intel (NIC: 25 Gb) 1 1
Mellanox (NIC: 25 Gb) 1 1
QLogic (NIC: 25 Gb) 1 1
Emulex (HBA: FC32) 1 1
QLogic (HBA: FC32) 1 1
Emulex (HBA: FC64, FH) 1 1
Emulex (HBA: FC16) 1 1
QLogic (HBA: FC16) 1 1
FOXCONN (HBA355E) 1 1
Intel (NIC: 10 Gb) 1 1
Broadcom (NIC: 10 Gb) 1 1
QLogic (NIC: 10 Gb) 1 1
Intel (NIC: 1 Gb) 1 1
Broadcom (NIC: 1 Gb) 1 1
Mellanox (NIC: HDR100 VPI) 1 1
Dell PERC Adapter 1 1
Dell BOSS Adapter 1 1
Samsung (PCIE SSD) 1 1
Intel (PCIE SSD) 1 1
Broadcom (NIC: 10Gb) 1 1
Intel (NIC: 25Gb) 1 1
Intel (NIC: 100Gb) 1 1
Emulex (CRD,CTL,EMLX,FH,FC32,1P,S28) 1 1
Intel (CRD,NTWK,INTL,FH,25G,2P,S28,F1) 1 1
Intel (CRD,NTWK,INTL,LP,25G,2P,S28,F10) Not supported 0
Inventec (ASSY,CRD,CTL,BOSS,ADPT,S2V2,15G) Internal Slot 1
FOXCONN (Front PERC) Internal Slot 1
Dell Front PERC Internal Slot 1
Broadcom (OCP: 25 Gb) Internal Slot 1
QLogic (OCP: 25 Gb) Internal Slot 1
Mellanox (OCP: 25 Gb) Internal Slot 1
Intel (OCP: 10 Gb) Internal Slot 1
Broadcom (OCP: 10 Gb) Internal Slot 1
QLogic (OCP: 10 Gb) Internal Slot 1
Broadcom (OCP: 1 Gb) Internal Slot 1
Intel (OCP: 1 Gb) Internal Slot 1
SolarFlare (OCP: 25 Gb) Internal Slot 1
Intel (OCP: 25 Gb) Internal Slot 1
FOXCONN (Front PERC, ASSY,CRD,CTL,H755,FRONT) Internal Slot 1
Emulex (HBA FC 32, FH,FC32,2P,V1.1) 1 1
Table 4. Configuration 2: R2a + R3aRiser configuration R2a + R3a.
Card type Slot priority Maximum number of cards
Inventec (BOSS) 1 1
GPU: NVIDIA T4 16 GB (Low Profile) 2, 1, 3 3
GPU: NVIDIA A2 16GB (Low Profile) 2, 1, 3 3
Mellanox (NIC: 100 Gb) 2, 1, 3 3
Mellanox (NIC: 50 Gb) 2, 1, 3 3
Intel (NIC: 25 Gb) 2, 1, 3 3
Mellanox (NIC: 25 Gb) 2, 1, 3 3
SolarFlare (NIC: 25 Gb) 2, 1, 3 3
Broadcom (NIC: 25 Gb) 2, 1, 3 3
QLogic (NIC: 25 Gb) 2, 1, 3 3
Emulex (HBA: FC64 LP) 2, 1, 3 3
Emulex (HBA: FC32) 2, 1, 3 3
QLogic (HBA: FC32) 2, 1, 3 3
Emulex (HBA: FC16) 2, 1, 3 3
QLogic (HBA: FC16) 2, 1, 3 3
FOXCONN (HBA355E) 2, 1, 3 2
Intel (NIC: 10 Gb) 2, 1, 3 3
Broadcom (NIC: 10 Gb) 2, 1, 3 3
QLogic (NIC: 10 Gb) 2, 1, 3 3
Intel (NIC: 1 Gb) 2, 1, 3 3
Broadcom (NIC: 1 Gb) 2, 1, 3 3
Mellanox (NIC: HDR100 VPI) 2, 1, 3 3
Mellanox (NIC: HDR VPI) 2, 1, 3 3
Foxconn (External adapter) 2, 1, 3 3
Samsung (PCIe SSD) 2, 1, 3 3
Intel (PCIe SSD) 2, 1, 3 3
Intel (NIC: 100Gb) 2, 1, 3 3
Broadcom (NIC: 10Gb) 2, 1, 3 3
Emulex (CRD,CTL,EMLX,LP,FC32,1P,S28) 2, 1, 3 3
Intel (CRD,NTWK,INTL,LP,25G,2P,S28,F1) 2, 1, 3 3
Inventec (ASSY,CRD,CTL,BOSS,ADPT,S2V2,15G) Internal Slot 1
Inventec (Front PERC) Internal Slot 1
Foxconn (Front PERC) Internal Slot 1
Mellanox (OCP: 100 Gb) Internal Slot 1
Mellanox (OCP: 50 Gb) Internal Slot 1
Broadcom (OCP: 25 Gb) Internal Slot 1
QLogic (OCP: 25 Gb) Internal Slot 1
Mellanox (OCP: 25 Gb) Internal Slot 1
SolarFlare (OCP: 25 Gb) Internal Slot 1
Intel (OCP: 25 Gb) Internal Slot 1
Intel (OCP: 10 Gb) Internal Slot 1
Broadcom (OCP: 10 Gb) Internal Slot 1
QLogic (OCP: 10 Gb) Internal Slot 1
QLogic (CRD,CTL,MRVL,LP,FC32,1P,S28,F1) 2, 1, 3 3
Broadcom (OCP: 1 Gb) Internal Slot 1
Intel (OCP: 1 Gb) Internal Slot 1
Intel (OCP: 25Gb) Internal Slot 1
Foxconn (Front PERC, ASSY,CRD,CTL,H755,FRONT) Internal Slot 1
Emulex (HBA FC 32, LP,FC32,2P,V1.1) 2,1,3 3
Table 5. Configuration 4: R1a + R4c +R4dRiser configuration R1a + R4c +R4d.
Card type Slot priority Maximum number of cards
Dell BOSS Adapter 2, 1 1
GPU: NVIDIA T4 16 GB (Full Height) 2 ,1 2
GPU: NVIDIA A2 16GB (Full Height) 2, 1 2
Mellanox (NIC: 100 Gb) 2, 1 2
Intel (NIC: 25 Gb) 2, 1 2
Mellanox (NIC: 25 Gb) 2, 1 2
Broadcom (NIC: 25 Gb) 2, 1 2
QLogic (NIC: 25 Gb) 2, 1 2
Emulex (HBA: FC64 FH) 2, 1 2
Emulex (HBA: FC32) 2, 1 2
QLogic (HBA: FC32) 2, 1 2
Emulex (HBA: FC16) 2, 1 2
QLogic (HBA: FC16) 2, 1 2
FOXCONN (HBA355E) 2, 1 2
Intel (NIC: 10 Gb) 2, 1 2
Broadcom (NIC: 10 Gb) 2, 1 2
QLogic (NIC: 10 Gb) 2, 1 2
Intel (NIC: 1 Gb) 2, 1 2
Broadcom (NIC: 1 Gb) 2, 1 2
Dell PERC Adapter 2, 1 2
Samsung (PCIe SSD) 2, 1 2
Intel (PCIe SSD) 2, 1 2
Intel (NIC: 25Gb) 2, 1 2
Intel (NIC: 100Gb) 2, 1 2
Broadcom (NIC: 10Gb) 2,1 2
Emulex (CRD,CTL,EMLX,FH,FC32,1P,S28) 2, 1 2
CRD,NTWK,INTL,FH,25G,2P,S28,F1 2, 1 2
Inventec (ASSY,CRD,CTL,BOSS,ADPT,S2V2,15G) Internal Slot 1
FOXCONN (Front PERC) Internal Slot 1
Dell Front PERC Internal Slot 1
Broadcom (OCP: 25 Gb) Internal Slot 1
QLogic (OCP: 25 Gb) Internal Slot 1
Mellanox (OCP: 25 Gb) Internal Slot 1
Intel (OCP: 10 Gb) Internal Slot 1
Broadcom (OCP: 10 Gb) Internal Slot 1
QLogic (OCP: 10 Gb) Internal Slot 1
Broadcom (OCP: 1 Gb) Internal Slot 1
Intel (OCP: 1 Gb) Internal Slot 1
SolarFlare (OCP: 25 Gb) Internal Slot 1
Intel (OCP: 25Gb) Internal Slot 1
ASSY,CRD,CTL,H755,FRONT Internal Slot 1
Emulex (HBA FC 32, FH,FC32,2P,V1.1) 2,1 2
Table 6. Configuration 5: R3aRiser configuration 5 R3a.
Card type Slot priority Maximum number of cards
Mellanox (NIC: 100 Gb) 3 1
Mellanox (NIC: 50 Gb) 3 1
Intel (NIC: 25 Gb) 3 1
Mellanox (NIC: 25 Gb) 3 1
SolarFlare (NIC: 25 Gb) 3 1
Broadcom (NIC: 25 Gb) 3 1
QLogic (NIC: 25 Gb) 3 1
Emulex (HBA: FC64 LP) 3 1
Emulex (HBA: FC32) 3 1
QLogic (HBA: FC32) 3 1
Emulex (HBA: FC16) 3 1
QLogic (HBA: FC16) 3 1
FOXCONN (HBA355E) 3 1
Intel (NIC: 10 Gb) 3 1
Broadcom (NIC: 10 Gb) 3 1
QLogic (NIC: 10 Gb) 3 1
Intel (NIC: 1 Gb) 3 1
Broadcom (NIC: 1 Gb) 3 1
Foxconn (External adapter) 3 1
Inventec (BOSS) 3 1
Samsung (PCIe SSD) 3 1
Intel (PCIe SSD) 3 1
Intel (NIC: 100Gb, LP) 3 1
Broadcom (NIC: 10Gb) 3 1
QLogic (CRD,CTL,MRVL,LP,FC32,1P,S28,F1) 3 1
Emulex (CRD,CTL,EMLX,LP,FC32,1P,S28) 3 1
Intel (CRD,NTWK,INTL,LP,25G,2P,S28,F1) 3 1
Inventec (ASSY,CRD,CTL,BOSS,ADPT,S2V2,15G) Internal Slot 1
Inventec (Front PERC) Internal Slot 1
Foxconn (Front PERC) Internal Slot 1
Mellanox (OCP: 100 Gb) Internal Slot 1
Mellanox (OCP: 50 Gb) Internal Slot 1
Broadcom (OCP: 25 Gb) Internal Slot 1
QLogic (OCP: 25 Gb) Internal Slot 1
Mellanox (OCP: 25 Gb) Internal Slot 1
SolarFlare (OCP: 25 Gb) Internal Slot 1
Intel (OCP: 25 Gb) Internal Slot 1
Intel (OCP: 10 Gb) Internal Slot 1
Broadcom (OCP: 10 Gb) Internal Slot 1
QLogic (OCP: 10 Gb) Internal Slot 1
Broadcom (OCP: 1 Gb) Internal Slot 1
Intel (OCP: 1 Gb) Internal Slot 1
Intel (OCP: 25 Gb) Internal Slot 1
FOXCONN (Front OERC, ASSY,CRD,CTL,H755,FRONT) Internal Slot 1
Emulex (HBA FC 32, LP,FC32,2P,V1.1) 3 1
Table 7. Configuration 6: R1D+R2A+R3ARiser configuration R1D+R2A+R3A.
Card type Slot priority Maximum number of cards
Inventec (Serial) 3 1
GPU: NVIDIA T4 16 GB (Low Profile) 2, 1, 3 3
GPU: NVIDIA A2 16GB (Low Profile) 2, 1, 3 3
Mellanox (NIC: 100Gb) 2, 1, 3 3
Broadcom (NIC: 100Gb) 2, 1, 3 3
Intel (NIC: 100Gb) 2, 1, 3 3
Mellanox (NIC: 50Gb) 2, 1, 3 3
QLogic (NIC: 25Gb) 2, 1, 3 3
Intel (NIC: 25Gb) 2, 1, 3 3
Mellanox (NIC: 25Gb) 2, 1, 3 3
Broadcom (NIC: 25Gb) 2, 1, 3 3
Mellanox (NIC: 25Gb) 2, 1, 3 3
Emulex (HBA: FC64 LP) 2, 1, 3 3
Emulex (HBA: FC32) 2, 1, 3 3
QLogic (HBA: FC32) 2, 1, 3 3
Emulex (HBA: FC16) 2, 1, 3 3
Emulex (HBA: FC16) 2, 1, 3 3
QLogic (HBA: FC16) 2, 1, 3 3
QLogic (NIC: 10Gb) 2, 1, 3 3
Intel (NIC: 10Gb) 2, 1, 3 3
Broadcom (NIC: 10Gb) 2, 1, 3 3
Intel (NIC: 1Gb) 2, 1, 3 3
Broadcom (NIC: 1Gb) 2, 1, 3 3
Mellanox (NIC: HDR100 VPI) 2, 1, 3 3
Mellanox (NIC:HDR VPI) 2, 1, 3 3
Broadcom (OCP: 100Gb) Internal Slot 1
Broadcom (OCP: 25Gb) Internal Slot 1
QLogic (OCP: 25Gb) Internal Slot 1
Mellanox (OCP: 25Gb) Internal Slot 1
SolarFlare (OCP: 25Gb) Internal Slot 1
Intel (OCP: 25Gb) Internal Slot 1
Intel (OCP: 10Gb) Internal Slot 1
Broadcom (OCP: 10Gb) Internal Slot 1
QLogic (OCP: 10Gb) Internal Slot 1
Broadcom (OCP: 10Gb) Internal Slot 1
Intel (OCP: 1Gb) Internal Slot 1
FOXCONN H840 (External Adapter) 2, 1, 3 2
FOXCONN HBA355E (External Adapter) 2, 1, 3 2
FOXCONN 12GB SAS HBA (External Adapter) 2, 1, 3 2
Inventec (BOSS-S2) Internal Slot 1
Inventec (BOSS-S1) 2, 1, 3 1
SAMSUNG (PCIE SSD) 2, 1, 3 3
INTEL (PCIE SSD) 2, 1, 3 3
Inventec (Serial IO) 3 1
Table 8. Configuration 8: R1ARiser configuration 8: R1A
Card type Slot priority Maximum number of cards
FOXCONN H755 (Front PERC) Internal Slot 1
INVENTEC H745 (Front PERC) Internal Slot 1
FOXCONN H345 (Front PERC) Internal Slot 1
FOXCONN H355 (Front PERC) Internal Slot 1
FOXCONN H355I (Front PERC) Internal Slot 1
Mellanox (NIC: 100Gb) 1 1
Intel (NIC: 100Gb) 1 1
Broadcom (NIC: 100Gb) 1 1
QLogic (NIC: 25Gb) 1 1
Broadcom (NIC: 25Gb) 1 1
Intel (NIC: 25Gb) 1 1
Mellanox (NIC: 25Gb) 1 1
Emulex (HBA: FC64 FH) 1 1
Emulex (HBA: FC32) 1 1
QLogic (HBA: FC32) 1 1
Emulex (HBA: FC16) 1 1
QLogic (HBA: FC16) 1 1
QLogic (NIC: 10Gb) 1 1
QLogic (NIC: 10Gb) 1 1
QLogic (NIC: 10Gb) 1 1
Intel (NIC: 10Gb) 1 1
Broadcom (NIC: 10Gb) 1 1
QLogic (NIC: 10Gb) 1 1
Intel (NIC: 1Gb) 1 1
Broadcom (NIC: 1Gb) 1 1
Mellanox (NIC: HDR100 VPI) 1 1
Mellanox (NIC:HDR VPI) 1 1
Broadcom (OCP: 100Gb) Internal Slot 1
Broadcom (OCP: 25Gb) Internal Slot 1
QLogic (OCP: 25Gb) Internal Slot 1
Mellanox (OCP: 25Gb) Internal Slot 1
SolarFlare (OCP: 25Gb) Internal Slot 1
Intel (OCP: 25Gb) Internal Slot 1
Intel (OCP: 10Gb) Internal Slot 1
Broadcom (OCP: 10Gb) Internal Slot 1
QLogic (OCP: 10Gb) Internal Slot 1
Broadcom (OCP: 1Gb) Internal Slot 1
Intel (OCP: 1Gb) Internal Slot 1
FOXCONN HBA355E (External Adapter) 1 1
FOXCONN 12GB SAS HBA (External Adapter) 1 1
Inventec (BOSS-S2) Internal Slot 1
Inventec (BOSS-S1) 1 1
SAMSUNG (PCIE SSD) 1 1
SAMSUNG (PCIE SSD) 1 1
INTEL (PCIE SSD) 1 1
Table 9. Configuration 9: R1A+R4C+R4DRiser configuration 9: R1A+R4C+R4D
Card type Slot priority Maximum number of cards
GPU NVIDIA T4 16 GB (Full Height) 2, 1 2
GPU: NVIDIA A2 16GB (Full Height) 2, 1 2
FOXCONN H755 (Front PERC) Internal Slot 1
INVENTEC H745 (Front PERC) Internal Slot 1
FOXCONN H345 (Front PERC) Internal Slot 1
FOXCONN H355 (Front PERC) Internal Slot 1
FOXCONN H355I (Front PERC) Internal Slot 1
FOXCONN H345 (Front PERC) Internal Slot 1
Mellanox (NIC: 100Gb) 2, 1 2
Intel (NIC: 100Gb) 2, 1 2
Broadcom (NIC: 100Gb) 2, 1 2
QLogic (NIC: 25Gb) 2, 1 2
Broadcom (NIC: 25Gb) 2, 1 2
Intel (NIC: 25Gb) 2, 1 2
Mellanox (NIC: 25Gb) 2, 1 2
Emulex (HBA: FC64 FH) 2, 1 2
Emulex (HBA: FC32) 2, 1 2
QLogic (HBA: FC32) 2, 1 2
Emulex (HBA: FC16) 2, 1 2
QLogic (HBA: FC16) 2, 1 2
QLogic (NIC: 10Gb) 2, 1 2
Intel (NIC: 10Gb) 2, 1 2
Broadcom (NIC: 10Gb) 2, 1 2
QLogic (NIC: 10Gb) 2, 1 2
Intel (NIC: 1Gb) 2, 1 2
Broadcom (NIC: 1Gb) 2, 1 2
Mellanox (NIC: HDR100 VPI) 2, 1 2
Mellanox (NIC:HDR VPI) 2, 1 2
Broadcom (OCP: 100Gb) Internal Slot 1
Broadcom (OCP: 25Gb) Internal Slot 1
QLogic (OCP: 25Gb) Internal Slot 1
Mellanox (OCP: 25Gb) Internal Slot 1
SolarFlare (OCP: 25Gb) Internal Slot 1
Intel (OCP: 25Gb) Internal Slot 1
Intel (OCP: 10Gb) Internal Slot 1
Broadcom (OCP: 10Gb) Internal Slot 1
QLogic (OCP: 10Gb) Internal Slot 1
Broadcom (OCP: 1Gb) Internal Slot 1
Intel (OCP: 1Gb) Internal Slot 1
FOXCONN H840 (External Adapter) 2, 1 2
FOXCONN HBA355E (External Adapter) 2, 1 2
FOXCONN 12GB SAS HBA (External Adapter) 2, 1 2
Inventec (BOSS -S2) Internal Slot 1
Inventec (BOSS-S1) 2, 1 1
SAMSUNG (PCIE SSD) 2, 1 2
SAMSUNG (PCIE SSD) 2, 1 2
INTEL (PCIE SSD) 2, 1 2

Rate this content

Accurate
Useful
Easy to understand
Was this article helpful?
0/3000 characters
  Please provide ratings (1-5 stars).
  Please provide ratings (1-5 stars).
  Please provide ratings (1-5 stars).
  Please select whether the article was helpful or not.
  Comments cannot contain these special characters: <>()\