PCI-E riser card problems

[rbk123]

I recently bought a refurbed Lenovo M57P which I'd like to turn into an HTPC. The chassis is a pretty small/compact mini-case and it has a 90 degree riser card to accept a GPU, however the socket on the riser card does not match the GPU connector. The socket on the motherboard, that the riser card plugs into, DOES match the GPU but I can't plug the GPU into that slot due to physical orientation limitations.

What gives with the riser card? Why would the socket on the card be different than the socket on the MB? Do I have any options or am I SOL?

 

[fralexandr]

everything i've found off google indicates the riser card is either a PCI-E x1 or plain PCI interface.

I'm guessing your GPU is a pci-e x16 card. If the riser slot matches the x16 card, except the GPU connector is too long, it's the PCI-E x1, otherwise it's a PCI slot
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PCI_Express#Form_factors
the top 4 are varying length PCI-E slots. The bottom one is a PCI legacy slot

The m57p was probably a bad choice for an easy HTPC.
It uses a 250w PSU, has a small weirdly shaped form factor, and uses a weird riser card.
It is unlikely you need to upgrade the PSU if you are using a low end video card for HD decode purposes.

there are graphics cards designed for x1 physical slots.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...=-1&isNodeId=1
they tend to be more expensive, since they're not normal

It may be possible to use an PCI-E x16 card in an x1 physical slot if you carefully cut off the end that restricts GPU length. I'm unsure whether the PCI-E x1 riser card transfers the full 75W PCI-E x16 is spec'd for, so you may or may not have problems powering the GPU.

 

[rbk123]

Found the card - it's Pocono-GF Riser Card:

IBM Lenovo ThinkCentre M55 Type 8795 POCONO-GF PCI Riser Card POCONPCI #665
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/IBM-Leno...-GF-PCI-Riser-Card-POCONPCI-665-/261143495968

Looks like it's a PCI riser, not PCI-E.

2 questions - a) should I get a PCI GPU (they seem pricey)? or b) could I replace with a PCI-E riser card?

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Why can't you use the on board graphics? They're probably good enough.

Which type M57p did you buy? There's apparently a bunch of different models. This one includes such luxuries as a measly 120w power supply, which would preclude a GPU entirely.

 

[fralexandr]

if it's the q35, it's using the gma 3100
he'd need to have at least one from the 4500 series for full hardware acceleration
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Intel_graphics_processing_units#Third_generation

whether or not you should go with a or b is up to you.
There are some PCI cards with hdmi around $70 that can do hardware acceleration, mostly older low end things like the radeon 5450.
There are cheap unshielded pci-e flexible riser cables that may or may not work for you.

 

[Johnmcl7]

It's definitely a PCI riser, you can't put a PCI-E riser on there as the base slot is PCI. I have put graphics cards in these PC's mainly to get dual link DVI output but the problem is the riser isn't really designed for graphics as there's no airflow for the card and there's virtually no space around the GPU cooler when it's fitted. They run ok for a while but they do eventually seem to succumb to the heat.

John

 

[rbk123]

Why can't you use the on board graphics? They're probably good enough.

No HDMI output and no ability for DTS HD audio. Thanks for the input - looks like it's a no-go as an HTPC. Shame as with an SSD it is pretty quick and has such a tiny footprint. Thanks everyone for all of the input and help.

 

[Fox5]

You could replace the innards with something better. Even an AMD FM1 platform would have better hardware acceleration.