Need Help with Finding Ide Cdrw Drive and A good Graphics Pci or Pci e card

flexrider

Hello MSE peeps,

I just bought a old type of Server (Dell poweredge sc430) which i can turn into a server workstation and just for a mail server or storage tower on my network.

The tower server Does not come with a Graphics card or opticial DVDRW or any type of drive as such.

Also im looking for a good Graphics card either pci or pci express to fit.

I have tried a Geforce card but it does not fit. Dell have sort of blocked the card slots to fit making it very hard to fit one! :mad:

Just wondering if anyone would reccomend a place were i can get one or what type of cards would fit, have tried the following

1. ebay
2. amazon
3. dell
4. Dabbs

Yet no luck!

Thanks again for your time.

sabz3008

From the specs I read of the Poweredge sc430, a PCI-E graphics card is what you need...

Try this one (links to eBuyer)

It's reasonably priced, your dell will never be suitable for gaming so no need to splash out hundreds...

flexrider

sabz3008 wrote: »

From the specs I read of the Poweredge sc430, a PCI-E graphics card is what you need...

Try this one (links to eBuyer)

It's reasonably priced, your dell will never be suitable for gaming so no need to splash out hundreds...

Thanks again

Yes i understand i do not want it for a games server.
Just want to use it like my NAS drive to back up stuff or as an email server, Also for learning VM and Windows 2008 server is my main intent with this machine

For playing games i prefer the Xbox or Ps3 but thank you for the reply

skint999

There are different types of Pci types, the difference is the fittings and notches are different on the card strip. Search some info on PCI types, spec sheet states I/O channels Five total: three PCI Express™ slots (1 x 8, 1 x 4, 1 x 1); two PCI slots (32-bit/33MHz), 5v.

For parts try Aria, Microdirect or ebuyer

flexrider

skint999 wrote: »

There are different types of Pci types, the difference is the fittings and notches are different on the card strip. Search some info on PCI types, spec sheet states I/O channels Five total: three PCI Express™ slots (1 x 8, 1 x 4, 1 x 1); two PCI slots (32-bit/33MHz), 5v.

For parts try Aria, Microdirect or ebuyer

The first responce i received have found me a good graphics card, I just need to find either a DVDrw or opticial CDrw drive that will fit my server i have been looking at the places you mentioned but all i come across is dell poweredge 1800 2700 optiplex 3300 and inspiration cd drives, i have already tried some of these already and have returned them to the ebay sellers for a refund because they do not fit the bays.

as for set up with the cards on the tower server

pcie (5 slots) with 3 slots pcie x4 x8 x 1)
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pci 32bit/33-mhz slot 5 and slot 3 same
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excuse the crap drawing but thats how my pci and pcie slots looks like, From reading dell built this machine with intent to sell to small business users with minimum specs but when the first one came out people flocked to buy because you could place any card in the machine and updates so dell did a revision on the slots that stops Most PCi cards being fitted unless you file down the pins on the card (which can render a card useless if you cut the wrong pin) plus stuck a bios update also so its all about finding the right components to work with it

just looking now for a CDRW or DVDRW so i can install win2k8 server is the big hurdle now

thank you for the responce

stilltheone

flexrider wrote: »

The first responce i received have found me a good graphics card, I just need to find either a DVDrw or opticial CDrw drive that will fit my server i have been looking at the places you mentioned but all i come across is dell poweredge 1800 2700 optiplex 3300 and inspiration cd drives, i have already tried some of these already and have returned them to the ebay sellers for a refund because they do not fit the bays.

as for set up with the cards on the tower server

pcie (5 slots) with 3 slots pcie x4 x8 x 1)
|

---

|

---

|

---

|----|
|

---

|

---

|

---

|----|

pci 32bit/33-mhz slot 5 and slot 3 same
|

---

|

---

|
|

---

|

---

|

excuse the crap drawing but thats how my pci and pcie slots looks like, From reading dell built this machine with intent to sell to small business users with minimum specs but when the first one came out people flocked to buy because you could place any card in the machine and updates so dell did a revision on the slots that stops Most PCi cards being fitted unless you file down the pins on the card (which can render a card useless if you cut the wrong pin) plus stuck a bios update also so its all about finding the right components to work with it

just looking now for a CDRW or DVDRW so i can install win2k8 server is the big hurdle now

thank you for the responce

If you can boot from USB, you can install Windows Server 2008 via USB.

flexrider

stilltheone wrote: »

If you can boot from USB, you can install Windows Server 2008 via USB.

Well i cannot boot yet as its not a windows machine yet it boots from my other disk which contains Centos 5.5.6(Lunix) Command line without GUI also.

Hence why i am looking around for a drive with urgency.

Thanks again for your comments.

stilltheone

flexrider wrote: »

Well i cannot boot yet as its not a windows machine yet it boots from my other disk which contains Centos 5.5.6(Lunix) Command line without GUI also.

Hence why i am looking around for a drive with urgency.

Thanks again for your comments.

I know nothing about Servers, so take it easy.

I don't understand why it is not possible to boot from USB. Is it not a function of the server?

If you enter Setup via F2 on startup, you can change the Boot sequence. So what has it not being a Windows machine to do with it?

I have seen some claiming to be suitable for your machine on eBay. Perhaps you have already checked them.

flexrider

Thanks again for your replies but i cannot boot into windows 2008 sever because it is on Dvd disks. that is why i am looking for the dvd drive or Rw drive to set it up,

The only server 2008 which is downloadable is the valuation version and does not allow you to fully upgrade to the full version from demo plus it is over 2 Gig for server 2008 windows operating system.So it would take some considerable time to do so. Plus have been reading up on Microsoft does not allow boot up server O/S by them via usb.

The other reason is that the server has lunix only installed by command line. (no windows style of a desktop no click and paste ect, you have to use commands ect for example root/etc/dir (to show directorys)

im cool also bro an sorry talking techie? tried ebay no luck so far but apprecate your comments

spakkker

You don't have to fit the dvd drive perfectly, you could use it "hanging half out of the case" as long as cables are connected.

flexrider

stilltheone wrote: »

I have read about others installing Windows Server 2008 via USB.

In fact you can use the Windows USB Tool to do so(with just a little modification if necessary).

Again, I have never worked with a Server so correct me if I am wrong.

can you show me where you have read this infomation or perhaps the link? I could try that route try and back up via a qnap Nas drive or something?

Thanks again for all your help