|
Title: PCI only rig (not PCI-E) - possible to mine? Post by: Jcw188 on March 29, 2013, 03:18:30 PM Hi I have access to several desktops with PCI slots only. I looked at the list of video cards here (https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Mining_Hardware_Comparison?vm=r&s=1#Nvidia) and it seems like only PCI-E or higher are possible to mine on.
Does anyone know if there are any PCI video cards that I can mine on, or are there PCI/PCI-E converters available? Thanks! Title: Re: PCI only rig (not PCI-E) - possible to mine? Post by: Nancarrow on March 29, 2013, 03:35:56 PM AFAIK there aren't any PCI cards, or if there are they're extremely ancient and no good for mining.
There *are* PCI->PCIe adapters, but I have had bad luck and/or stupidity with the ones I tried (my first rig has two PCI slots, I use one for the wireless NIC and didn't want the other to go to waste). I ordered an unpowered one, worked fine for about 4 months and then all of a sudden my rig wasn't detecting any card in that slot anymore. Saw no obvious signs of damage on the adapter, the riser or the card. Then I got an adapter with a molex power thingy from Cablesaurus but I couldn't get that to work at all, so I ordered another unpowered adapter (I think they were both on Ebay from a Chinese outfit called Sintech) and that one lasted two months before, again, apparently just ceasing to work with no obvious signs of damage. Title: Re: PCI only rig (not PCI-E) - possible to mine? Post by: Jcw188 on March 29, 2013, 03:44:30 PM Thanks for your response. To be clear, I can buy the converter and then buy a PCI-E video card and it should work in the PCI slot (with the converter attached)? (realizing you said you didn't have much luck with it...)
Title: Re: PCI only rig (not PCI-E) - possible to mine? Post by: Gator-hex on March 29, 2013, 03:55:36 PM The last PCI cards were Ati 3870s and no you cannot make PCI-E work without changing the motherboard.
As far as I'm aware StarTech PCI-E to PCI adapters are to run old PCI cards in new PCI-E slots, not the other way around. Title: Re: PCI only rig (not PCI-E) - possible to mine? Post by: Nancarrow on March 29, 2013, 05:14:14 PM Thanks for your response. To be clear, I can buy the converter and then buy a PCI-E video card and it should work in the PCI slot (with the converter attached)? (realizing you said you didn't have much luck with it...) Yes. This is what I got: http://www.pc-adapter.net/products/321.html Though like I said, bought 2, lasted ~4 and 2 months respectively. You may also want to try first putting the converter in the PCI slot, then putting one of these powered risers in the converter: http://cablesaurus.com/PCIe-x16-Extender-Cable-w-Molex-Connector *Then* connect the PCI-E video card to the powered riser. That little white molex connector has to be plugged into a PSU somehow. But like I say, couldn't get that to work at all :'( whilst at least with an unpowered riser, I got some work out of it. Title: Re: PCI only rig (not PCI-E) - possible to mine? Post by: Crystallas on March 29, 2013, 05:30:56 PM It would be cheaper to just get a new board.
Title: Re: PCI only rig (not PCI-E) - possible to mine? Post by: Twerka on March 29, 2013, 05:38:23 PM With the adapter the PCIe should work. Anyway,with some older motherboards you will find compatibility problem.
|