PCI only rig (not PCI-E) - possible to mine?

[Jcw188]

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!

[Nancarrow]

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.

[Jcw188]

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...)

[Gator-hex]

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.

[Nancarrow]

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.

[Crystallas]

It would be cheaper to just get a new board.

[Twerka]

With the adapter the PCIe should work. Anyway,with some older motherboards you will find compatibility problem.