Need help with expanding my farm using PCIx1 extenders

[TyGrr]

Hi all. I have 8 machines running 15 5850s 2 6990s and 1 5770. I understand that we are able to run cards off of the PCI x1 slot some how. Since I already have the machines and am using the electricity to run them then it just seems logical I should use these extra slots as well. Some of my machines are just two 5850s on an 800 watt PSU.

My main questions are, do I need to cut the video cards to get them to fit in the PCI 1x slots? Is there such thing as a 1x to a 16x adapter? I have not really found much helpful information about this. Clearly I ahve never done this but have heard things here and there. Any ideas would be great. Thanks.

[worldinacoin]

Yeap there are 1x -> 16x , in fact I just ordered a few recently

https://cablesaurus.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=10&zenid=441926d85cbb6f087cd6467535ab3474

[Crypt_Current]

I just tried to use the pci-e 1x for another 5830 in my 2x5830 rig using a 1x to 16x cable (which would make it into a 3x5830 rig).
I had partial luck...
The rig runs LinuxCoin.  What happened was "aticonfig --lsa" listed all three devices, but "AMDOverdriveCtrl -h" only listed the ones plugged into 16x slots, even though it had a couple more entries in its table than usual.

When I tried to run phoenix miner on the DEVICE 2 that "aticonfig --lsa" listed, it tried to use the CPU... 

So, yeah the pci-e 1x to 16x cables DO work, but if anyone could help me with my particular LinuxCoin issue, that'd be great!

I can offer .5 BTC for a complete solution.

[jjiimm_64]

I just tried to use the pci-e 1x for another 5830 in my 2x5830 rig using a 1x to 16x cable (which would make it into a 3x5830 rig).
I had partial luck...
The rig runs LinuxCoin.  What happened was "aticonfig --lsa" listed all three devices, but "AMDOverdriveCtrl -h" only listed the ones plugged into 16x slots, even though it had a couple more entries in its table than usual.

When I tried to run phoenix miner on the DEVICE 2 that "aticonfig --lsa" listed, it tried to use the CPU... 

So, yeah the pci-e 1x to 16x cables DO work, but if anyone could help me with my particular LinuxCoin issue, that'd be great!

I can offer .5 BTC for a complete solution.

If I was in that position I would

1. rm /etc/X11/xorg.conf  (path might not be exact)
2. reboot with dummy plugs in the cards.

I know you dont normally need the plugs in the cards, but I do remember a situation that cleared up when I used them. worth a try

[Crypt_Current]

I just tried to use the pci-e 1x for another 5830 in my 2x5830 rig using a 1x to 16x cable (which would make it into a 3x5830 rig).
I had partial luck...
The rig runs LinuxCoin.  What happened was "aticonfig --lsa" listed all three devices, but "AMDOverdriveCtrl -h" only listed the ones plugged into 16x slots, even though it had a couple more entries in its table than usual.

When I tried to run phoenix miner on the DEVICE 2 that "aticonfig --lsa" listed, it tried to use the CPU... 

So, yeah the pci-e 1x to 16x cables DO work, but if anyone could help me with my particular LinuxCoin issue, that'd be great!

I can offer .5 BTC for a complete solution.

If I was in that position I would

1. rm /etc/X11/xorg.conf  (path might not be exact)
2. reboot with dummy plugs in the cards.

I know you dont normally need the plugs in the cards, but I do remember a situation that cleared up when I used them. worth a try

Thanks, but being a novice (learning quickly though) linux user, I would like to know why I'm removing that particular file?