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PCIe slots and adapters

Understanding the technical rules for PCIe adapters helps you correctly install and configure PCIe adapters in the system.

PCIe slots supported for different models​

Table 1. PCIe slots supported and locations
Server rear and front viewSupported types and slot location


Riser 1 assembly

  • 1 Slot 1: PCIe 5 (x16, x8), full-height, half-length

  • 2 Slot 2: PCIe 5 (x16, x8), low-profile

Riser 2 assembly

  • 3 Slot 3: PCIe 5 (x16), low-profile



Riser 1 assembly

  • 1 Slot 1: PCIe 5 (x16, x8), full-height, half-length

  • 2 Slot 2: PCIe 5 (x16, x8), low-profile



Riser 1 assembly

1 Slot 1: PCIe 5 (x16), full-height, half-length



Riser 1 assembly

  • 1 Slot 1: PCIe 5 (x16), full-height, half-length

Riser 2 assembly

  • 2 Slot 3: PCIe 5 (x16), full-height, half-length



Riser 1 assembly

  • 1 Slot 1: PCIe 5 (x16), full-height, half-length

Riser 2 assembly

  • 2 Slot 3: PCIe 5 (x16), low-profile



Riser 1 assembly

1 Slot 1: PCIe 5 (x16), full-height, half-length

PCIe adapter installation rules and order​

When installing different types of PCIe adapters, refer to the following suggested installation priority:

Table 2. Recommended installation priority for different types of PCIe adapters
Installation priority
1. OCP module2. RAID adapter3 HBA adapter4. GPU adapter
5. InfiniBand adapter6. Fibre adapter7. Network adapter8. Serial port (COM) bracket
Table 3. Recommended slot installation priority for PCIe adapters
Adapter typeRecommended slot installation priorityPCIe adapters
OCP module

Slot 6 and 7

Maximum quantity supported: 2

  • ThinkSystem Mellanox ConnectX-6 Lx 10/25GbE SFP28 2-port OCP Ethernet Adapter

  • ThinkSystem Broadcom 57504 10/25GbE SFP28 4-Port OCP Ethernet Adapter

  • ThinkSystem Broadcom 57508 100GbE QSFP56 2-Port OCP Ethernet Adapter

  • ThinkSystem Broadcom 57414 10/25GbE SFP28 2-port OCP Ethernet Adapter

  • ThinkSystem Broadcom 57416 10GBASE-T 2-port OCP Ethernet Adapter

  • ThinkSystem Broadcom 5719 1GbE RJ45 4-port OCP Ethernet Adapter

  • ThinkSystem Broadcom 57412 10GBASE-T 4-port OCP Ethernet Adapter

  • ThinkSystem Broadcom 57608 2x200/1x400GbE QSFP112 OCP Ethernet Adapter

  • ThinkSystem Intel E610-T2 10GBASE-T 2-port OCP Ethernet Adapter(Generic FW)

  • ThinkSystem Intel E830-XXVDA2 10/25GbE SFP28 2-Port OCP Ethernet Adapter(Generic FW)

  • ThinkSystem Nvidia ConnectX-6 Dx 100GbE QSFP56 2-port OCP Ethernet Adapter(Generic)

  • ThinkSystem Intel E610-T4 1GBASE-T 4-port OCP Ethernet Adapter(Generic FW)

  • ThinkSystem Intel E610-T4 10GBASE-T 4-port OCP Ethernet Adapter(Generic FW)

Slot 6

Maximum quantity supported: 1

  • ThinkSystem management NIC adapter next generation

    Note
    This adapter can only be installed in OCP 1 slot, and cannot be installed when Lenovo Processor Neptune Core Module is installed on the server.

  • ThinkSystem OCP 4 to 1 Management Port Consolidation Adapter

    Note
    This adapter can only be installed in OCP 1 slot, and cannot be used with other OCP adapters.

RAID adapter

  • Configuration with standard/performance heat sinks: Slot 1 > Slot 2 > Slot 3

  • Configuration with NeptAir module: Slot 1 > Slot 3

  • Configuration with NeptCore module: Slot 1

Maximum quantity supported: 1

  • ThinkSystem RAID 940-8i 4GB Flash PCIe Gen4 12Gb Adapter

  • ThinkSystem RAID 940-8e 4GB Flash PCIe Gen4 12Gb Adapter

  • ThinkSystem RAID 940-16i 8GB Flash PCIe Gen4 12Gb Adapter

  • ThinkSystem RAID 9350-8i 2GB Flash PCIe 12Gb Adapter

  • ThinkSystem RAID 9350-16i 4GB Flash PCIe 12Gb Adapter

  • ThinkSystem RAID 5350-8i PCIe 12Gb Adapter

  • ThinkSystem RAID 545-8i PCIe Gen4 12Gb Adapter

CFF

Maximum quantity supported: 1

  • ThinkSystem RAID 940-16i 8GB Flash PCIe Gen4 12Gb Internal Adapter

HBA adapter

Slot 1 > Slot 2 > Slot 3

Maximum quantity supported: 3

  • ThinkSystem 440-16e SAS/SATA 12Gb HBA

  • Configuration with standard heat sinks: Slot 1 > Slot 2 > Slot 3

  • Configuration with NeptAir module: Slot 1 > Slot 3

  • Configuration with NeptCore module: Slot 1

Maximum quantity supported: 1

  • ThinkSystem 4350-16i SAS/SATA 12Gb HBA

  • ThinkSystem 440-16i SAS/SATA PCIe Gen4 12Gb HBA

CFF

Maximum quantity supported: 1

  • ThinkSystem 440-16i SAS/SATA PCIe Gen4 12Gb Internal HBA

GPU adapter

Slot 1 > Slot 2 > Slot 3

Maximum quantity supported: 3

  • ThinkSystem NVIDIA L4 24GB PCIe Gen4 Passive GPU

Note
When Lenovo Compute Complex Neptune Core Module is installed, the GPU adapter cannot be installed.
InfiniBand adapter

Slot 1 > Slot 2 > Slot 3

Maximum quantity supported: 3

  • ThinkSystem Nvidia ConnectX-7 NDR200/HDR QSFP112 2-port PCIe Gen5 x16 InfiniBand Adapter

  • ThinkSystem NVIDIA ConnectX-7 NDR400 OSFP 1-port PCIe Gen5 Adapter

Slot 1 > Slot 2 > Slot 3

Maximum quantity supported: 2

  • ThinkSystem NVIDIA ConnectX-8 8180 800Gbs XDR IB / 2x400GbE OSFP 1-port PCIe Gen6 x16 (Generic FW)

  • ThinkSystem NVIDIA ConnectX-8 8240 400GbE / 400Gb/s IB QSFP112 2-port PCIe Gen6 x16 (Generic FW)

Fibre adapter

Slot 1 > Slot 2 > Slot 3

Maximum quantity supported: 3

  • ThinkSystem QLogic QLE2872 64Gb 2-Port PCIe Fibre Channel Adapter(Generic FW)

  • ThinkSystem QLogic QLE2770 32Gb 1-Port PCIe Fibre Channel Adapter

  • ThinkSystem QLogic QLE2772 32Gb 2-Port PCIe Fibre Channel Adapter

  • ThinkSystem Emulex LPe37102 32Gb 2-port PCIe Fibre Channel Adapter

  • ThinkSystem Emulex LPe38102 64Gb 2-port PCIe Fibre Channel Adapter

Network adapter

Slot 1 > Slot 2 > Slot 3

Maximum quantity supported: 3

  • ThinkSystem Broadcom 57504 10/25GbE SFP28 4-Port PCIe Ethernet Adapter

  • ThinkSystem Broadcom 57508 100GbE QSFP56 2-port PCIe 4 Ethernet Adapter

  • ThinkSystem Broadcom 57608 2x200/1x400GbE QSFP112 PCIe Ethernet Adapter

  • ThinkSystem Broadcom 57414 10/25GbE SFP28 2-port PCIe Ethernet Adapter

  • ThinkSystem Broadcom 57416 10GBASE-T 2-Port PCIe Ethernet Adapter

  • ThinkSystem Cornelis CN5000 OPA QSFP112 HFI Adapter(Generic FW)

  • ThinkSystem Mellanox ConnectX-6 Lx 10/25GbE SFP28 2-port PCIe Ethernet Adapter

  • ThinkSystem Mellanox ConnectX-6 Dx 100GbE QSFP56 2-port PCIe Ethernet Adapter

  • ThinkSystem Nvidia ConnectX-7 10/25GbE SFP28 4-Port PCIe Ethernet Adapter(Generic)

Slot 1 > Slot 3

Maximum quantity supported: 2

  • ThinkSystem Broadcom NetXtreme PCIe 1Gb 4-Port RJ45 Ethernet Adapter

  • ThinkSystem Broadcom 57412 10GBASE-T 4-port PCIe Ethernet Adapter

Serial port (COM) bracket

Slot 1

Maximum quantity supported: 1

  • COM cable

    Note
    COM cable can only be installed on FH riser bracket in slot 1.

Server rear configuration and riser assemblies​

See this section to identify the correlations between the rear configuration and riser assemblies.

Table 4. Server rear configuration and riser assemblies1
Server rear configurationRiser 1 assemblyRiser 2 assembly
Figure 1. Three PCIe slots

Figure 2. LP-FH riser bracket

Figure 3. BF2 riser card

Figure 4. BF riser card

Figure 5. LP riser bracket

Figure 6. LP riser card

Figure 7. Two PCIe slots

Figure 8. FH riser bracket 1

Figure 9. FH riser card

Figure 10. FH riser bracket 2

Figure 11. FH riser card

Figure 12. Two PCIe slots

Figure 13. LP-FH riser bracket

Figure 14. BF2 riser card

Figure 15. BF riser card

Riser 2 assembly is not supported.

Figure 16. Two PCIe slots

Figure 17. FH riser bracket 3

Figure 18. FH riser card

Figure 19. LP riser bracket

Figure 20. LP riser card

Figure 21. One PCIe slot

Figure 22. FH riser bracket 3

Figure 23. FH riser card

Riser 2 assembly is not supported.

Figure 24. One PCIe slot

Figure 25. FH riser bracket 3

Figure 26. FH riser card

Riser 2 assembly is not supported.

Note

  1. The illustrations of riser brackets and cards may look slightly different from the physical ones.

  2. BF: “butterfly”, a riser card with slots on both sides.