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Install a full-height half-length GPU with the GPU upgrade kit

Use this information to install a full-height half-length GPU and the GPU upgrade kit.

Read the installation GuidelinesPower off the server for this taskATTENTION: Static Sensitive Device Ground package before opening
Note

  • For information about the form factor of GPUs, refer to GPU specifications.

  • For server models with a RAID adapter installed on the RAID adapter slot on the system board, if you want to install a full-height half-length GPU to upgrade your server, you need to use the GPU upgrade kit. The GPU upgrade kit contains the following items:

    • Low-profile bracket for RAID 930-8i or 930-16i adapter (part number on the bracket label: SB47A19064)

    • Low-profile bracket for RAID 730-8i adapter (part number on the bracket label: SB47A19108)

    • Low-profile bracket for RAID 530-8i, 430-8i, or 430-16i adapter (part number on the bracket label: SB47A19050)

    • Two screws

    • ThinkSystem 8x2.5" HDD backplane signal cable

    • ThinkSystem 10x2.5" HDD backplane signal cable

  • The full-height half-length GPU can be installed in the full-height half length PCIe slot 2 only.

Before installing a full-height half-length GPU with the GPU upgrade kit, touch the static-protective package that contains the new GPU to any unpainted surface on the outside of the server. Then, take the new GPU out of the package and place it on a static-protective surface.

To install a full-height half-length GPU and the GPU upgrade kit, complete the following steps:

Watch the procedure. A video of the installation process is available:

  1. Remove the RAID adapter from the RAID adapter slot on the system board by doing the following:
    Figure 1. RAID adapter removal
    RAID adapter removal

    1. Slide the left-side latch to the unlocked position.

    2. Push and hold the right-side latch in the direction as shown.

    3. Grasp the RAID adapter by its edges and carefully remove it from the RAID adapter slot on the system board.

  2. Select the corresponding low-profile bracket for the RAID adapter and install the bracket to the RAID adapter with the two screws provided in the GPU upgrade kit.
    Figure 2. Installing the low-profile bracket to the RAID adapter
    Installing the low-profile bracket to the RAID adapter
  3. Install the RAID adapter in PCIe slot 1 and install the GPU in the full-height half-length PCIe slot 2. See Install a PCIe adapter and riser assembly.
  4. Connect the RAID adapter to the backplane by doing one of the following:

    • For server models with four 3.5-inch drive bays, connect the SAS signal cable on your server to the RAID adapter.

    • For server models with eight 2.5-inch drive bays, remove the old SAS signal cable from the backplane and use the 8x2.5" cable in the GPU upgrade kit to connect the RAID adapter to the backplane.

    • For server models with ten 2.5-inch drive bays, remove the old SAS signal cable from the backplane and use the 10x2.5" cable in the GPU upgrade kit to connect the RAID adapter to the backplane.

    For information about how to connect the cables for server models with a full-height half-length GPU, see Internal cable routing.