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Install a GPU adapter

Follow instructions in this section to install a GPU adapter.

About this task

Attention

  • Read Installation Guidelines and Safety inspection checklist to ensure that you work safely.

  • Power off the server and peripheral devices and disconnect the power cords and all external cables. See Power off the server.

  • Prevent exposure to static electricity, which might lead to system halt and loss of data, by keeping static-sensitive components in their static-protective packages until installation, and handling these devices with an electrostatic-discharge wrist strap or other grounding system.

  • GPU adapters are supported on some server models with requirements. See Thermal rules.

  • All installed GPU adapters must be identical.

Procedure

  1. Touch the static-protective package that contains the new part to any unpainted surface on the outside of the server. Then, take the new part out of the package and place it on a static-protective surface.
  2. Locate the appropriate PCIe slot for the new GPU adapter. See PCIe slots and PCIe adapters.
  3. Install the GPU adapter into the PCIe slot on the riser card.
    Figure 1. Installing the GPU adapter
    Installing the GPU adapter
    1. Open the blue latch on the riser cage.
    2. Align the GPU adapter with the PCIe slot on the riser card. Then, carefully press the GPU adapter straight into the slot until it is securely seated.
    3. Close the blue latch.
  4. Connect the GPU power cable to the GPU adapter. See Internal cable routing.
  5. (Optional) Install an add-on air baffle on the GPU air baffle.
    Note
    If a single-wide FHFL GPU adapter is to be installed but the adjacent slot will be left empty or installed with a half-length adapter, you need to install an add-on air baffle on the GPU air baffle.
    Figure 2. Installing an add-on air baffle
    Installing an add-on air baffle
  6. Install the riser assembly with the GPU adapter.

    GPU adapter on riser 1 or 2 assembly

    Note
    The following uses riser 1 assembly as an example for illustration. The replacement procedure is the same for riser 2 assembly.
    Figure 3. Installing the riser 1 assembly with GPU adapter
    Installing the riser 1 assembly with GPU adapter
    1. Align the riser card with the PCIe slot on the processor board. Carefully press the riser card straight into the slot until it is securely seated.
    2. Open the blue latch on the GPU air baffle and fix the end of the GPU adapter. Then, close the blue latch.
    3. Tighten the screw to fix the riser cage.

    GPU adapter on riser 3 assembly

    1. Connect cables from the riser 3 and GPU adapter to the processor board. See Internal cable routing.
    2. Install the GPU air baffle. See Install the air baffle.
    3. Install the riser 3 assembly. See Install a rear riser assembly.
    4. Open the blue latch on the GPU air baffle and fix the end of the GPU adapter. Then, close the blue latch.
  7. (Optional) If a certain slot is not installed with a GPU adapter, install a filler on the GPU air baffle.
    Figure 4. Installing the GPU air baffle filler
    Installing the GPU air baffle filler

After you finish

Complete the parts replacement. See Complete the parts replacement.

Demo video

Watch the procedure on YouTube