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Expansion cards and expansion card riser
An expansion card in the computer is an add-on card that can be inserted into an expansion slot on the
computer system board or riser card to add enhanced functionality to the system through the expansion
bus.
NOTE: A System Event Log (SEL) event is logged if an expansion card riser is unsupported or
missing. It does not prevent your system from turning on and no BIOS POST message or F1/F2
pause is displayed.
Expansion card installation guidelines
Your system supports PCI Express Generation 3 expansion cards.
Table 35. Guidelines for systems supporting two PCIe expansion cards
Riser
PCIe Slot
2
1
3
2
NOTE: Only a three-fourth length card is supported for the PCIe expansion card slot (slot 2) on riser
3 when no mini-PERC card is installed. Supported length with mini-PERC card installed is half
length.
NOTE: For a system with three PCIe cards, only MiniSAS HD third-party cards are supported in slot
3. For a system with two PCIe cards, only MiniSAS HD third-party cards are supported in slot 1.
NOTE: You can install expansion cards only on one slot on riser 2.
NOTE: Both the processors must be installed to use the x16 PCIe link on the riser 2 slot.
The following table provides a guide for installing expansion cards to ensure proper cooling and
mechanical fit. Install the expansion card by following the card priority and slot priority order as shown in
the table.
NOTE: To support x16 PCIe link width, the 100 G HCA/OPA HFI in slot 1 needs processor 2 and x16
center_riser2.
Table 36. Expansion-card installation priority
Card Priority
1
2
3
4
96
Processor
Connection
Processor 1
Processor 2
Processor 1
Card Type
PCIe Bridge
RAID
Infiniband HCA
40 G NICs
Height
Length
Low Profile
Half Length
Low Profile
Half Length
Full height
Three-fourth
Length
Systems Supporting up to 2 PCIe Expansion
Slot Priority
N/A
1
1
2, 1
Link
Slot Width
Width
x8
x16
x16
x16
x16
x16
Cards
Max Allowed
N/A
1
1
2
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