EXPI9400PTBLK NIC in a PCIe 2.0 8x slot

[idata]

I'm looking at buy this network card (EXPI9400PTBLK) for use in my server that only has a PCI Express 2.0 8X slot available. Will this card work in this slot? I've tried another, much cheaper desktop card without success. According to what I can find reading various articles on PCI specs, PCI devices/slots are supposed to be forward and backward compatible.

[Mark_H_Intel]

Neither the EXPI9404PT or the EXPI9404PTBLK will work in the PCIe 2.0 slot unless you have a BIOS that allows you to set the PCIe version to emulate the older 1.0a version.

However, EXPI9404PTLBLK and EXPI9404PTL, http://www.intel.com/products/server/adapters/pro1000pt-quadport-low-profile/pro1000pt-quadport-low-profile-overview.htm Intel® PRO/1000 PT Quad Port Low Profile, which are PCIe version 1.0a, had a hardware change that made them forward compatible.

You might want to consider http://www.intel.com/Products/Server/Adapters/Gb-EF-Dual-Port/Gb-EF-Dual-Port-overview.htm Intel® Gigabit ET2 Quad Port or http://www.intel.com/Products/Server/Adapters/esa-i340/esa-i340-overview.htm Intel® Ethernet Server Adapter I340, which are PCIe version 2 adapters.

You can see a comparison of the current adapters at http://download.intel.com/network/connectivity/products/prodbrf/252454.pdf http://download.intel.com/network/connectivity/products/prodbrf/252454.pdf.

[idata]

How about EXPI9404PT which is pci-e 1.0a as well, can it be forward compatible to PCI-E 2.0 like expi9404PTL?? Thanks

[Mark_H_Intel]

@mashime - Thank you for your post. I realize that I was not speaking about the right adapter when I answered. Everything I posted was about the quad port adapters.

@ithank - I am sorry that I did not address your question properly. The single port http://www.intel.com/products/server/adapters/pro1000pt/pro1000pt-overview.htm Intel® PRO/1000 PT Server Adapter, EXPI9400PT and EXPI9400PTBLK, are forward compatible with PCIe 2. However, that compatibility also depends on the motherboard. I can think of a couple of things that might help you get the adapter to work.

1. If you have another PCIe slot, try another slot. An x1 slot is all you need for the single-port adapter.
2. Make sure the BIOS is up to date. There could be a BIOS update that addresses board incompatibility for an adapter slot.

Mark H

[idata]

Thanks for both of your answers. I ended up ordering the card before your first reply based on both Intel tech support chat and server mfr stating it was compatible. I have a flexible riser card coming that will allow me to install it in a PCIe 1.0 slot if nessary.

[idata]

Thanks for the clairification