PCIe2 3D Graphics Adapter x1 (FC EC42)

Learn about the features, requirements, installation notes, and troubleshooting tips for the PCIe2 3D Graphics Adapter.

Overview

The PCIe2 3D Graphics Adapter is a PCI Express (PCIe) adapter that accelerates and enhances the system unit video. The adapter has no hardware switches to set. Mode selection is made through the software. Figure 1 shows the adapter and its connectors.

Figure 1. PCIe2 3D Graphics Adapter
PCIe2 3D Graphics Adapter.

Specifications

Item
Description
Adapter FRU number
00E3980
Cable part number
00E3060
Form factor
Full-height, half-length.
This adapter provides the following features:
  • Placed in a single PCIe slot.
  • Supports the single lane (x1) PCIe 2.1 bus interface.
  • Provides 512 MB DDR3 graphics memory.
  • Supports DVI or VGA outputs.
  • Supports two 30 inches (76.2 cm) high-resolution displays.
  • Provides a DMS-59 connector that can attach to any DMS-59 breakout cable. With the DMS-59 dongle, one or two DVI cables can be connected to the adapter. Alternatively, the DVI connector can have a DVI to VGA converter connected to it to connect a VGA monitor to the adapter.
  • One analog monitor that supports a maximum resolution of up to 1920 x 1200.
  • One digital monitor that supports a maximum resolution of up to 2560 x 1600.
  • Display power management: Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA), Display Power Management Signaling (DPMS)

Preparing for installation

If you are installing the operating system at this time, install the adapter before you install the operating system. See Installing the adapter for instructions. If you are installing only the device driver for this adapter, install the device driver software before you install the adapter.

Gathering tools and documentation

To install the adapter, make sure that you have access to the following items:
  • The adapter
  • The operating system documentation
  • The system service guide for removing and replacing features
  • The PCI adapter placement documentation
  • A flat-blade screwdriver
  • The media containing the device driver software

Installing the adapter

This section explains how to install the adapter. If you are installing your operating system at this time, install your adapter before you install the operating system. If the operating system is already installed and you need to install the device driver for this adapter, install the device driver software before you install the adapter.

Attention: Before you install an adapter, review the precautions in Handling static sensitive devices. Do not remove the adapter from its anti-static package until you are ready to place it in the system unit.

To install the adapter, follow these steps:

  1. Determine the PCIe slot in which to place the adapter.

    The PCIe2 3D Graphics Adapter has an x1 PCIe connector and can be placed in a PCIe x1, x4, x8, or x16 slot. For details about slot priorities, maximums, and placement rules, see PCIe adapter placement rules and slot priorities and select the system you are working on.

  2. Shut down the system unit and install the adapter by using the instructions in the Installing PCI adapters topic for your system.
  3. Connect the monitor cable to the adapter.

    If necessary, you can use a DVI-59 dongle for connecting a VGA 15-pin connector on a monitor cable to the DVI connector on the adapter. For example, a DVI-59 dongle is needed to connect to a display (FC 3632), a rack-mounted 7316-TF4 console, or a KVM switch.

  4. Start the system unit and the monitor.
  5. When prompted, configure the adapter by following the online configuration instructions.
  6. When Select Display (console) appears, press the number key on your keyboard for the monitor that is to be the default.

Troubleshooting

If you have video problems after the initial installation, follow these procedures to troubleshoot the problem:

  • Check the cables.
  • Check the device driver software installation.
  • Check the adapter installation.

Checking the cables

  1. Ensure the monitor cables are connected to the correct adapter.
  2. If you have more than one video adapter, be sure that each adapter is connected to a monitor.
  3. Verify that the connections are secure.
  4. If no log-in prompt appears, restart the system unit.

Checking the device driver software installation

Verify that the device driver for the PCIe2 3D Graphics Adapter is installed.

Checking the adapter installation

Verify that the system unit recognizes the PCIe2 3D Graphics Adapter.

At the Linux® command-line enter lspci -vmm -k -d 1002:68f2. If the PCIe2 3D Graphics Adapter is correctly installed, the following is an example of the data that appears: 
Device: 0009:01:00.0 
Class: VGA compatible controller 
Vendor: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI] 
Device: Cedar GL [FirePro 2270] 
SVendor: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI] 
SDevice: Device 0126 
PhySlot: U78CB.001.WZS000T-P1-C2 
Driver: radeon

If the adapter does not show up, verify your LPAR configuration. If the adapter does show up but you are experiencing issues related to this adapter, such as visual glitches, incorrect colors, no image displayed, slow or incorrect rendering, and other problems with the display, you can run the standalone diagnostics for the adapter available in the IBM Installation Toolkit for PowerLinux.

If the message indicates that the adapter is DEFINED instead of AVAILABLE, shut down the system unit and check the PCIe2 3D Graphics Adapter to ensure that it is installed correctly. If you continue to experience problems after following the steps in this section, contact service and support for assistance.

IBM Installation Toolkit for PowerLinux

To troubleshoot problems for the 3D Graphics adapter, you can use the IBM Installation Toolkit for PowerLinux, a stand-alone diagnostic toolkit for systems that have the 3D Graphics adapter installed.

To diagnose problems with the 3D graphics adapter installed in a system, and work with the IBM Installation Toolkit, complete the following steps:
  1. Download the DVD ISO image from IBM Installation Toolkit website.
  2. Create a DVD for the downloaded ISO image.
  3. Insert the DVD in the system DVD drive and boot the system.
    Note: You can also use the NIM to boot the system.
  4. Once the DVD has booted, select the 3D graphics diagnostics application.
  5. Choose the option 2 - Wizard mode graphical (using X). The Graphical desktop is displayed.
  6. Right-click on the desktop area, and click IBM > PCIe2 3D Graphics Adapter.
  7. Follow the on-screen instructions to diagnose the problem with the 3D Graphics adapter and resolve the problem.

Operating system or partition requirements

If you are installing a new feature, ensure that you have the software that is required to support the new feature and you must determine any prerequisites that must be met for this feature and the attached devices. For information about operating system and partition requirements, see one of the following topics: