GPU-Xpander is an economical way to enhance the Input/Output (I/O) power of your computer. GPU-Xpander is a hardware-only solution that expands the I/O capability of your computer by adding slots, power and cooling. Each GPU-Xpander can add two or four PCI Express (PCIe) slots to your computer. Add high-powered graphics processing units (GPU) cards for mathematical high-performance computing (HPC) or graphical rendering to your existing computer with GPU-Xpander. Each PCIe slot in your computer can support a GPU-Xpander with two or four slots.
Overview
GPU-Xpander allows you to convert your desktop tower PC or rack mount computer into a workstation with multiple adapters and controllers, including high-end, 3D graphics, audio and other multi-port IO adapters such as FireWire, USB 2.0 or Gbps Ethernet for thousands of dollars less per seat than buying a specialized, overpriced GPU-enabled PC.
Use your favorite "slot and watt limited" PC — Dell®, HP®, IBM®, white box — to tackle HPC and/or graphical rendering projects. It takes only a few minutes to supercharge your PC by adding a GPU-Xpander to make scientific calculations or graphical rendering lightning fast.
GPU-Xpander allows you to re-purpose your favorite brand or corporate approved PCs as CUDA-enabled GPU engines to run scientific compute-intensive applications or graphics rendering applications such as Refractive Software Octane Render, Acceleware® Solvers and Adobe® Creative Suite® 5.
GPU-Xpander provides an independent life support system with its own power and cooling dedicated to the GPU or GPUs themselves. GPU-Xpander is a PCI Express bus extender, so you don't tax your existing PC's cooling capability, power supply, or violate its warranty by operating it beyond its specifications.
GPU-Xpander offers you a choice of three PCIe connection transfer rates (x1 at 5Gbps, x8 at 40Gbps, and x16 at 80Gbps) and offers either two or four PCIe expansion slots. If your computer has multiple PCIe slots, you can install a host adapter in each slot and connect each adapter to a GPU-Xpander.
Retrofit Existing Computers
If you are thinking about adding powerful graphics or other IO adapters to your existing computers, learn from the experiences of others. There are a lot of uncertainties. Is there adequate power for an additional 280Watt graphics controller in your PC? How about enough power for two double-wide 250Watt controllers? Will adding a high-powered graphics controller overheat your computers? Do you have enough physical space for one or two graphics controllers inside your computers?
With GPU-Xpander, all the questions about using existing computers have positive answers. Your existing computers remain as they are and your worry disappears. Or you can start fresh with new low cost computers, add GPU-Xpanders and get the same cost-saving, performance-enhancing results. All you add are device drivers. GPU-Xpander requires no software.
Specialized Oversized, Overpriced Computers
Buying proprietary oversized workstations to run GPU-enabled and HPC applications will put you at odds with your purchasing department. Why invite conflict? Instead, use your limited but familiar corporate approved computers with GPU-Xpanders. This combination allows you to garner the best possible return on your PC investments under existing service contracts, familiar sourcing and corporate purchasing standards.
You need GPU-Xpander if the hardware and software combination you intend to use runs in your computer but causes over-current or overheating problems. GPU-Xpander is a hardware-only solution: no software required. GPU-Xpander provides its own power supply and cooling; it requires no power from the host computer. Simply plug the host adapter in your computer's PCIe slot, connect GPU-Xpander, power up and install device drivers.
Support a variety of single and multiple GPUs
GPU-Xpander, depending upon the model, supports one to four NVIDIA® GPU adapters including but not limited to:
- Quadro™ FX 1800 / 3800 / 4800 / 5800
- Quadro 4000 / 5000 / 6000
- Tesla™ C1060 / C2050 / C2070
- GeForce™ GTX 465 / 470 / 480 Fermi
Support a variety of PCIe adapters and controllers
GPU-Xpander supports one to four multi-port, multi-function PCIe adapters including:
- FireWire
- USB 2.0
- Gbps Ethernet fiber-optic or copper
- Professional audio
Support a variety of software
GPU-Xpander supports a variety of operating systems and applications, including but not limited to:
- Acceleware® Solvers
- Adobe® Creative Suite®
- Apple® OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard (some NVIDIA products, e.g. , GTX470/480, require Boot Camp 3.x and Windows drivers)
- BlackMagic Design® DaVinci Resolve™
- Microsoft® Windows® 7 / Vista / XP
- Refractive Software Octane Render
- The MathWorks™ MATLAB®
- Wolfram Research® Mathematica®
Simple Installation and Use
Installation is straightforward. Insert a GPU-Xpander host adapter into an available PCIe slot in a tower PC or Mac Pro, connect the cable to the GPU-Xpander, load the GPU or other device driver on your host computer and you are ready to harness the power of GPU-computing!
GPU-Xpander is also available in rackmount versions for use with rackmount Cubix LaserBlades or other rackmount servers. A rackmount server needs only rack space available immediately above or below it and one PCI Express slot available. Install a host adapter in each blade or tower server, connect each to GPU-Xpander and install the device drivers. Now your "slot and watt limited" blade or tower servers have one or more GPUs or other adapters available.
Front Panel 4 LEDs for system reset, cable present, power supply good and power supply on Rear Panel Power on/off switch and power input receptacle Power Single-phase, 50/60Hz, auto-ranging, 100-240VAC, 5.5-3.0A Environment
0° to 30° Celsius (32° to 86° Fahrenheit) temperature
5% to 80% non-condensing humidity
Dimensions
11.000" H x 6.125" W x 15.000" D (27.940cm H x 15.557cm W x 38.100cm D) actual
16.750" H x 12.250" W x 20.500 D (42.545cm H x 31.115cm W x 52.070cm D) shipping
Weight
17.600lbs (7.982kg) actual
23.000lbs (10.433kg) shipping
Warranty
Parts/labor return to manufacturer 1 year
Optional 2, 3 or 4 years
