HP Z4 G4 w/Nvidia Quadro GP100

[Bassi-M]

Hello community,

My Z4 G4 is setup like this:

one Nvidia Quadro P1000 graphics cards in PCIe G3 x16 slots 1 which works fine.

Intel Xeon W-2123 CPU, 2x 8 GB DDR4 SDRAM

750 watt power supply with 2x 6-pin power supply connectors

Newest BIOS updated

I want to use my new Quadro GP100, but when I insert card into any PCIe 3.0 x16 slot, I get a POST 3.4 BIOS beep error. I'm using no-name 2x6-pin to 8-pin adapter to power the GPU and I'm wondering if it could be causing the POST 3.4 beep error. Official HP documentation confirms support for the Quadro GP100 with a 750W power supply, but it doesn't specify how its 8-pin power connection should be linked to the available 6-pin output. I've read about some 'magic' HP adapters, but I haven't found any trace of them online (HP 917086-001?). Has anyone here used this GPU model in an HP Z4 G4 workstation?

[SDH]

HP builds to better than ATX standards and specially engineered their high max TDP 6-wire supplemental PCIe power cables for well over what standard ones are built for. Using some adapters that are non-HP might work but if you buy the real deal you've got the engineering and wire connections they specified to Foxconn for manufacture. There are option and spares and assembly part numbers for the same adapter. The option number is an alphanumeric, the spares p/n is what you see from HP PartSurfer, and the assembly p/n is what is on the label of the item. All 3, and what it looks like. If it does not look like this it is fake:

Read the pic's title for the numbers...

From HP PartSurfer:

[Bassi-M]

So there's no need to draw power from both 6-pin connectors — a single 6-pin output should be sufficient for the GP100, even with its 235W TDP?

[SDH · Accepted solution]

Spares P/N:  683867-001

Assembly P/N:  460621-004

Option P/N:  N1G35AA

[SDH]

I don't have one of those cards but did look on eBay and saw it has two 8-pin top power ports. The pic below shows the calcualations on wattage for use of just one of the 18A HP supplemental PCIe power cables coming out of the 750W power supply. There is a second... so that adds in another 216 (18Ax12VDC) watts. Overall, my guess is that nVidia would advise you to get two of those HP adapters and use both of the 18A 6-wire cables to feed into both of the 8-pin power receptacles on the top of the card. Lots of breathing room. The 291W shown provided to the card in the pic below is just from use of the slot's wattage of 75 plus just a single (out of two) PCIe 18A supplemental power cable. That alone probably would suffice.

Your 750W power supply has two 18A PCIe power cables...

[DGroves]

To "SDH" i'm personally aware of at least two different HP 6 to 8 adapters that differ in cable length and the ferrite inductor the 1NG35AA you referenced Used in the HP video card upgrade kits and workstations and supports high wattage cards 225 watts or more is the GOLD STANDARD for adapters nothing better is made that i'm aware of

and the cost reduced (no ferrite choke on cable) that's 20cm in length which was mostly used in business class systems with video cards that draw under 225 watts i recommend this adapter or any other OEM's 6 to 8 adapter over what eBay  or other 3rd party makers sell on the various ecommerce platforms as it's  made with proper molex plastic shrouds and the correct metal compounds for the actual wire connections and will use the correct gauge copper wire size

while either of the above will work in most applications, stick with the 1NG35AA one if your pulling 225 watts or more as the 20cm length one is not rated for high wattage applications

[SDH]

DGroves... thanks for that added info. I've seen one of these adapters carrying a HP part number in an eBay ad but not looking like the official HP blue background PartSurfer picture above, and when I looked into the company it was private US company making high quality parts but "taking the HP name/number in vain."

Agree the short one shown is what I'd get, but would wince in wallet pain buying two.

[DGroves]

the HP longer cable 6 to 8 adapter is only included in servers and some workstations and is not listed as a user replaceable part in partsurfer as it does not cover quite a few server parts

here's a link to a reseller that specializes in server parts and has the adapter listed (460621-002) the eBay link i gave is a very good price for this adapter

https://www.serverworlds.com/hp-460621-002-graphics-cable-power-adapter-point-to-2-points/?srsltid=A...

[Bassi-M]

I found this on eBay near my location so I’ll give it a try https://www.compeve.com/video-card-cables-c-111_18_68/msi-k1g3006010e06-pciexpress-gpu-power-cable-6... 

I will let you know 

[DGroves]

the part you referenced is from a major OEM and most likely should work without issues

let us know what you think about the adapter when you get it

it's impossible for end users to determine if the plastic used in the no name connectors is high quality or if the metal sockets used in the mating ends is the proper spec alloy which again is why using a OEM part like this MSI one  is highly recommended over no name unknown maker adapters that need to work with 150 plus watts