GPU Upgrade DL380p Gen8

[DePoliSilvano]

Hi, I have a Proliant DL380p Gen8 server, I'm going crazy to upgrade with a Grid k2 GPU. As a guide I upgraded the power supplies to 1200w, replaced the two processors with Xeon-E5-2690v2, I got stuck at the Riser Card point, I purchased the card with these two P/N 728536-001 728537-001, I connected the riser card to the Secondary (processor 2) PCI riser connector, but the card is not seen by VMware Esxi 6.5 among other things in the free slot of the riser I installed the network card that I had on the old riser and that worked correctly, but in this case all the leds of the 4 network ports remain on.
What am I doing wrong? Is the riser compatible?
Thanks

[DANDKS]

We would like to know from where did you refer for the part number & purchase the Riser board or the Riser card. Please verify the information from the below link for the supported Riser Boards for installing a GPU

https://support.hpe.com/hpesc/public/docDisplay?docLocale=en_US&docId=c03235291

As per document, the supported GPU Riser board & Card is 

https://partsurfer.hpe.com/Search.aspx?SearchText=728543-B21

Please share all the numbers that are seen on the board that you have installed in the server now.

Please reply with an update for further information.

Thank you

[DePoliSilvano]

Thanks for the reply. The Riser Card which is currently mounted on the server and on which the GridK2 is installed contains these serial numbers: Cage:

P/N 728536-001    CT:LDPGP0AJ36S02V

RISER:

SP#755741-001   DG#728537  AS#728537-001  REV:0A   PDPGQ0ALM6Y05B

and on the label there is also written ASSY , HP DL380P G8 GPU Rsr   

I do not understand

[DANDKS]

Please note the below requirements for HP NVIDIA GRID K1 Quad GPU PCIe Graphics Accelerator    J0G94A,  NVIDIA GRID K2 Reverse Air Flow Dual GPU PCIe Graphics Accelerator  753958-B21

HP DL380p Gen8 Double Wide Graphic Processing Unit Drive Cage Kit

NOTE: This is supported in the 728543-B21 riser in the secondary position (second processor required) or in the 752803-B21, primary position. Maximum 2 supported with both risers, support for 2 cards requires the 1200W PS to be selected.

NOTE: Two 1200W Power supply kits and 2 processors are required for this riser

NOTE: The double wide riser cage kit is not supported in the 8LFF, 12LFF and 25SFF Configuration Servers.

 NOTE: This is supported with the Intel, E5-2600v2 processor series only.

NOTE: This card only runs at PCIeGen2 speeds.

Thank you

[DePoliSilvano]

Thanks, I had read this document, now I am unable to find this 728543-B21. Do you have any idea where I can find it? So far, everyone I've asked has told me they don't.

[DANDKS]

Check out the below link

https://partsurfer.hpe.com/Search.aspx?SearchText=728543-B21

Thank you

[DePoliSilvano]

This piece is nowhere to be found, I searched everywhere, where I saw it, when ordering it appeared unavailable. Now I am waiting for an answer on alibaba. I find this outrageous thing, the strange thing is that on the components I have there is the original HP label specific for HP DL380p Gen8.

[DePoliSilvano · Accepted solution]

I have found a possible solution.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1FjsW3JEx1DAc0nIL8o51ILYWc7PI_0kMGX5NjSc3vgo/edit#gid=0
In this document they give the equivalent of 728543-B21 which would be 662885-B21 which is more readily available.

[DANDKS]

We have verified the part numbers shared & both have the same spares required to install the GPU. You may proceed with the available part

Product Number : 728543-B21
Description : HPE DL380P GEN8 DOUBLE WIDE GRAPHIC PROCESSING UNIT DRIVE CAGE KIT

687955-001 Power cable kit - Includes 8-bay SFF drive cage power cable, 8-bay LFF drive cage power cable, 12-bay LFF / 25-bay SFF drive cage power cable, fan backplane to system I/O board power cable, and graphics processing unit (GPU) power cable

709860-001 Optional GFX riser cage assembly - For adding a nVidia Q6000 graphics card to the server - Not supported in the 12 LFF and 25 SFF server configurations - Does NOT include the graphics card power cable

662525-001 2-slot PCIe riser board (optional) - Has two x16 slots - Mounts to the PCI riser cage

Product Number : 662885-B21
Description : HPE DL380P GEN8 DOUBLE WIDE RISER CAGE KIT

687955-001 Power cable kit - Includes 8-bay SFF drive cage power cable, 8-bay LFF drive cage power cable, 12-bay LFF / 25-bay SFF drive cage power cable, fan backplane to system I/O board power cable, and graphics processing unit (GPU) power cable

709860-001 Optional GFX riser cage assembly - For adding a nVidia Q6000 graphics card to the server - Not supported in the 12 LFF and 25 SFF server configurations - Does NOT include the graphics card power cable

662525-001 2-slot PCIe riser board (optional) - Has two x16 slots - Mounts to the PCI riser cage

Thank you

[DANDKS]

Please provide an update if you were able to get the part & install in the server. Has the issue resolved.

Thank you

[DePoliSilvano]

Hello. Yesterday I ordered the riser card 662885-B21 I received on 07/27/2020 from NewYork. Yesterday I went to the server room and I upgraded the CPUs from E5-2690 to E5-2690V2, obviously the riser card that I installed now did not recognize the Nvidia Grid K2 and even the network card, but unlike the last time the network LEDs remain off and only light up when you plug in the network cable. After this test, I turned everything off, reinstalled the original riser and reinserted the network card and everything started again.

As soon as I get the riser I assemble it and update you. The doubt remains the power cable because now I have a 50cm long 6 + 8 pin cable, I would not want it to cause problems in this too and to have to recover the different power cable.

[DANDKS]

We would like to know if you have received the parts. Is it installed in the server & working fine?

Please provide an update

Thank you

[DePoliSilvano]

Hello. Finally I successfully installed my Nvidia Grid K2, with many problems because the card mechanically hits the 2 CPU heatsink with the corner. The configuration was laborious but everything went well ..... almost everything ... because I lost the video of the iLo but this is another story, which by looking on the forum others have had and the solution is to set it as the primary video the internal video, pity that there is no possibility for hanging the check power ends, the video disappears and it is at that moment that you can enter the bios and set the primary VGA. I assume that I have to turn off the server, disconnect the Nvidia Grid, enter the bios and set the internal card as the primary vga, reconnect the Grid and turn everything on again. I can't afford not to have the video on iLo. I hope this post is of help to many who have to mount a GPU on the DL380p Gen8 because I'm literally crazy.

[DANDKS]

Hi,

Many thanks for sharing the update. We are happy to hear that the issue is resolved.

Have a nice day & stay safe.

Thank you

[CTD_Adriano]

OK I have to jump in here and ask for assistance because I have been banging my head against the wall for months trying to figure this out.

Has anyone out there be successful to install TWO Grid (K2 or K1) GPU cards into a DL380 G8 as per specifications?

I found it physically impossible to install a Grid GPU into the Primary slot (Slot1) as the back of the card interferes with the CPU heatsink clamp by 10mm and even the heatsink itself by 2mm. I thought I was going crazy when I first attempted this but after countless days of Google searching, I haven't come across of anyone actually attempting Slot 1 for this GPU. I just came across this thread so hopefully someone can help me.

As mentioned in the case of DePoliSilvano - (I believe using position 2)  Grid GPU fits into position 2 but also just grazes the 2nd CPU heatsink. With a little "manipulation" and it fits and has been working fine. Position 1..... physically impossible. 

BTW, I have HPE investigating this now as the tier two tech support is also stumped based on the picture proof I sent them of the obvious interference. 

Anyone????