How can I install a PCIe video card to the riser on an IBM Thinkcentre A-52 computer?

Hello.
The error indicates a fault with either motherboard, riser or PCIe cards on the riser. Clear the system event log or hardware logs, shutdown the server and re-seat the risers with associated PCIe cards. Reboot and monitor the same error.

riser card could have a blown capacitor.

different pc has different bios beeps depends on the bios manufacturer, but in your situation it is most likely you have problem with your video device. is it connected in video card or directly plug in the built in video port of the pc? if its connected in video card, remove video card temporarily then connect it to built in video ports, or vice versa, if your in built in video port you can try testing it with video card in pcie slot.

Basically you have two choices for installation of video card:
1. To purchase small form factor PCIe card suitable for installation on 1U server chasis or
2. Purchase PCI express riser card and to install most full-sized PCI Express cards (Check this link for PCI Riser )

leathalsnipe, a graphics card will plug into an available PCI slot on the Daughter Board.

IF, a PCI expansion slot IS available.

The Daughter Board is an adapter board that plugs into the Motherboard.
It's also referred to as a PCI Riser Assembly.

The Daughter Board, or PCI Riser Assembly plugs into the Riser Slot on the motherboard.
You may have an Ethernet Adapter Card plugged into one of the PCI slots on the PCI Riser Assembly right now.

To avoid confusion download the Hardware replacement guide, so I can show you what I'm referring to;


This is the download page for the Hardware replacement guide, for your ThinkCentre M52 8215 Desktop PC,

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/product.do?subcategoryind=0&familyind=241562&brandind=11&doccategoryind=0&modelind=0&doctypeind=8&validate=true&partnumberind=0&sitestyle=lenovo&template=%2Fproductpage%2Flandingpages%2FproductPageLandingPage.vm&operatingsystemind=49980&machineind=241623

On this page click on the blue >

Hardware replacement guide - ThinkCentre A52 (type 8155, 8156, 8157, 8158, 8159, 8160) / M52 (type 8099, 8116, 8215, 9210, 9211) {2006-09-20}

On the next page click on the blue >

39j8231.pdf


This is a PDF file. After you click on the above file name it will take a few seconds before you see the first page come up.
It will also take additional time to fully download the file.
Suggest you let the file download all the way before looking through it.

Go to Page 13. Scroll the page down a little. {Note* Page number in the page number box}

In the top header of the PDF file is a Page Number Box. It is to the Right of the blue Down Arrow.
You can use the blue Down Arrow to go page by page to get to the page you want, or you can use a faster method.

Put your mouse cursor in the page number box
Left-click once
Type the page number
Press the Enter key.

This shows you how to open the computer case cover.
(Computer unplugged from power. Observe Anti-Static Precautions)

Now go to Page 27.
Scroll the page down a little.
Number 2 shows the PCI Riser Assembly removed.

Remove the PCI Riser Assembly to install the graphics card, then reinstall the PCI Riser Assembly back into the Riser Slot on the motherboard.

The graphics card has to be a PCI graphics card.
It also has to be a Low Profile graphics card.
Low in height.
Also cannot be very long in Length.

This is one example of a Low Profile PCI graphics card that should fit inside the computer,

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5692361&CatId=3670

Your Power Supply should have enough power for the above graphics card.

Another example,

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4842979&CatId=3669



I would like you to also download the Hardware Maintenance Manual (HMM) for the ThinkCentre M52 8215 desktop computer, (Same link as above)

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/product.do?subcategoryind=0&familyind=241562&brandind=11&doccategoryind=0&modelind=0&doctypeind=8&validate=true&partnumberind=0&sitestyle=lenovo&template=%2Fproductpage%2Flandingpages%2FproductPageLandingPage.vm&operatingsystemind=49980&machineind=241623

On this page click on the top file listed,

Hardware Maintenance Manual (HMM) (May 2009) - ThinkCentre A52/M52

On the next page go to the heading > File link, and click on the blue >
39j8289.pdf


This HMM will come in handy for you in the future. You can save a copy of this PDF file to your computer.
If you are not aware of how to do this, and wish to know how, please post in a Comment. (Upper right of your page - Comment)

For additional questions please post in a Comment.
Regards,
joecoolvette

MAXIMUM CPU FOR IBM M51 = Pentium 4 650
3,40 GHZ / 2M CACHE / FSB 800 / HT / SOCKET 775 ( SL7Z7 or SL8Q5 ) they take 84 Watt, by the way, change the power supply,with connections for Pcie x16 graph-cards ,like 800 Watt. HD cards are not supportet, Max.- card is ATI x1950 Pcie x16 512MB. Do not try the ATI 5450 will not work.

Processors:
DO NOT THINK ABAUT THE P4, 651 / 660 / or 661 ,will not work .( multiplier is 17 ) and not supportet by the mainboard and chipset.

I know this is really old, but I had the same problem on my 206m 8584 with a pci-e x1 video card. I had to upgrade bios first, but nothing seemed to change, bios only showed onboard video as option and windows perfectly recognized the exta card. I went to windows video settings, it showed both video, onboard as main and active and extra as inactive, changed the second video to main and active and switched the plug to finally see my enhanced video. Only problem is that bios screen won't show up on pci-e card, so I start seeing something only after one minute :) Hopes this saves someone else some time.

after the 8171, there are 3 letters or numbers (type) .. depending on the type, select it from the second link and take it from there to get (onboard) graphics-card drivers
hello

see links below to get drivers and get better understanding on the parts in your computer
select the correct OS when you obtain drivers
the third link gives you all drivers for S51 , 8171 series


http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/MIGR-58581.html

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/product.do?brandind=11&familyind=179854&machineind=179923&operatingsystemind=49980&template=%2Fproductselection%2Flandingpages%2FpartsInformationLandingPage.vm&validate=true

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?sitestyle=lenovo&lndocid=MIGR-55830

hope this helps you

i checked your model at lenovo and i can't see a PCIE slot. You can verify it here http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?sitestyle=lenovo&lndocid=MIGR-61495

Hi, i'm getting an ATI Radeon 2600XT for this system soon. But any AGP card *should* work fine (i'm hoping), just stick to midrange cards due to the low-grade power supply. I will post after the install and let you know how it goes.

lets start with the ThinkCentre A50 8175. download and install the chipset drivers first.
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?lndocid=MIGR-60642
after you reboot install the network driver.

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?lndocid=MIGR-55649

If this works rate me and we will continue