GPU-Xpander Desktop

GPU-Xpander DesktopsGPU-Xpander Desktops are an economical way to enhance the Input/Output (I/O) power of your computer. A hardware-only solution, GPU-Xpander 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. A PCIe slot in your computer can support GPU-Xpander with two or four slots.

For connecting GPU-Xpander to desktop computers, read on.
For connecting GPU-Xpander to laptop computers, click here.
For connecting GPU-Xpander in a rack mount environment, click here.

Overview
GPU-Xpander allows you to convert your desktop tower 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 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.

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 3800 / 4800 / 5800
  • Quadro 4000 / 5000 / 6000
  • Tesla™ C2050 / C2070 / C2075
  • GeForce™ GTX 470 / 480 / 580

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 10.6.8 Snow Leopard and OS X 10.7 Lion (some NVIDIA products, e.g., GTX470/480, require Boot Camp 3.x and Windows drivers)
  • Autodesk® 3ds Max or Maya with Mental Images iray
  • BlackMagic Design® DaVinci Resolve 7.1 and 8.0
  • Bunkspeed® Shot with Mental Images iray
  • Microsoft® Windows® 7 / Vista / XP
  • Refractive Software Octane Render
  • The MathWorks™ MATLAB®
  • Wolfram Research® Mathematica®

Installation and Use
Installation is straightforward.  Insert a GPU-Xpander host interface controller (HIC) 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!

With certain models (see GPU-Xpander 5 below), users can take turns using GPU-Xpander in the office.  If the need for GPU computing or multi-port adapters is sporadic among users, install a GPU-Xpander host adapter in each workstation and move GPU-Xpander to each as needed.

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.

GPU-Manager for Microsoft Windows
Cubix GPU-Manager is an application that provides management of graphics processing unit (GPU) clusters in Cubix GPU-Xpander enclosures. The primary aims of GPU-Manager are asset management, health monitoring and technical support data of GPUs. GPU-Manager runs under Microsoft Windows but does not support PCIe devices that are not GPUs. If you run Microsoft Windows on computers connected to GPU-Xpander, you can download and install GPU-Manager by creating an account on the Cubix Website here.

  • Asset Management - GPU-Manager collects data from distributed GPU clusters into a central management console that lists the following:
    • all attached GPU-Xpander enclosures
    • the GPUs within each GPU-Xpander enlosure
    • GPU capabilities such as number of GPU cores, amount of RAM, etc.
    • operating system and software driver version numbers
  • Monitoring - GPU-Manager continuously monitors GPU clusters, and provides the following:
    • link status, number of lanes, and link speed for each enclosure
    • temperature, fan speed and GPU load characteristics for each GPU

GPU-Xpander Desktop Models

GPU-Xpander DesktopsDesktop 2 supports four single-wide or two double-wide GPUs. See the top three images at the right.

  • GPU-Xpander Desktop 2 [5Gbps] provides a maximum bandwidth of 5Gbps and 4 PCIe Gen 2 x16 (x1 electrical) with external x1 connectivity to the host computer. GPU-Xpander 5 connects to a host interface controller (HIC) in a tower computer. GPU-Xpander 5 is best suited for moving the connecting cable from one host computer to another because its connector provides a 1,500 mating duty cycle.
  • GPU-Xpander Desktop 2 [40Gbps] provides a maximum bandwidth of 40Gbps and 2 or 4 PCIe Gen 2 x16 slots (x8 electrical) with external PCIe x8 connectivity to the host. The cable connectors provide a 250 mating duty cycle.
  • GPU-Xpander Desktop 2 [80Gbps] provides a maximum bandwidth of 80Gbps and 2 PCIe Gen 2 x16 (x16 electrical) with external x16 connectivity to the host. GPU-Xpander 80, with its fast transfer rate, is ideal for use in high-end, 3D rendering or HPC. The cable connectors provide a 250 mating duty cycle. Black Magic Design certified DaVinci Resolve 7.1 to run with GPU-Xpander Desktop 2.
  • Xpander Desktop Series II provides a maximum bandwidth of 80Gbps and four PCIe Gen 2 x16 (x16 electrical) with external x16 connectivity to the host. Xpander Desktop Series II, with its fast transfer rate, is ideal for use in high-end, 3D rendering or HPC.

Desktop 4 supports four double-wide GPUs. See the bottom two images at the right.

  • GPU-Xpander 4 provides a maximum bandwidth of 80Gbps and four PCIe Gen 2 x16 (x16 electrical) slots with external x16 connectivity to the host. GPU-Xpander 4, with its fast transfer rate, is ideal for use in high-end, 3D rendering or HPC. The cable connectors provide a 250 mating duty cycle. Black Magic Design certified DaVinci Resolve 8.0 to run with GPU-Xpander Desktop 4.

Which GPU-Xpander Desktops are best for me?
Use the questions listed here to identify which GPU-Xpanders are best suited for your requirements.

  • I want to connect several tower computers one at a time to 2 to 4 graphics adapters each.
    GPU-Xpander Desktop 2 [5Gbps] provides 4 PCIe x16 slots with the option to add several PCIe HICs (one HIC per host). The x1 connector duty cycle provides 1,500 mating cycles, so you can move GPU-Xpander 5 from one host to another as needed.
  • I want to connect tower computers to 2 double-wide adapters each.
    GPU-Xpander Desktop 2 [40Gbps] provides 2 PCIe x16 slots with a HIC for a PCIe x8 or x16 slot and a transfer rate of 40Gbps.
  • I want to connect tower computers to 2 double-wide adapters each with the fastest possible transfer rate to/from the adapters.
    GPU-Xpander Desktop 2 [80Gbps] provides 2 PCIe x16 slots with a HIC for a PCIe x16 slot and a transfer rate of 80Gbps. Black Magic Design certified DaVinci Resolve 7.1 to run with GPU-Xpander Desktop 2.
  • I want to connect tower computers to 2 double-wide or 4 single-wide adapters each with the fastest possible transfer rate to/from the adapters and temperature-controlled fan.
    Xpander Desktop Series II provides 4 PCIe x16 slots with a HIC for a PCIe x16 slot and a transfer rate of 80Gbps. Series II provides a temperature-controlled fan that scales from 25degrees C to 50degrees C.
  • I want to connect tower computers to 4 single-wide or 4 double-wide adapters each with the fastest possible transfer rate to/from the adapters. I also want a quiet fan option for single-wide.
    GPU-Xpander 4 provides 4 PCIe x16 slots with a HIC for a PCIe x16 slot and a transfer rate of 80Gbps. Black Magic Design certified DaVinci Resolve 8.0 to run with GPU-Xpander Desktop 4. A quiet fan option is available for connection to Apple Mac Pro with single-wide GPUs. The standard fan is best suited with four double-wide GPUs.

For details or answers to specific questions, visit one of the GPU-Xpander product model pages or contact Cubix. For part numbers, prices and purchase information, visit the Cubix GPU On-line Store.