using a AT-2701FX fiber Network Interface Card in Dell OptiPlex 3010Mini Tower

[t]

As per the specification sheet at
http://www.dell.com/downloads/global/products/optix/en/dell_optiplex_3010_spec_sheet.pdf
the minitower has expansion slots 1 full height PCIe x16 and 3 full
height PCIe x1

Can a AT-2701FX fiber Network Interface
Card(http://www.alliedtelesis.com/p-1829.html) be inserted in either of
the expansion slots(1 full height PCIe x16 or one of the three full
height PCIe x1) of the OptiPlex 3010 Mini Tower?

Or, would I need a external transceiver to convert the fiber to Ethernet?

 

[Chris S.]

As per the specification sheet at
http://www.dell.com/downloads/global/products/optix/en/dell_optiplex_3010_spec_sheet.pdf
the minitower has expansion slots 1 full height PCIe x16 and 3 full height
PCIe x1

Can a AT-2701FX fiber Network Interface
Card(http://www.alliedtelesis.com/p-1829.html) be inserted in either of
the expansion slots(1 full height PCIe x16 or one of the three full height
PCIe x1) of the OptiPlex 3010 Mini Tower?

Or, would I need a external transceiver to convert the fiber to Ethernet?

Like this? http://www.alliedtelesis.com/p-2217.html

Chris

 

[t]

Like this? http://www.alliedtelesis.com/p-2217.html

Not quite, since we have to convert from fiber to copper if we want to
use the Ethernet card in the minitower. I estimate the AT-MC101XL
converts from ethernet to fiber. We have a fiber optic network.

Since we already have a AT-2701FX card, we want to use it in the
optiplex 3010, if possible, instead of buying a external transceiver.

 

[John McGaw]

As per the specification sheet at
http://www.dell.com/downloads/global/products/optix/en/dell_optiplex_3010_spec_sheet.pdf
the minitower has expansion slots 1 full height PCIe x16 and 3 full height
PCIe x1

Can a AT-2701FX fiber Network Interface
Card(http://www.alliedtelesis.com/p-1829.html) be inserted in either of the
expansion slots(1 full height PCIe x16 or one of the three full height PCIe
x1) of the OptiPlex 3010 Mini Tower?

Or, would I need a external transceiver to convert the fiber to Ethernet?

Based on what you write the only way you are going to get that board
plugged in is by use of a big hammer. You see, the card is PCI and the
computer's slots are PCIe and, despite having three letters in common, they
are not compatible.

 

[John McGaw]

As per the specification sheet at
http://www.dell.com/downloads/global/products/optix/en/dell_optiplex_3010_spec_sheet.pdf
the minitower has expansion slots 1 full height PCIe x16 and 3 full height
PCIe x1

Can a AT-2701FX fiber Network Interface
Card(http://www.alliedtelesis.com/p-1829.html) be inserted in either of the
expansion slots(1 full height PCIe x16 or one of the three full height PCIe
x1) of the OptiPlex 3010 Mini Tower?

Or, would I need a external transceiver to convert the fiber to Ethernet?

Based on what you write the only way you are going to get that board
plugged in is by use of a big hammer. You see, the card is PCI and the
computer's slots are PCIe and, despite having three letters in common, they
are not compatible.

 

[Paul]

Based on what you write the only way you are going to get that board
plugged in is by use of a big hammer. You see, the card is PCI and the
computer's slots are PCIe and, despite having three letters in common,
they are not compatible.

Startech makes a "low profile PCI to PCI Express" adapter.

http://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-...5&sr=8-2&keywords=pci+to+pci+express+startech

Only true low profile PCI cards should be used. That means,
the card to be adapted, is short in stature, but so is the
provided faceplate. The AlliedTelesis card has a high profile faceplate,
and a low profile PCB, and the faceplate will cause a problem.

It turns out in this case, we don't really need the adapter,
but if the situation is right, a thing like that might work.

*******

Newegg has the AT-2701FX/ST-901 (PCI) for $146.41

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=0AJ-0044-00004&ParentOnly=1

A second entry, is the AT-2711FX/ST-901 (PCI Express) for $117.99.
That would fit in a PCI Express x1 slot. So this is an option
for a newer computer, one where there are no long regular PCI slots.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833379040

*******

And, you buy cards, according to the format of the thing
you're trying to plug into. If the router is wired
Ethernet, you'd buy a wired NIC and use regular CAT5
or CAT6 cables or the like. There is no point buying
a fiber optic card, then buying a media converter to
go from fiber to regular 100BT. Just buy a NIC that
does the 100BT directly.

There is nothing magic about the brand either.
The chip soldered to the card, is more important
than who makes the PCB.

In terms of the chips on the cards, Intel chips
soldered to the cards, might be a preferred kind.
That's if you have pictures of the card available,
and can make out who makes the networking chip on it.

I bought a card with a RealTek chip on it for GbE, and
I could only get 70MB/sec from it. So that's an example
of a less than stellar performance. I have Intel and
Marvell NICs that do 117MB/sec under the same test
conditions. The card that sits there unused, has an
RTL8169SC on it. Having tested it, that's one chip
I'll be avoiding in the future. (Got it at Best Buy.)

Paul

 

[t]

Startech makes a "low profile PCI to PCI Express" adapter.


It turns out in this case, we don't really need the adapter,
but if the situation is right, a thing like that might work.

Do you mean since the option(AT-2711FX/ST-901) exists
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833379040 it is
advisable to get it and use it?


Or, did you mean if I get the Startech card, the PCI card(AT-2701FX)
can be reused?

I was thinking of reusing the AT-2701FX to avoid buying a new fiber
Network Interface Card

And, you buy cards, according to the format of the thing
you're trying to plug into.

Yes, we have a fiber network and since the optiplex 3010 does not come
with a fiber Network Interface Card, we need to get one or use a
external transceiver.

Thanks for your advice and time.

 

[t]

Based on what you write the only way you are going to get that board
plugged in is by use of a big hammer. You see, the card is PCI and the
computer's slots are PCIe and, despite having three letters in common,
they are not compatible.

Thanks, I appreciate the information.

 

[Paul]

Do you mean since the option(AT-2711FX/ST-901) exists
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833379040 it is
advisable to get it and use it?

It's a PCI Express card (has the short x1 interface stub on it),
so

yes,

that's the one you want.

It fits in the newer computers, that no longer have PCI slots.
The very newest computers, have only PCI Express slots.
PCI Express has higher bandwidth. And another factor
in favor of PCI Express, is it is not a shared bus.
Every slot, has a direct connection to the chipset.
So an electrical malfunction on another slot, won't
necessarily take out your new NIC. The PCI bus, the
electrical signals are shared by all the slots on PCI.

*******

I just noticed. The advertising copy on Newegg, is screwed up
for that product.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833379040

You can get the correct slot information here.

http://www.alliedtelesis.com/p-1831.html

"PCI-Express x1 interface"

At one time, everything sold on Newegg, was managed by Newegg.
Now, they're trying to do a few things like Amazon, and allow
others to sell on their site. And that's going to mean a slip
in quality, when it comes to the content of web pages.
Someone was lazy when they filled the specs section for
that card.

HTH,
Paul

 

[t]

It's a PCI Express card (has the short x1 interface stub on it),
so

yes,

that's the one you want.

It fits in the newer computers, that no longer have PCI slots.
The very newest computers, have only PCI Express slots.
PCI Express has higher bandwidth. And another factor
in favor of PCI Express, is it is not a shared bus.
Every slot, has a direct connection to the chipset.
So an electrical malfunction on another slot, won't
necessarily take out your new NIC. The PCI bus, the
electrical signals are shared by all the slots on PCI.

*******

HTH,
Paul

Thanks a lot. This is very helpful.