Datasheet

IBM Flex System x220 Compute Node 24
IBM Flex System PCIe Expansion Node
The x220 supports the attachment of the IBM Flex System PCIe Expansion Node. The IBM Flex System
PCIe Expansion Node provides the ability to attach additional PCI Express cards such as High IOPS SSD
adatpers, fabric mezzanine cards, and next-generation graphics processing units (GPU) to supported IBM
Flex System compute nodes. This capability is ideal for many applications that require high performance
I/O, special telecommunications network interfaces, or hardware acceleration using a PCI Express card.
The PCIe Expansion Node supports up to four PCIe 2.0 adapters and two additional Flex System
expansion adapters.
The PCIe Expansion Node is attached to the x220 as shown in the following figure.
Figure 10. PCIe Expansion Node
The ordering information for the PCIe Expansion Node is shown in the following table.
Table 13. Ordering part number and feature code
Part number Feature code Description Maximum
supported
81Y8983 A1BV IBM Flex System PCIe Expansion Node 1
The PCIe Expansion Node has the following features:
Support for up to four standard PCIe 2.0 adapters:

Two PCIe 2.0 x16 slots that support full-length, full-height adapters

Two PCIe 2.0 x8 slots that support half-length, low-profile adapters

Support for PCIe 3.0 adapters by operating them in PCIe 2.0 mode

Support for one full-length, full-height double-wide adapter (consuming the space of the two

full-length, full-height adapter slots)
Support for PCIe cards with higher power requirements -- a single adapter card (up to 225W), or to

two adapters (up to 150W each)
Two Flex System I/O expansion connectors for to further expand the I/O capability of the attached

compute node.
Note: The use of the PCIe Expansion Node requires that the x220 Compute Node have both processors
installed.