Monthly Archives: June 2014

Computers

Install Two Nvidia GeForce 210 in Dell SC440 to Setup 3 or 4 Displays

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Currently running 3 monitors, including one touchscreen.

These two particular Nvidia GeForce 210 PCI-e x16 video cards are each made by different companies — Zotac and EVGA.  The Zotac card is a couple years old, but the EVGA card was purchased this weekend to run the touchscreen third monitor.  Both PCI-e cards were recognized on boot-up and the multiple displays are configurable under the Nvidia Control Panel software.

You might say, “Hey dude, the Dell PowerEdge SC440 Server does not have any PCI-e x16 slots to hold two PCI-e video cards.”  Well, there is actually one x16 slot that has been limited by design to only hold an x8 card (like a Raid controller) because there is a plastic divider manufactured into the middle of the x16 slot.  My guess is that Dell wanted to prevent this slot from being used for add-on PCI-e video cards because this SC440 Server is not meant for gaming or workstation use.  However, the original BIOS does not limit recognition of the video cards.   I didn’t look for any flash updates.

So, how do you install these video cards without any usable slots?  You can either (a) modify the crippled x16 slot by carefully cutting the plastic divider with a heated knife (not getting any of the melted plastic on the copper connectors), or (b) buy a riser/adapter that fits in the x8 portion of the slot but provides an x16 riser slot to hold the card.

Orbit Micro sells a PCI Express x8 to x16 Adapter here:  http://www.orbitmicro.com/global/pexp16-sx-16-8-p-755.html and the current price is $42.   I have an extra brand new adapter that I will sell to you for $22 plus shipping.  However, using the riser/adapter means that you will also need to re-engineer the bracket that holds the video card in the back of the case.  It’s not difficult, but I have done this both ways, and I prefer solution (a). Then, again, I didn’t wreck the contacts in the slot of the motherboard when I cut the plastic divider with a heated blade.

For the second GeForce 210 PCI-e card, you can use a metal file to “file-open” the back end of the other x8 PCI-e slot so that the front half of the x16 video card will fit in the front end of the x8 slot, and the back half of the card will hang over the end of the x8 slot.  Note, the x16 video card will function with half the lanes connected.  No problem.

Recipes

Peppered Eye Round Roast

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Peppered Eye Round Roast
Author: 
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 4
 
Ingredients
  • 3 Lbs. eye of round roast
  • 2 Tablespoons coarse ground pepper
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon Thyme or ½ teaspoon Rosemary
  • ½ teaspoon Oregano
  • ½ teaspoon Poultry Seasoning
  • 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
Instructions
  1. Rub oil on roast. Coat roast with seasonings. (I omit the oregano and garlic powder.)
  2. Roast at 500 for 15 minutes.
  3. Then, reduce heat to 350 and cook an additional 45 min.

Dipping sauce (Refrigerate)
½ cup mayonnaise
½ cup sour cream
teaspoon lemon juice
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon oregano

Dining

Pizza Dough Recipe

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  • 1 Teaspoon of Sugar
  • 1 Teaspoon of Salt
  • 1 Cup Hot (Tepid) Tap Water (not too hot or it will kill the yeast)
  • 1 Package of Dry Active Yeast

Combine these ingredients in mixing bowl (hot water and dry yeast last) and stir until all the floating yeast is dissolved.  Cover the bowl loosely with plastic wrap and let it set for 10 minutes until the yeast has fully activated (until the water surface is covered with a thin foam of air bubbles.  The sugar may help the yeast to activate.

  • Add 2 Cups of all purpose flour to the bowl and mix with a fork or spoon.  Begin to hand knead the dough mixture.
  • Add 1/4 Cup or less of all purpose flour if this dough mixture is too sticky.  Hand knead this dough mixture until it is smooth and not sticky. Only add a bit of flour to achieve the correct consistency. Knead the dough into a ball.
  • Add about a Tablespoon of Olive Oil to the sides of the bowl and roll the dough ball in the oil to seal its surface.
  • Cover the bowl with a dry dish towel and set in a warm place for the dough to rise for about 10 or 15 minutes or until doubled.
  • Preheat the oven to bake at 400-F degrees.
  • Lightly grease a pizza pan with olive oil
  • Press the raised dough into the pizza pan and spread it evenly across the pan to form the pizza shell.  This is much the same as punching down the raised dough.
  • Cover the shell with the dry towel and let the shell dough rise in the pizza pan for 5 or 10 minutes.
  • Place the pizza pan and shell in the oven for 2 or 3 minutes to precook the dough at 400-F (second to the bottom oven rack about 6 to 8 inches from the bottom of the oven).

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Now the Pizza Sauce and Toppings:

  • Remove the pizza pan and shell from the oven
  • Spread 1/2 jar of your favorite pizza sauce (Prego or Rago, etc., or your own homemade sauce)
  • Spread and top with shredded mozzarella cheese and shredded colby mild cheddar cheese.
  • Add any other toppings that you like:  sliced pepperoni, sliced mushrooms, diced green peppers, etc)
  • Bake on the second to the lowest rack at 400-F for 12 minutes (6 to 8 inches above the bottom of the oven).  Cooking times may vary.  Then check the shell crust.  Cook for an extra 1 or 2 minutes if the under side of the the shell is too soft.  (This cooking time works well with my pizza pan and oven.  Your pan may crisp the shell bottom more quickly).  Be careful not to burn the cheese.

Enjoy!

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