The Lenovo TS140 is an affordable entry-level server that has received many favorable user reviews on various websites. Albeit a server in nature, the TS140 is often used as a generic desktop replacement (with some enterprise-class durability, hopefully). Most (there are many different configurations) TS140’s come without dedicated graphics, so one question that is often asked is what kind of video card can be used with the TS140.
The motherboard supports PCIe x16 and the case certainly has plenty of room for a decent video card. The real limiting factor seems to be the power supply unit (PSU). The PSU is a 80 Plus Bronze model rated at 280 Watts. My particular sample is manufactured by AcBel. Only two cables are provided: a 4-pin CPU connector and an 14-pin motherboard connector. There is no PCIe 6-pin auxiliary power connector.
As of May 2015, your safe bet (and easiest solution) would be a GTX 750 Ti, which is also my personal choice. Indeed, NVIDIA positioned the GTX 750 Ti as an OEM upgrade card. Many basic OEM PCs, TS140 included, have a ~300W PSU with no PCIe auxiliary power, which limits the power draw of the video card to 75W. At sub-75W the GTX 750 Ti is really the card to get for its incredible efficiency.
But the 280W PSU in TS140 should be able to handle much more than that. With the GTX 750 Ti I never see the system draw more than 120W, so there is still plenty of room to operate.
The lack of 6-pin or 8-pin PCIe auxiliary power connectors is not a concern because you can turn SATA power into PCIe. The PSU provides six SATA power connectors. The one ODD and one SSD consume two of those so you are still left with four, which can be easily turned into two 6-pin PCIe connectors with the right adapter cables.
Being able to get enough number of connectors does not mean the PSU can handle that much power, and you must check the output ratings. To that end, the 280W PSU in the TS140 has two 12V rails, 12.0V1 and 12.0Vcpu, each capable of supplying 16 Amps (192W per rail) with combined output limited to 270W. I would say the 120W GTX 960 is a good fit.
Interestingly, the GTX 980 is rated at only 165W < 192W. I am just saying …
Mostly About Computers 
did you actually try using a sata to pcie cable? I’m worried that it will melt the motherboard because the sata cables go THROUGH The motherboard …
No, I have not.
I had the same concern and opted for replacing the PSU. It did require a 24 to 14 pin ATX adapter. I picked one up from Amazon for around $10.
I am looking at a GTX 750 Ti upgrade from a GT 610
How well do you think the Lenovo 280w PSU will do if I use 4 HDD’s as well? I can unplug 1 HDD and the optical drive. 1 of the remaining 3 HDD’s is a SSD.
I was looking at PSU’s but it is time consuming getting the correct replacement and adapter(s).
Your input will help my decision. Thanks in advance.
Matt
I think you will be totally fine. Worst case scenario your proposed setup consumes 250W max. 75W GPU + 55W CPU + 20W for each drive + 20W motherboard. It is tight, but totally manageable, IMO.
Thanks!
The HDD I can unplug is for backups. I have been thinking NAS just for the storage.That would remove my all my mechanical HDDs. I should do that first. The optical I don’t need anymore. Picked up a nice external, LG bluray drive.
GTX 960 you say. Hmmmm, why do I feel like Tim Allen?
If it makes a difference I run Windows 10 OS with 16GB ram on my TS140.
I would like to stick an i5 processor. Your thoughts?
I may save that idea for a ground up project too.
It’s current setup is a desktop/HTPC/NAS.
I would like to add casual gaming on my big screen.
As long as you have a good LAN/WLAN set up then moving things to a NAS makes a lot of sense.
I would not mess too much with TS140 other than changing storage configuration. I would save CPU upgrade for a future ground-up build to give myself greater flexibility. In the TS140 you are too much limited by what Lenovo has chosen for you.
I set up a NAS set up with a static IP just a few days ago. I have all my files moved over. A new GTX 750 Ti is here. I’m Just waiting for a better Intel NIC to come in. Then I’ll unplug my old HD’s and use them as my back ups.
I didn’t want to run the power supply at it’s capacity all the time and make things hot, cutting the longevity out of the PSU.
I was thinking an i5 would be nice because this HTPC is also my desktop and main PC. I will use programs like PSE. Games will like the i5 too. Still on the fence and probably won’t do it. Just have to get this monkey off my back first. The upgrade addiction.
Hello! So, I plan on ordering this PC to replace my current computer, and a vendor on Amazon has taken the original server and added an i7-4770 processor, 16 GB 1333Mhz RAM, a 250 GB SSD, and a 3 TB HDD. I plan on adding the GTX 750 Ti graphics to it, but I’m worried about overloading the PSU. Would this PC still function given the already present upgrades and the GTX 750 Ti installed?
You’ll be totally fine.
Also, which variant (Zotac, MSI, etc.) of the GTX 750Ti do you recommend getting?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127784&nm_mc=OTC-Iceleads&cm_mmc=OTC-Iceleads-_-MSI-_-Video+Card+-+Nvidia-_-14127784#close
I was planning on getting this, but it seems like it’s a tad longer than the one you’re using. Will it still fit?
This one will likely to work just fine. Cards longer than this might run into the front USB 3.0 connector and then the top SATA ports.
Also see this post
Hey nandizhang! Donald!
I just wanted to drop in and say thanks for your help.
I wound up with a Qnap TS-251 NAS
Put in this video card http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IDG3PRI?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_search_detailpage
Everything turned out great.
I have an extra Radeon HD 7770 lying around. This was a low power card a few years back. I know it requires a 6-pin PCI power connector, and that I’d need to use a SATA-PCI power adapter.
My question is whether the TS140 has enough power from the 280watt PSU to power the 7770 along with 4 hard drives and an SSD.
I would recommend against it. Hard drives typically consumes no more than 10 W each when operating, but can draw 20+ W upon start up. That’s 100W right there. HD 7770 consumes 80W-100W max. The i3 is another 50W. We are at 250 W already.
Good article, was about to do the same when I just thought I would open my TS140 and check. Turns out mine came with an FSP 450W 80-platinum PSU! I guess the Xeon versions come with a beefier power supply. It also has the extra 6 pin connector on it so I can get away with a better graphics card.
Looks like the just-today released 1050ti might fit the bill. 75w, no need for a power connection. Will it fit? What are the constraints on size?
Yes. A reference GTX 1050 Ti looks like a drop-in replacement for 750 Ti so yeah, it should work without a problem.
One thing to note: Early reviews suggest that the 1050 Ti is a power-starved card, perhaps due to inherent limitations of Samsung’s 14 nm node. I expect many 1050 Ti will in fact come with PCIe auxiliary power, so be sure to pick the ones without when you shop.
Hi,
I just added a 500w power supply and a 1060 video card to a ts140 but could not get any video out. It has dedicated PCI power (6 pin), and the machine works fine with the new power supply until the video card is installed.
The bus supports the PCI card, the power draw is not an issue for the power supply, but no video out.
I’ve read in a couple of places that the BIOS may be a limiting factor on what PCI cards are supported, but I’ve not seen that happen in a long time (since before bus designs were actually standardized from vendor to vendor). Any suggestions? Is this just the wrong video card for choice this machine?
Thanks.
It might have something to do with the UEFI BIOS used in newer video cards? That’s all I could come up with for now.
After reading this I ordered the NVIDIA GT740 card. It is short enough to fit in the TS140 PICe slot without unplugging anything and has the 2 dual link DVI connectors for my 2 – 2560×1440 monitors with same connectors. On initial install I could not get the system to recognize the card so I could not install the drivers. The PSU was 280W so I upgraded to 550W PSU and still nothing.
I upgraded the BIOS from Lenova (11/16 version), still nothing. Have re-seated the card multiple times and still nothing.
Can anyone offer any help with this, not sure what else I can do. I was thinking I should return the card in case it is defective but I think I need to find out it the Lenova ThinkServer TS140 will even support the card.
I agree with nandizhang. You probably need a BIOS update to have support for that card. Just guessing, though.
This is assuming you disabled the onboard video and enabled the PCI-E Video in the BIOS. That wasn’t mentioned so it’s an assumption too.
After reading this I ordered the NVIDIA GT740 card. It is short enough to fit in the TS140 PICe slot without unplugging anything and has the 2 dual link DVI connectors for my 2 – 2560×1440 monitors with same connectors. On initial install I could not get the system to recognize the card so I could not install the drivers. The PSU was 280W so I upgraded to 550W PSU and still nothing.
I upgraded the BIOS from Lenova (11/16 version), still nothing. Have re-seated the card multiple times and still nothing.
Can anyone offer any help with this, not sure what else I can do. I was thinking I should return the card in case it is defective but I think I need to find out it the Lenova ThinkServer TS140 will even support the card.
It has to be the card itself, although I cannot pinpoint what about the card that makes it not work. First I would confirm that the card is not DoA on a different computer if available. If that checks out, then I suspect the problem has something to do with UEFI/BIOS of the card.
That said, unless you are absolutely fine with a GT740, there are plenty other video card options that are compatible with TS140 and more much powerful than GT740.
Thanks for the quick reply, I am open to another card. I need one that will support my 2-2560×1440 monitors at full resolution and fit in the TS140 case most of the cards I looked at are too long to fit. I am not a gamer but a graphic designer so my demands on a GPU are high resolution not clock speed.
I have tried 3 cards now first 2 wouldn’t fit, this the 3rd fits but not sure if the TS140 will even support it. What card can you recommend that will support my 2 – 2560×1440 monitors?
Mark
After reading this I ordered the NVIDIA GT740 card. It is short enough to fit in the TS140 PICe slot without unplugging anything and has the 2 dual link DVI connectors for my 2 – 2560×1440 monitors with same connectors. On initial install I could not get the system to recognize the card so I could not install the drivers. The PSU was 280W so I upgraded to 550W PSU and still nothing.
I upgraded the BIOS from Lenova (11/16 version), still nothing. Have re-seated the card multiple times and still nothing.
Can anyone offer any help with this, not sure what else I can do. I was thinking I should return the card in case it is defective but I think I need to find out it the Lenova ThinkServer TS140 will even support the card.
I found this, looks like it has been approved by IBM for Lenovo TS140, but I have jumped the gun ordering cards (3 now). Nandi Zhang what do you think, do you have a better solution?
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=17Z-001G-00007&ignorebbr=1&nm_mc=KNC-GoogleAdwords-PC&cm_mmc=KNC-GoogleAdwords-PC-_-pla-_-Video+Cards+-+Workstation-_-17Z-001G-00007&gclid=CJD977CS7dICFVyBswodZusM8A&gclsrc=aw.ds
It is not clear which card you are referring to there. Seems like a link is missing maybe?
Anyways, GT 740 support 3 monitors up to 4K and so is sufficient for your scenario too. I don’t have a better idea as to why your unit isn’t working. When you say “On initial install I could not get the system to recognize the card”, which operating system are you using? What was the name of the device as the system recognized it? Were you able to apply the 1440p resolution?
I have given away my TS140, so I can only speak for my previous experience. The card I used was an EVGA GTX 750 Ti SC and it worked. Based on that, I am gonna guess any GTX 750 Ti or GTX 750 that doesn’t require a 6-pin PCIe power and shorter than about 7″ should work, too. There are still some remaining stocks of these cards at various retailers. But again, only a guess.
BTW, if you don’t have a high performance requriement, have you tried using the two DisplayPort outputs off the integrated graphics to drive these monitors?
Sorry I thought I added card link, this is the one that Lenovo says is supported by the TS140: https://www.cdw.com/shop/products/NVIDIA-NVS-315-graphics-card-NVS-315-1-GB/3711714.aspx
Per this spec sheet:
https://lenovopress.com/lp0034-lenovo-thinkserver-ts140
I am going to try to install the card in another PC tonight to see if it is DOA before I return it.
I have windows 10 Pro, and the device never shows up in the device manager. I am also not able to install the drivers due to the fact it doesn’t see the card. I have also set the discrete card as the default in the BIOS
I can connect the 2 monitors to the IGU and get a display but it doesn’t support the 2560×1440.
I want to thank you for your help, Lenovo has been no help at all. I am a graphic designer so I am here if you need help in that area.
Updates to come till this is resolved.
Mark
In theory even an i3’s IGP supports 3 displays up to 4K resolution (http://ark.intel.com/products/77480/Intel-Core-i3-4130-Processor-3M-Cache-3_40-GHz) so it’s weird that yours don’t work. Not impossible I guess. It could be an artificial limit on Lenovo’s part. I know Dell does this on their Inspiron desktops where they limit IGP resolution to 1080p. It just disgusts me.
You could also look into NVS 300 and Quadro K600 (and possibly K620). Those were supported at one point.
http://psref.lenovo.com/Product/ThinkServer_TS140
(If you haven’t been already, PSREF is where Lenovo compiles the specs of all their products.)
Here is the Lenovo card on newegg:
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=17Z-001G-00007&ignorebbr=1&nm_mc=KNC-GoogleAdwords-PC&cm_mmc=KNC-GoogleAdwords-PC-_-pla-_-Video+Cards+-+Workstation-_-17Z-001G-00007&gclid=CJD977CS7dICFVyBswodZusM8A&gclsrc=aw.ds
OK pretty sure this will put this problem too bed, Lenovo makes a card that has been tested and its the only one they say they will support:
https://lenovopress.com/lp0034-lenovo-thinkserver-ts140
and
https://www.cdw.com/shop/products/NVIDIA-NVS-315-graphics-card-NVS-315-1-GB/3711714.aspx?ContractID=0
Let me know how it goes.
So has anyone tried any more video cards on the TS140?
I’m aiming at a rx580 with a power consumption of 225watts.