One poorly placed motherboard capacitor = can't install GTX 280.

mentok1982

Supreme [H]ardness
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Sep 17, 2004
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I want to warn people that there is a possibility that a GTX 280 or GTX 260 will not slide all
the way into the first PCI-E slot on their motherboard.

There is a small black plastic box right next to the back plate on the GTX 280 and GTX 260
that touches a single poorly placed capacitor on my Abit IN9 32X-MAX motherboard. Trying to
press the card all the way in only pressed the capacitor straight down towards the board.

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The only thing I can do is buy a new motherboard since I need the GTX 280 for a review I am
trying to write.

For more information about my ordeal you can read this article.

If anyone else has this problem with a different motherboard please let us know which one so
that we can make a list or something.
 
Well, could you modify the small black box? Is it just a piece of plastic or a vital part of the card?

Well, thats a bad Idea, never mind..
 
could be the the GTX280, PCI-E has 225W & 300W specs, maybe Abit didnt take these into account.
 
Well, could you modify the small black box? Is it just a piece of plastic or a vital part of the card?

Well, thats a bad Idea, never mind..

Isnt that a shielded DVI connector, I would'nt mess with it yet alone a $650 card. Replace the motherboard, way way cheaper.
 
Whoa, lame sauce.. I had an issue with a stupid capacitor last night. It was a taller cap and placed at the edge so I bumped it a few times moving harddrives around and almost knocked it off completely.
 
That sucks. The good thing is that I'm sure you'll find a buyer who will pay a decent price for that motherboard on these forums.
Creating a list of incompatible motherboards would be an excellent idea.
 
Well, could you modify the small black box? Is it just a piece of plastic or a vital part of the card?

Well, thats a bad Idea, never mind..

I thought about it and I even tried unscrewing the part of the shroud that covers that back PCB
of the card. The plastic covering on the back of the card is attached with several of those sticky
heat pads though. :(
 
Well, if you were handy with a soldering iron, you could offset the Cap with some wires. I imagine that might void your warranty though :p
 
Just grab some pliers and cut-off the capacitor....what's the big deal?
 
Well, if you were handy with a soldering iron, you could offset the Cap with some wires. I imagine that might void your warranty though :p

I thought about letting my dad do that (I don't have the skill or the tools) but I decided it is
probably easier to buy a new motherboard for $140 that has everything I need and then sell my
un-modded board for about $140. A new Abit IN9 still retails for $199 online.
 
Just grab some pliers and cut-off the capacitor....what's the big deal?

Why doesn't he try and trim the PCI-E connector to try and make it fit into the PCI slot while he's at it? Oh wait..

Umm, yeah, I would personally try and do what turumbar said if I was low on cash, it doesn't sound that hard, just make sure you have a sharp point. If you have the money though, get another motherboard, sounds like the only other option you got.
 
Guys.

I already made my decision before I posted this thread. I have purchased a new motherboard
already. The main purpose of this thread is to warn others.
 
How badly is the card popped up when seated? I can see what you're saying from the pictures, but can't envision what it looks like when you attempt to seat it. Are the frontmost connectors making any contact at all in the slot?
 
How badly is the card popped up when seated? I can see what you're saying from the pictures, but can't envision what it looks like when you attempt to seat it. Are the frontmost connectors making any contact at all in the slot?

Yes but they don't go in enough to give me a monitor signal.
 
Just de-solder the damned thing and add some wire extensions and move it out of the way. If your afraid to do it, then any TV repair shop will do it for a few dollars. I have replaced all the caps on my boards before. It really is simple. I had to do this very thing to my current board for the same problem. I used some solid core copper, extended the legs and layed it over sideways out of the way. Glue it down with some five minute epoxy and don't forget to cover the extensions so you wont accidentally short it out.
 
Just de-solder the damned thing and add some wire extensions and move it out of the way. If your afraid to do it, then any TV repair shop will do it for a few dollars. I have replaced all the caps on my boards before. It really is simple. I had to do this very thing to my current board for the same problem. I used some solid core copper, extended the legs and layed it over sideways out of the way. Glue it down with some five minute epoxy and don't forget to cover the extensions so you wont accidentally short it out.

answered by:

I thought about letting my dad do that (I don't have the skill or the tools) but I decided it is
probably easier to buy a new motherboard for $140 that has everything I need and then sell my
un-modded board for about $140. A new Abit IN9 still retails for $199 online.
 
It should be easy enough to see if it will work by looking at your mobo or a photo of one, from what I see I should be good, the IP35 Pro seems to have nothing getting in the way
 
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