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A Tight Fit

R

RikkAndrsn

Limp Gawd
Joined
Sep 15, 2007
Messages
156
So, I'm the unfortunate owner of a HP m9040n. It comes with a 8400GS as the default graphics card (need I say more?), and I've been looking into upgrading since the HD 3870 and 8800 GT came out. I will be upgrading to a Corsair 550VX PSU, and I have not yet decided if I could fit in a dual slot card like the 8800 GTS or HD 3870X2. The motherboard in this computer is a HP owned G33 design, Micro ATX size format. I would like to go for a more expensive card (like the 8800 GTS or HD 3870X2) because I have the cash, but I can't really decide on my own if anything that's dual slot will fit. My major problem is that there are SATA HD connectors that could possibly get in the way of a dual slot card. The slot right above the PCIe 16x occupied by my 8400GS is a PCIe 1x slot that is unoccupied, hence the dual slot upgradability. The case itself is also a giant mess of cables, which I'll have to fix when adding anything.

Below are the (admittedly bad) pics I took to help explain my situation:
http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/8426/dsc5100us4.jpg
http://img502.imageshack.us/img502/6070/dsc5101in1.jpg
http://img502.imageshack.us/img502/4978/dsc5102xt4.jpg
http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/4562/dsc5103fx0.jpg
http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/2865/dsc5104zu7.jpg
http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/5223/dsc5105ex8.jpg
http://img244.imageshack.us/img244/5893/dsc5106rd8.jpg
http://img244.imageshack.us/img244/852/dsc5107wg9.jpg
http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/3521/dsc5108hs0.jpg
 
What resolution will you be gaming at and what are the rest of your system's specs?
 
Optional87 said:
What resolution will you be gaming at and what are the rest of your system's specs?
Click to expand...

Core 2 Quad Q6600
3 GB Samsung DDR3 667 RAM
8400GS
300 Watt PSU (will be upgraded to 550VX as soon as I have a card that needs it)
G33 Asus made MoBo

I'll be gaming at 1440 by 900 resolution, so it's not that intense. The games I play are BF2, BF2142, CSS, TF2, Portal, SupCom, World in Conflict, and a few older titles. I might pick up Crysis, ET:QW, and some other newer games if I have better graphics.

And, the case isn't really the problem, it has plenty of headroom away from the motherboard. Any configuration I put in, it won't really change where those SATA connectors are (which are my main concern).
 
Really, just easier to get a new case, then you can fit whatever card you like. Pick up an RC690 or P180/P182 for $30-70 and no more problem, unless there's something here I'm completely failing to get
 
silent-circuit said:
Really, just easier to get a new case, then you can fit whatever card you like. Pick up an RC690 or P180/P182 for $30-70 and no more problem, unless there's something here I'm completely failing to get
Click to expand...
The A/V Inputs on the front would be gone if I get a new case, so that's not really an option for me at the moment. I got the m9040n over a few other comparable computers for that feature, so I'm not really ready to give it up so soon.
 
RikkAndrsn said:
The A/V Inputs on the front would be gone if I get a new case, so that's not really an option for me at the moment. I got the m9040n over a few other comparable computers for that feature, so I'm not really ready to give it up so soon.
Click to expand...

Fairly sure you could mount up the PCB with all that on it in a 3 1/2" bay and drill holes through the plastic bay cover to let the various connections fit through. (No, I don't give up easy ;) )
 
First thing you should do is rearrange the power supply wires. I usually take the power supply out of the case and sort out the wires (zip tie the unused ones together); then you'll know how much room you have.

3850's & 70's are about 9 inches long, and will take up 1 or 2 slots. If you have don't have enough room, you can look for a card with a smaller sized PCB. Gigabyte makes a smaller sized 8800GT and there was an Apollo 3850 on newegg that is smaller than normal.

link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125087
 
silent-circuit said:
Fairly sure you could mount up the PCB with all that on it in a 3 1/2" bay and drill holes through the plastic bay cover to let the various connections fit through. (No, I don't give up easy ;) )
Click to expand...
I just realized how [H]ardcore a solution that was. I'd like to keep away from powertools, though, since I'm no Tim Allen.
 
I have the same issue on my MSI board. It's hard from the pictures to get a sense of the measurements, so I could be wrong in your case, but I don't think you'll be able to use some of those dual slot cards, like the 512 8800GTS, unless you're okay with blocking 2 SATA ports.

But you should be able to use a wide range of cards with shorter heatsink shrouds. For example, a GTX is dual slot, but should fit because the last few inches are just the PCB and it will safely pass the SATA ports. You can use any of the 8800GTs or maybe buy the new GTS and slap on a Blue Orb-style cooler, if that's even possible at this point.
 
Frobot said:
... You can use any of the 8800GTs or maybe buy the new GTS and slap on a Blue Orb-style cooler, if that's even possible at this point.
Click to expand...

You can mount damn near anything on damn near anything else. I know a guy that mounted a Scythe Infinity to a Radeon 2900XT. It's all a question of how bad you want it, and the size of your zip tie collection. ;)
 
silent-circuit said:
You can mount damn near anything on damn near anything else. I know a guy that mounted a Scythe Infinity to a Radeon 2900XT. It's all a question of how bad you want it, and the size of your zip tie collection. ;)
Click to expand...

Ah, that's true. I wasn't clear earlier, I meant if it's possible as in--you can walk in and buy it with instructions and all the holes match up and so forth.
 
RikkAndrsn said:
Is it possible to stack these right angle SATA cables? I have my HDs on the two first connectors and that would put them on top of each other, if I understand their concept correctly.
Click to expand...

I don't think so... that's a good point. Would it be possible to just cut of the offending portion of the HSF shroud? Most GTS I've seen don't actually have anything in the bottom-back end of the card... it's just plastic. It would look to me like you could just cut that corner off, provided it wouldn't make the fan rattle or something. I dunno if that would quite get you where you wanted to go... maybe someone who has the card could comment?
 
Desdichado said:
I don't think so... that's a good point. Would it be possible to just cut of the offending portion of the HSF shroud? Most GTS I've seen don't actually have anything in the bottom-back end of the card... it's just plastic. It would look to me like you could just cut that corner off, provided it wouldn't make the fan rattle or something. I dunno if that would quite get you where you wanted to go... maybe someone who has the card could comment?
Click to expand...

Get one Right Angle Connection and one Left Angle so they are going Opposite directions.

Before you guys tell me there is no such thing i will post links.

Left Angled
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812200112

Right Angled
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812123196

Look Closely at the connections and they are defferent so you could connect the top sata up and the bottom down.

I am not reconmending this exact cable just giving you something to look for.
 
I'm not sure there would be enough clearance under the shroud to pass over even two angled cables; they're obviously much better in that regard than the regular connectors, but they still stick up a fair distance.

Probably worth measuring though...
 
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