Upgrading HP m8430f - Help

[esky]

I'm looking to get a new video card, add a second HDD, and pick an appropriate PSU to run the system. So far I've picked:

PSU: CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W
HDD: SAMSUNG Spinpoint F1 HD103UJ 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB
GPU: EVGA 896-P3-1255-AR GeForce GTX 260

I'd like to partition the new HDD four ways to use it for storage, win xp, hackintosh, and possibly linux. I'd like to spend as little as possible on the PSU, but this seems to be a solid choice sufficient for everything. It will replace a 300W PSU that came with the system (I think the new one should fit because they are both standard size?)

Finally, the video card: I set my mind to a GTX 260, but I'm a little concerned about its size. I've considered this 4870 as an alternative - but it's not that much shorter. So I did a little measuring and here's what I have:

The orange line - bottom - is the current vid card, with top orange bar shown to match a picture of a comparable 8500 GT. They're fairly short. Now if you look at the blue card behind it, that's the 4870, just a little shorter than the third card - black - that is a GTX 260, which I've read is ~10.5in.

I have 11.5 in until the case becomes problematic. However, there are wires for SATA that both the ATI and Nvidia cards seem to imminently run into (green dots) - but there are 6 SATA slots, and only 3 are currently in use (0-2). Can I simply switch them to the bottom ones, 3-5, to avoid being in the way of the card if it's an issue?

I'd like to hear some thoughts on my choices for the upgrade? Do you think card size will be an issue - meaning the components on the motherboard sticking up too high? If I go with the GTX 260, would the 'Superclocked' cards be in too tight a space - I only have an exhaust case fan on the HP case?

 

[Dangman]

(I think the new one should fit because they are both standard size?)

Yes. If you really want to save some cash, you can drop down to the BFG LS-550 for $69 from buy.com. It will still be enough for that system:
$69 - BFG Tech LS-550 550W PSU

but there are 6 SATA slots, and only 3 are currently in use (0-2). Can I simply switch them to the bottom ones, 3-5, to avoid being in the way of the card if it's an issue?

AFAIK, yes you can. Just make sure that you select the right boot drive in the BIOS after you move the cable connections. However do note that there might be a chance that the lettering for the drives might be a little screwy if you move around the connection. Not too sure how to prevent that.

I'd like to hear some thoughts on my choices for the upgrade? Do you think card size will be an issue - meaning the components on the motherboard sticking up too high? If I go with the GTX 260, would the 'Superclocked' cards be in too tight a space - I only have an exhaust case fan on the HP case?

Is there any chance you can move that card in the 3rd slot (TV tuner?) down to the 4th slot? Or is that already removed?

 

[esky]

AFAIK, yes you can. Just make sure that you select the right boot drive in the BIOS after you move the cable connections. However do note that there might be a chance that the lettering for the drives might be a little screwy if you move around the connection. Not too sure how to prevent that.

I guess I might just invest in some right angle SATA cables just in case it's an issue...

Is there any chance you can move that card in the 3rd slot (TV tuner?) down to the 4th slot? Or is that already removed?

Can't move the tv tuner because that lost slot is just plain PCI, while the middle two are PCIex1s. I could just drop the TV tuner alltogether since I haven't really used it anyway. Is overheating an issue with another card that close or were you just thinking it might not fit?

I'm still on the fence about the video card, so I could use some more advice in that direction... should I stay away from the superclocked version given my limited space and the poor ventilation in the stock HP case?

 

[Dangman]

s overheating an issue with another card that close or were you just thinking it might not fit?

I was thinking of both actually. With any dual-slot card, including the Sapphire HD4870 1GB you chose, cooling and space would be extremely limited with that TV tuner installed.

Regardless of whether or not the card is OC'd or not, most dual-slot cards probably would work fine in your system.

What size monitor do you have?

 

[esky]

I was thinking of both actually. With any dual-slot card, including the Sapphire HD4870 1GB you chose, cooling and space would be extremely limited with that TV tuner installed.

Regardless of whether or not the card is OC'd or not, most dual-slot cards probably would work fine in your system.

What size monitor do you have?

Going to use two 19in LCDs, native at 1280x1024.

So I think I'm going to go with this

GTX 260 (896-P3-1265-AR) - it seems to be the latest EVGA GTX 260 judging by the last four digits in the model number, and comes with HDMI output via adapter if I choose to get a small HDTV at some point to use along side the two LCDs for video and such... if the specs don't mention HDMI in the other GTX 260s, I'm guessing the card cannot output that even if I get an adapter?

Here are the five I was comparing before narrowing down:

Newegg GTX 260 EVGA Compare

 

[Dangman]

if the specs don't mention HDMI in the other GTX 260s, I'm guessing the card cannot output that even if I get an adapter?

No, not really. As long as HDCP support is mentioned, HDMI will work if you have an adapter.

For a 19" monitor, the GTX 260 is a bit overkill. Sorta like using a rocket launcher to take out an ant-hill overkill. You can drop down to HD4850 without a significant performance loss:
$120 - XFX HD-485X-YDFC Radeon HD 4850 512MB PCi-E Video Card

The HD4850 is shorter than the GTX 260 by about 2 to 2.5 inches and so should just well inside the case.

 

[bigwooly]

XFX HD-485X-ZDFC Radeon HD 4850 1GB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 - $135
double the memory for fps with all the eye candies?