I just bought a Nvidia 8800 GTS today at Fry's Electronics only to find out when I got home that it's about half a centimeter too long to fit on my motherboard (it runs right into where the cord bundle from the power supply attaches to the motherboard). I'm fairly ticked off because I got the card for $250 after $110 worth of rebates, so I counted it as a good deal. I'm going to go return it as soon as I get the chance, but I'm stuck now with what to buy now for a new video card. Does anyone have any suggestions of a card that has similar performance in the $250-$350 price range but measures just a little under the length of the GTX (a little more than nine inches)?
8800 Gt 512.
"If you want a vision of the future, imagine SecuROM slapping your face with its dick -- forever." -George Orwell
Well all of the 88 series cards are fairly long. What are the rest of your specs?
Why not just get a new mobo?
I ordered my comp from HP about three years ago and built it on their website, so I don't know the specifics of the motherboard. I ordered the system with the cheapest video card they had (an ATI X300 or something like it) with the intention of replacing it with something better at next possible opportunity. Otherwise:
-Intel Pentium 4 3.4ghz
-1 gb RAM
-Audigy Z2 Sound Card
-200 gb Internal HD (whatever HP put in there) along with a 500 gb Western Digital external HD.
I'm perfectly content with the system, I was planning on adding some more RAM and a new card and being done with it. I never imagined that the size of the card would be a problem, given the last time I installed a video card was an ATI All in Wonder some four years ago.
-Intel Pentium 4 3.4ghz
-1 gb RAM
-Audigy Z2 Sound Card
-200 gb Internal HD (whatever HP put in there) along with a 500 gb Western Digital external HD.
I'm perfectly content with the system, I was planning on adding some more RAM and a new card and being done with it. I never imagined that the size of the card would be a problem, given the last time I installed a video card was an ATI All in Wonder some four years ago.
Kinda what im leaning towards as well. But if the rest of his specs are low to mid range, it wont help and may just cost alot more.\
What is your current card? that you were gonna replace?
What is your current card? that you were gonna replace?
Last edited by <SS>SonderKommando (2008-03-16 18:18:20)
I guess that's what I get for ordering a computer from HP rather than putting it together myself. The case is so miserably small that I don't think I could wedge any other motherboard in here, since I'm guessing this case was engineered for the motherboard or vice versa.PBAsydney wrote:
Why not just get a new mobo?
Canton what card were you gonna replace?
also, judging from what you have told us so far from your specs your PSU might not be quite up to snuff for alot of newer cards. With the 88 series out of the running due to length, power consumption may be a limiting factor as well for some of the 7 series cards as well. Is Nvidia your manufacturer of choice or is ATi an option too?
also, judging from what you have told us so far from your specs your PSU might not be quite up to snuff for alot of newer cards. With the 88 series out of the running due to length, power consumption may be a limiting factor as well for some of the 7 series cards as well. Is Nvidia your manufacturer of choice or is ATi an option too?
Last edited by <SS>SonderKommando (2008-03-16 18:22:45)
Radeon X300... like I said, I just got the cheapest graphics option possible so that I could replace it later since they didn't have the card I wanted at that time as an option.<SS>SonderKommando wrote:
Kinda what im leaning towards as well. But if the rest of his specs are low to mid range, it wont help and may just cost alot more.\
What is your current card? that you were gonna replace?
Ninja - Is the 8800 GT significantly smaller or just a tad? Just curious, since the boxes don't list dimensions the only thing I can do is ask around here.
Last edited by CantonThunder (2008-03-16 18:24:35)
Ok. For a good performance increase w/o breaking the bank i would suggest GeForce 7600-7950 cards.. The only thing is that your PSU may not be quite up to snuff. You do have PCI-E on that mobo right?
Yeah I've got one PCI-E slot with an empty space beneath to accommodate the height of such a card. What about the 8800 GT Ninja mentioned?
Does it have what I can only describe as a "handle" on the end of it? Like a little plastic bracket?
If so, it should be secured with a couple/few screws. Remove these and the bracket and you might be ok. If the standard card is to big, idk, sorry.
If so, it should be secured with a couple/few screws. Remove these and the bracket and you might be ok. If the standard card is to big, idk, sorry.
The 88Gt is long too, i have one. Nine inches.
PCI EXPRESS SLOTS
I really need the info for your power supply. But right now Nvidia 7600-7950 would be best.
PCI EXPRESS SLOTS
I really need the info for your power supply. But right now Nvidia 7600-7950 would be best.
Last edited by <SS>SonderKommando (2008-03-16 18:38:47)
Sorry just noticed the last part of your post. I'll go with whichever brand will keep me the most current performance wise while at the same time fitting in the case.<SS>SonderKommando wrote:
Canton what card were you gonna replace?
also, judging from what you have told us so far from your specs your PSU might not be quite up to snuff for alot of newer cards. With the 88 series out of the running due to length, power consumption may be a limiting factor as well for some of the 7 series cards as well. Is Nvidia your manufacturer of choice or is ATi an option too?
New case?
Oh nvm, motherboard problem.
Oh nvm, motherboard problem.
Last edited by GGF0RCE (2008-03-16 18:39:17)
Well, I have a 8800GTX, now that's the biggest of them (apart from ultra maybe, but isn't that just a superclocked GTX anyway?).
It goes 6 CM (about 2.5 inches) outside the mobo, had to remove the upper HD cage to fit it .
It goes 6 CM (about 2.5 inches) outside the mobo, had to remove the upper HD cage to fit it .
Here it is:<SS>SonderKommando wrote:
The 88Gt is long too, i have one. Nine inches.
PCI EXPRESS SLOTS
http://www.viperlair.com/articles/edito … ss_001.JPG
I really need the info for your power supply. But right now Nvidia 7600-7950 would be best.
http://www.power-on.com/atx12vhp300bt.html
Yeah, its completely infuriating, if the wires were just a centimeter higher or so I'd be business.PBAsydney wrote:
Well, I have a 8800GTX, now that's the biggest of them (apart from ultra maybe, but isn't that just a superclocked GTX anyway?).
It goes 6 CM (about 2.5 inches) outside the mobo, had to remove the upper HD cage to fit it .
ok, your PSU is kinda underpowered, good news is you have 19 volts on teh 12v rail.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a … 6814130062
EVGA 7600 GT. requires a 350w psu and 18w on the 12v rail... kinda pushing it.. the 8800gts you got prob wouldnt even work with the psu you have
also i dont see a six pin pci express connector on your psu....
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a … 6814130062
EVGA 7600 GT. requires a 350w psu and 18w on the 12v rail... kinda pushing it.. the 8800gts you got prob wouldnt even work with the psu you have
also i dont see a six pin pci express connector on your psu....
Last edited by <SS>SonderKommando (2008-03-16 18:59:43)
Nice, I used to have a X300. Piece of $#!T if you ask me. If you look it up on the Radeon site, they make it sound like one of the better buys.CantonThunder wrote:
Radeon X300... like I said, I just got the cheapest graphics option possible so that I could replace it later since they didn't have the card I wanted at that time as an option.<SS>SonderKommando wrote:
Kinda what im leaning towards as well. But if the rest of his specs are low to mid range, it wont help and may just cost alot more.\
What is your current card? that you were gonna replace?
Ninja - Is the 8800 GT significantly smaller or just a tad? Just curious, since the boxes don't list dimensions the only thing I can do is ask around here.
I'm fairly ignorant on the topic of power supplies, but that's not something I can swap out is it? Or is it integrated into the case?
you should be able to change it. Sometimes some prefab companies will use proprietary psu's in their cases. But yours looks like it will be able to be swapped. I would look for something around the 500-680w area for what you need. Make sure you have plenty of amps on the 12v rail. If you get a bigger psu you can get a better card. If you give us a budget, we can give you some suggestions.
This is a compatible upgrade to what you have. Good power and two pci express six pin connectors.
http://www.power-on.com/ea550u.html
This is a compatible upgrade to what you have. Good power and two pci express six pin connectors.
http://www.power-on.com/ea550u.html
Last edited by <SS>SonderKommando (2008-03-16 19:08:17)
Well I suppose this goes back to the original problem, since there has to be a card that would fit on the motherboard that would make paying for a new PSU worthwhile. I paid $250 for the card today, I suppose if I could get a new card and a new PSU for around $350 combined I'd have something to think about, though this is getting more pricey than I had anticipated.
Also I don't know if it matters or not, likely not, but the actual power supply is the ATX-300-12Z BD, the CDR I linked is just a replacement, since I can't find the BD.
Thanks for all the help Sonder
Also I don't know if it matters or not, likely not, but the actual power supply is the ATX-300-12Z BD, the CDR I linked is just a replacement, since I can't find the BD.
Thanks for all the help Sonder
well if you get the psu that i linked you to then i would HIGHLY suggest an Nvidia 7950GT, looking around 350 ish total investment.
You mean amps, not volts/watts<SS>SonderKommando wrote:
ok, your PSU is kinda underpowered, good news is you have 19 volts on teh 12v rail.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a … 6814130062
EVGA 7600 GT. requires a 350w psu and 18w on the 12v rail... kinda pushing it.. the 8800gts you got prob wouldnt even work with the psu you have
also i dont see a six pin pci express connector on your psu....