[SOLVED] PCI Card Obstucts Cooling Fan

[Coast Guard]

Hi Gang

Looking for options to avoid graphics card cooling fan obstruction. Have occupied all slots in a Dell 3620. Need a PCI Firewire Adapter Card IEEE 1394 (have found only one with low profile) but still partially blocks a GT 1030 installed above it. I suppose I could replace the GT1030 with a graphics card without a cooling fan (heatsink only), if I could find the right one? But the heatsink will need airflow as well. Not sure if there's other options for Firewire capability in the USB and Thunderbolt Ports?

Thank You
Mike

 

[Darkbreeze]

You're telling me that with the graphics card installed in slot 4, the blue slot, you can't fit an expansion card in slot 1, the furthest slot away from the CPU?

 

[Coast Guard]

Darkbreeze

Thanx for the reply. Just to re-clarify, I'll need to occupy all #4 slots with devices. Unless I can change the arrangement, the plan was to insert the GT1030 in the blue slot, then a PCI Firewire Card into slot #3 (prohibitive), followed by an Esata Card into slot #2, and lastly a sound card in the furthest bottom slot #1. Whatever card is installed in slot #3, (closet to the graphics card); that slot is almost un-usable considering its close proximity to the cooling fan on a graphics card.

Thank You

 

[Darkbreeze]

Are you doing something that requires you to use the soundcard rather than the integrated sound? Perhaps an external USB soundcard might be a decent alternative depending on what you are using it for and what you are willing to spend to fix the lack of space. Unfortunately, given the physical restraints of most OEM type boards like that, you just don't have a lot of options.

 

[Coast Guard]

Hello again Darkbreeze

Thanx for the reply - Yes I need the soundcard (the integrated sound is not adequate). An external card? Perhaps as a last resort. But meanwhile I've been searching around for a Low (very low) profile FW card and found a few older ones online. I realize these are earlier generations and the pin configuration is slightly different? Was wondering if any of these would be compatible as 'PCI' and compatible for W10 (for that particular slot 3)? Physically they would provide more room for the cooling fan.

Older Star Tech
or
Ebay Sunrich
or
Ebay

Thank You

 

[Darkbreeze]

Any PCIe 2.0 or higher card should be physically compatible with the PCIe slots on your board and any compatible PCI device should work with the PCI slot it has. Whether there are Windows 10 drivers for them might be a different story.

 

[SkyNetRising]

Any PCIe 2.0 or higher card should be physically compatible with the PCI slots on your board.

PCIE cards are not compatible with PCI slots. LOL

 

[Rogue Leader]

That motherboard has USB 3.0 ports on it. why not use an external USB 3.0 Hub with those ports to connect those devices?

 

[Coast Guard]

Hi Darkbreeze

Yes thanks I understand the difference between PCIe and PCI - I'm going to give the older design Startech a try and see if the lower profile allows more air flow ... If that doesn't work then yes I'll be looking for either UB3 or Thunderbolt to power an external FW 1394 device. If you see one limme know and thanx for your help.

Thank you

 

[Darkbreeze]

PCIE cards are not compatible with PCI slots. LOL

He has both PCI and PCI express slots on that board. Either way, doesn't matter, because both should be backwards compatible with their own standard. If he gets a PCI card, he has a slot for that. If he gets a PCI express card, he has a slot for that. It's just a matter of clearance and placement, not standards. LOL yourself.

 

[SkyNetRising]

Either way, doesn't matter, because both should be backwards compatible with their own standard.

Just edit and correct your post.
Currently post marked as solution spreads misinformation.