PCI Slot cover removal

[rhd1989]

Hi guys,

I've been really having some issues the last couple of days.

I bought a new HD 7870 GPU, after that I realized my PSU wasn't powerful enough so I went and bought a new PSU. When the GPU was delivered I noticed that I ordered the EyeFinity model which only has minidisplayports, no hdmi, dvi or vga. I still use a monitor with VGA so i was forced to buy a minidisplay port to vga cable. So i have everything now but......

First of all, a minor problem; I tried to remove my old PSU but one of the screws is stripped and I've yet to remove the PSU, but this is the smallest of problems right now. I'll just try putting some rubber on the screwdriver head, should work.

The main problem is that the hd7870 is a pretty long and thick graphics card and I'm using a dell case which doesn't have that much room from the inside, mainly because it has a crazy big cpu fan and heatsink, to make it even worse there's also a huge plastic thing that goes on top of it, taking up like a quarter of the motherboard. Now the thing is that I actually found a way around the cpu fan, but unlucky as I am, a minute after that I ran into the next problem. The pci slot brackets are in my way. And I'm not talking about the things you can take of easily but the strong metal part. --->

I'm wondering is there a way to remove all of these brackets with the metal and everything (so it would just be a big gaping hole where the PCI slot cover originally was,) Or perhaps just remove the whole backside or at least the lower part?

I'm really getting tired of this, I already spent more than I wanted initially, so if there's no solution for this then I'm just giving up, I'll just sell everything I bought and go back to my 30 fps..:/

 

[smackers_12]

Dremel.

 

[rhd1989]

Well if that's the only solution, I might as well buy a bigger case. Omg, I hate these problems so, so much...

by the way,

<< isn't this THE most ridiculous cpu fan you have ever seen? I mean seriously, this thing makes no sense at all..

 

[smackers_12]

Many OEM cases are like that. You should however be able to fit the card or remove the shroud on the cooler without having to cur the case.

 

[g1abhi]

1. Before buying so much , its better to ask at tomshardware first so that , you wont have to ask so much later with a frustrated head.
2. Its hard to understand your PCI bracket problem ,but i assume you are able to remove the metal lids but the card ports are colliding with
the metal part in between . verify if i got it right . Also post a snapshot of trying to fit the card inside the slot , and show us where it is blocked.
3. Upgrading these branded desktop bundles is a bad idea and should be avoided since the components are never designed to accommodate an ounce of extra something .

 

[rhd1989]

I understand that it was not very clever to just go out and buy all of this without even checking whether it's going to fit or not but it's too late for that now, lesson learned.

Removing the shroud on the cooler shouldn't be a problem. I could just remove that and fit the card but....

The real problem, as g1abhi explained better than I did (and thank you for that) are the metal parts in between of the lids. So I'm just wondering whether these metal parts are like a part of a bigger metal construction of the whole case or can you unscrew or remove parts of the metal construction of the case? Perhaps if I would take the plastic of the case

I'll post some pictures of it as soon as I can, I'm at work now, but the thing is; I need just about half a centimeter to fit the gpu in the pci slot and through the pci slot cover (or lid or whatever it's called) so that I can put a screw in there and be done with it. The back of the GPU is being blocked by the first pci slot cover (the one on top). So the thing is that it's just half a centimeter, just saying it would be a shame to buy a new case because of 1/2 of a cm.

 

[smackers_12]

I understand that it was not very clever to just go out and buy all of this without even checking whether it's going to fit or not but it's too late for that now, lesson learned.

Removing the shroud on the cooler shouldn't be a problem. I could just remove that and fit the card but....

The real problem, as g1abhi explained better than I did (and thank you for that) are the metal parts in between of the lids. So I'm just wondering whether these metal parts are like a part of a bigger metal construction of the whole case or can you unscrew or remove parts of the metal construction of the case? Perhaps if I would take the plastic of the case

I'll post some pictures of it as soon as I can, I'm at work now, but the thing is; I need just about half a centimeter to fit the gpu in the pci slot and through the pci slot cover (or lid or whatever it's called) so that I can put a screw in there and be done with it. The back of the GPU is being blocked by the first pci slot cover (the one on top). So the thing is that it's just half a centimeter, just saying it would be a shame to buy a new case because of 1/2 of a cm.

It is supposed to fit with the metal partes between the slots. If it is an unusual case you could potentially remove one.

 

[g1abhi]

OK , fact no 1 , you need to remove two PCI slot metal lids.
Then see if it fitting or not , the metal parts in between are part of the CPU construction and a single plate for the entire back. You can cut it by force , but 99% you are doing something wrong or your mothrboard is mounted wrong. ONly the snapshot trying to fit it in can tell the real problem.

 

[rhd1989]

Ok, in that case I'll post a snapshot as soon as I get home tonight.

Perhaps this will explain the situation a bit better:

 

[g1abhi]

Ok , which PCI slot are you trying to fit it in? Have you tried the white one at the bottom?

 

[rhd1989]

OK , fact no 1 , you need to remove two PCI slot metal lids.
Then see if it fitting or not , the metal parts in between are part of the CPU construction and a single plate for the entire back. You can cut it by force , but 99% you are doing something wrong or your mothrboard is mounted wrong. ONly the snapshot trying to fit it in can tell the real problem.

Would there be problems without the metal plate on the back of the computer? LOL 😀 I'll just take it off completely if that will solve anything. At least until I get a new case.

 

[rhd1989]

Ok , which PCI slot are you trying to fit it in? Have you tried the white one at the bottom?

Sadly it's the only one that's on the motherboard..

 

[g1abhi]

That will cause a zoo of insects and too much dust inside which which will spoil the parts. Just post a snapshot with the closest you can fit in. and also try the white ones.

 

[rhd1989]

This is exactly the same case and as far as I can see even the same motherboard (same setup).

you mean the two below the PCI-e slot? They don't fit as they are not the same type of slots.

 

[g1abhi]

ohk , stupid motherboards with a single PCIe port . Thats why i hate prebuilt ones.
So again, all i can say is , remove the cpu cooler plastic and then try to fit in and then post a snapshot.

 

[rhd1989]

Ok, will do asap thanks for your help so far