Question PCie wifi adapter won’t fit with GPU in place

[goddjihyo]

So I’ve got an msi B450M VDH-MAX motherboard inside a thermaltake versa H18 case with an msi RTX 2080 Super XS OC gpu.
I recently bought a TP-Link AC1200 PCIE wifi adapter but the problem is that the card won’t fit in the most bottom pcie slot because the graphics card is too thick. The graphics card sits right on top of the adapter if I try to place it in but there doesn’t seem to be enough room on the bottom for me to actually put the card in. PCPartPicker says there’s no compatibility issues which is weird so I was wondering if somethings wrong with me or it’s simply because the card is too big. My last option is to go for a USB adapter as it isn’t my favourite thing to use.

 

[tennis2]

Yeah, your GPU is > 2 slots and your mobo mysteriously doesn't include the 4th PCIe slot.

Have you considered powerline network adapters?

 

[goddjihyo]

Yeah, your GPU is > 2 slots and your mobo mysteriously doesn't include the 4th PCIe slot.

Have you considered powerline network adapters?

Would I be getting the same speed with a power line adapter?

 

[Third-Eye]

So I’ve got an msi B450M VDH-MAX motherboard inside a thermaltake versa H18 case with an msi RTX 2080 Super XS OC gpu.
I recently bought a TP-Link AC1200 PCIE wifi adapter but the problem is that the card won’t fit in the most bottom pcie slot because the graphics card is too thick. The graphics card sits right on top of the adapter if I try to place it in but there doesn’t seem to be enough room on the bottom for me to actually put the card in. PCPartPicker says there’s no compatibility issues which is weird so I was wondering if somethings wrong with me or it’s simply because the card is too big. My last option is to go for a USB adapter as it isn’t my favourite thing to use.

You could try using one of these https://www.amazon.com/Express-extender-Extension-Gold-plated-connector/dp/B017QQM80A . If your case had 5.25" bays you could have tried something like this http://www.hwtools.net/Adapter/PE4F.html

Your best bet may be to just return the motherboard and get one with better PCIE placement or even one with WI-FI already built in like this https://www.newegg.com/p/N82E16813157880. There is also this one with a PCIE 1x above the 16x slot https://www.amazon.com/ASRock-B450M...rds=ASRock+B450M+PRO4-F&qid=1575682575&sr=8-1

Yeah, your GPU is > 2 slots and your mobo mysteriously doesn't include the 4th PCIe slot.

That board never had a 4th slot. It was always a 3 slot board before the MAX revision with the updated Ryzen 3000 BIOS.

 

[goddjihyo]

You could try using one of these https://www.amazon.com/Express-extender-Extension-Gold-plated-connector/dp/B017QQM80A . If your case had 5.25" bays you could have tried something like this http://www.hwtools.net/Adapter/PE4F.html

Your best bet may be to just return the motherboard and get one with better PCIE placement or even one with WI-FI already built in like this https://www.newegg.com/p/N82E16813157880. There is also this one with a PCIE 1x above the 16x slot https://www.amazon.com/ASRock-B450M...rds=ASRock+B450M+PRO4-F&qid=1575682575&sr=8-1


That board never had a 4th slot. It was always a 3 slot board before the MAX revision with the updated Ryzen 3000 BIOS.

So I’m thinking of buying an extension slot but how would I place the adapter so that it’s fixed in place? or am I supposed to leave it in the bottom part of the case.

 

[Third-Eye]

So I’m thinking of buying an extension slot but how would I place the adapter so that it’s fixed in place? or am I supposed to leave it in the bottom part of the case.

You would want to place it in the 4th expansion slot space in the bottom of the case. This is assuming that the 90 degree PCIE 1x extension will fit and sit flat enough on the board to screw in the card without damaging anything. You can bend the cards rear expansion plate where you screw it in if you need to angle it some. You might have to cut or put electrical tape on the bottom tab of that rear expansion plate if you have to bend it a lot.

 

[tennis2]

Would I be getting the same speed with a power line adapter?

Probably better since there's no WiFi interference. Not sure what the WiFi "density" (how many other people's wifi signals are visible to you) is like where you are or what router you have (and it's ability to select wifi channels that are less crowded).