Changing the video card vertically

[blade8079]

Hi:

I'm just wondering if it is a safe practice to change the video card in the tower case vertically without placing the case on its side.

I have 5970 and it is almost 2 kilos in weight and am afraid if i loosen the bolts on the card's bracket it might break the pci-e connector due to its weight.

Any ideas?

Thanks!

 

[T_Yamamoto]

if you want to be safe. lay it on its side.

 

[Joseph F]

if you want to be safe. lay it on its side.

This.

 

[blade8079]

Thanks folks!)

 

[imaheadcase]

Is this a joke? I've never laid a case on side to change a video card.

 

[taltamir]

Why is turning the tower on its side a thing you are trying to avoid? You just grab it and turn it on its side at the spot. It takes literally 3 seconds.
You should absolutely not do it while a CDROM is spinning (it will fall and make horrible noise and potentially get damaged) and its not ideal for a HDD while its working...

But your system is off in the first place due to swapping the card.

I never unplug anything. Flip the power supply switch to off, lay it on its side with all cables plugged in at the spot, do work, flip it right side up.

Also, from experience i can tell you it takes more time to change a card on a tower that is vertical then it does to spend the 6 seconds to turn it sideways and then turn it right side up again.

 

[KingFatty]

How does the procedure differ when the tower is turned on its side? I also puzzled over this question, as I just do the work with the computer in whatever orientation. If you asked me to speculate, I would guess that the actual procedure of changing the card takes the same amount of time regardless of whether the case is vertical or horizontal, so I would say it's a waste of time to take extra time to lay the case on its side. But I've never timed myself, though I am curious where the time savings would come from?

 

[postmark]

Hi:

I'm just wondering if it is a safe practice to change the video card in the tower case vertically without placing the case on its side.

I have 5970 and it is almost 2 kilos in weight and am afraid if i loosen the bolts on the card's bracket it might break the pci-e connector due to its weight.

Any ideas?

Thanks!

you should try and pull on a pci-e slot and see how strong they really are. A video card hanging on it while you pull it out will not damage it (as long as you pull straight out that is)

 

[Jocelyn84]

..

 

[Gloomy]

Why is turning the tower on its side a thing you are trying to avoid? You just grab it and turn it on its side at the spot. It takes literally 3 seconds.
You should absolutely not do it while a CDROM is spinning (it will fall and make horrible noise and potentially get damaged) and its not ideal for a HDD while its working...

But your system is off in the first place due to swapping the card.

I never unplug anything. Flip the power supply switch to off, lay it on its side with all cables plugged in at the spot, do work, flip it right side up.

Also, from experience i can tell you it takes more time to change a card on a tower that is vertical then it does to spend the 6 seconds to turn it sideways and then turn it right side up again.

I unplug the power supply and hold the power button for a few seconds before opening anything. Been doing it like this since forever. Not sure if it does anything on recent motherboards, but it's supposed to drain all the power out of it.

:shrug:

 

[taltamir]

How does the procedure differ when the tower is turned on its side? I also puzzled over this question, as I just do the work with the computer in whatever orientation. If you asked me to speculate, I would guess that the actual procedure of changing the card takes the same amount of time regardless of whether the case is vertical or horizontal, so I would say it's a waste of time to take extra time to lay the case on its side. But I've never timed myself, though I am curious where the time savings would come from?

Most people keep a tower under the desk or on the desk. Such that they can not face it when working on it sideways.

They have to lean forward/kneel and then twist to the right (due to how standard cases/mobos are built)
This is a very unnatural pose to work at. Putting it sideways allows you to just lean over it and work facing forward and down.

Even if you do get directed access to it and can work on it standing up comfortably and facing forward, there is the issue of gravity getting in the way. Since components must be held in place against gravity with one arm. If the computer is sideways then components sit in place and do not fall due to gravity.

I unplug the power supply and hold the power button for a few seconds before opening anything. Been doing it like this since forever. Not sure if it does anything on recent motherboards, but it's supposed to drain all the power out of it.

:shrug:

Unplugging it is no different then turning the switch...
As far as draining the mobo... the mobo itself contains insignificant amounts of electricity. It is the AC-DC converter known as the PSU that is dangerous. Its coils maintain a charge.
AFAIK:
1. holding down the button will not discharge it.
2. If it did, it probably isn't good for your mobo since it will be getting out of spec power as the capacitors discharge to nothing.
3. Never open a PSU that might still hold a charge

 

[StinkyPinky]

I changed mine a few hours ago actually. I always put mine on its side as my tower is under my desk and the angle is difficult (as is the light). Easier to just drag it out and just lay it on its side.

 

[imaheadcase]

Why is turning the tower on its side a thing you are trying to avoid? You just grab it and turn it on its side at the spot. It takes literally 3 seconds.
You should absolutely not do it while a CDROM is spinning (it will fall and make horrible noise and potentially get damaged) and its not ideal for a HDD while its working...

.

CDrom don't fail by turning it on the side. Many desktop computers have them on the side as well as Slim HTPC without any problems.

 

[richaron]

I unplug the power supply and hold the power button for a few seconds before opening anything. Been doing it like this since forever. Not sure if it does anything on recent motherboards, but it's supposed to drain all the power out of it.

It is always better to leave the power supply plugged in when working on your computer (powered down of course). This leaves the case grounded & all onboard grounds functional. Static on your body gets grounded when you handle the case, & if there is a discharge hopefully it's redirected safely.

CDrom don't fail by turning it on the side. Many desktop computers have them on the side as well as Slim HTPC without any problems.

Spinning optical disc (& platters in hdd) act like a gyroscope, turning the case while they're doing their thing makes them go funky. Could easily damage heads or at least scratch stuff up.

Edit: On topic, I place a a fair amount of force on any cards i'm inserting to make sure they are seated properly. Much easier lying down.

 

[taltamir]

CDrom don't fail by turning it on the side. Many desktop computers have them on the side as well as Slim HTPC without any problems.

CDroms work fine on the side
But I said don't do not do it while a CDROM is spinning

Don't believe me, put in a CD, wait for it to start spinning (you will hear it) and then grab your tower and turn it sideways while it is spinning.

 

[Ben90]

Even if you do get directed access to it and can work on it standing up comfortably and facing forward, there is the issue of gravity getting in the way. Since components must be held in place against gravity with one arm. If the computer is sideways then components sit in place and do not fall due to gravity.

Good point, I couldn't even imagine trying to hold a videocard against gravity with one arm. Some of the bigger ones must weigh upwards of three pounds.

 

[taltamir]

Good point, I couldn't even imagine trying to hold a videocard against gravity with one arm. Some of the bigger ones must weigh upwards of three pounds.

It isn't a matter of it being heavy.

1 Arm to hold the video card
1 Arm to hold the screw in place
1 Arm to screw it in with a screwdriver

Let me know when you grow a third arm.

Also even if you work around it (start the screw in with your finger and then finish) one of your arms is in there and in the way, blocking your access and restricting your body's mobility if screwing with right hand... or forcing you to screw with your left hand.

 

[Ferzerp]

I changed mine last week. Popped the side off, unplugged supplimental power, unscrewed it, popped the PCIe x16 clip, slid it out. Reversed the steps to install. Never laid the case on its side.

If you have things under it, the bracket rests on what's below it anyway. It's not like all the weight goes on the socket.

 

[KingFatty]

One issue that bothered me is when the screw fell into the computer case, when the tower is laying on its side. everything falls down and hits the motherboard and can get stuck. I like that when the tower is vertical, when i drop things they fall down on the ground or into the base of the tower where they are easy to pull out, and don't risk falling on the mobo to knock out a resistor or something.

So maybe for butterfingers there is a tangible risk of destroying your computer when you lay it on its side and drop something, like if you are using a tool like a sledgehammer or something heavy (that's a joke, but I have dropped my screwdriver before...)?

Also, is it an actual risk of damage to the card if you let it hang there by its own weight when the tower is vertical? My experience has been that the video card is light enough where you can slot it in sideways, and the screw holes will remain lined up. If there is some wiggle-room, maybe the card will tilt down a bit and the screw hole will be slightly off, but that's easy to address when you finger-start the screw, and can literally align the card using the screw inserted into the card because the misalignment is very slight.

But maybe there are certain video cards that are so heavy they pull themselves out of the slot or break/splinter the PCB of the video card? I just figure the cards are too strong, as are the PCIe connectors on the motherboard? Am I being too naive here, or is there actual risk? Does this come down to preference or how clumsy you are?