Full Width mATX desktops getting smaller, has anyone tried to add a dual slot card to this desktop?

[cbn]

I noticed the following Dell Optiplex 3040 Micro Tower (full width mATX desktop) is really small (14.9 liters, which is even smaller than a Coolermaster Elite 110 Mini-ITX case which is 15.3L)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883159482&ignorebbr=1

So I wondered if anyone tried to install a dual slot video card either in this chassis or one just like it (based on a previous model)? If so, how long of a card were you able to get in? (Looking in the Optiplex 3040 Mini Tower owners manual on page 12, it does appear that there could be more room than expected. This due the cover (holding the 5.25" and 3.5" bay) swinging out and away for an expansion card install).

P.S. PSU in this Micro Tower is rated at 240W, but I don't know how many amps and whether or not it is single or multiple 12v rail. Apparently there are two different types though:

Standard 240W PSU Active
PFC
240W up to 85% Efficient PSU (80 PLUS
Bronze) ENERGY STAR complaint, Active PFC
240W up to 92% Efficient PSU (80 PLUS
Platinum); ENERGY STAR complaint, Active
PFC

 

[cbn]

Found the following review of the Dell Optiplex 5040 Micro Tower (which is a higher end Dell Skylake model compared to the 3000 series that appears to have the identical chassis):

http://www.itpro.co.uk/desktop-pcs/26537/dell-optiplex-5040-mini-tower-review

^^^ Those pictures make it look like there is some good room in there for a dual slot video card (though I wonder how tall that heatsink next to the PCIe x 16 slot is in the second picture?)

 

[cbn]

Did some research on previous Dell SFF 240W PSUs and I saw 17amps on a single 12v rail on the ones I looked at.

 

[daxzy]

I noticed the following Dell Optiplex 3040 Micro Tower (full width ATX desktop) is really small (14.9 liters, which is even smaller than a Coolermaster Elite 110 Mini-ITX case which is 15.3L)

So I wondered if anyone tried to install a dual slot video card either in this chassis or one just like it (based on a previous model)? If so, how long of a card were you able to get in? (Looking in the Optiplex 3040 Mini Tower owners manual on page 12, it does appear that there could be more room than expected. This due the cover (holding the 5.25" and 3.5" bay) swinging out and away for an expansion card install).

P.S. PSU in this Micro Tower is rated at 240W, but I don't know how many amps and whether or not it is single or multiple 12v rail. Apparently there are two different types though:

I had to do a double take to check if that was 14.9L displacement, and yes it was. I find it super ironic (like you mentioned) that all these "small" ITX cases have 15-30L displacements.

You'd probably be looking at a GTX 1050Ti (beware, as some require PCI-E power). From the looks of it, you might need a card that doesn't have much of a protruding heatsink/fan assembly from the top.

Maybe something like this?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814487291

 

[dave_the_nerd]

microATX, not ATX. (Only four expansion slots.)

 

[Valantar]

I had to do a double take to check if that was 14.9L displacement, and yes it was. I find it super ironic (like you mentioned) that all these "small" ITX cases have 15-30L displacements.

Most of those have room for ATX PSUs and a few 3,5" drives, not to mention not-crappy CPU coolers and fans for airflow. I'm not saying that oversized ITX cases aren't somewhat silly, it's just that up until recently, builders didn't have much choice in compact components. Today is radically better than two years ago in terms of compact GPUs, SFX PSUs, AIO watercoolers and tiny SSDs.

Also, you have cases like the Cerberus that fit an ATX PSU, mATX mobo and we mostly whatever else you want into around 18L, with a lot more flexibility and expandability than the case in question here.

 

[cbn]

microATX, not ATX. (Only four expansion slots.)

Title changed.