Upgrade Help Needed

[AmpedSilence]

Alright, so i have a EPoX 9nPA+ motherboard and a BFG 7800GTOC vid card.

I just bought that x1900 AIW that was on sale on the ati site. The damn thing doesn't fit! The IDE port are in the way, but i have a burner and a harddrive in there so i cant take then out...

Suggestions?

 

[corkyg]

Is it PCI Express or AGP? It comes in two different flavors. They are not interchangeable. You probably require the AGP version.

 

[AmpedSilence]

nah, have a PCI Express 7800GTOC, plus the epox board doesnt have an AGP slot.

 

[AmpedSilence]

Actually, just realized that the computer i am working on is in my Sig, Its NightCrawler.

 

[PianoMan]

Umm... I don't think you have much options:

1) Change out mobo (ugh).

2) Go SATA (double ugh).

Due to the bulk of the IDE cables, I don't think there's a way to "snug them in under the card."

Maybe some else has a creative idea, but I'm at a loss for options here.

PM

 

[AmpedSilence]

do they make reasonably priced optical drives?

really dont want to change out the MB, thats just a pain. I can just keep the card around for when i build a conroe system if that is the case.

 

[Sniper82]

are you using round cables? If so I would suggest removing them and putting normal ones in there. You might be able to run them flat so the card will fit.

 

[AmpedSilence]

i am running rounded cables; i think i am going to have to swap them out with flat ones.... Thanks Sniper

 

[Bobthelost]

You could get a PCI IDE card. Won't cost a fortune to get one online and it means you don't have to swap the motherboard out.

 

[dBTelos]

Putting in flat IDE cables raises about half a CM over the IDE slot. They should fit.

 

[PianoMan]

Yes, hopefully those IDE cables will fit. *crosses fingers* GL!

You could get a PCI IDE card. Won't cost a fortune to get one online and it means you don't have to swap the motherboard out.

Damn - now there's a "thinking out of the box" idea! :thumbsup:

PM

 

[AmpedSilence]

i think i actually have a PCI IDE card laying around somewhere... I only use the IDE slots for optical drives so the fact that it is ATA/66 won't matter, since most drives are ATA/33 anyway.... wonder how this would affect loading from CD if i need to?

Now i have somethings to try to get this to work! Very Exciting!

 

[AmpedSilence]

Sucess! switching to the flat cable allowed the card to be installed.

Increased my 3dMark06 score from 3700 to over 4400!

Thanks Guys!