I've just had to remeasure the case as I didn't expect the PSU cables not to be long enough to relocate the HDD. I'm now restricted to an 8inch (20.3cm) GFX card, so it looks like I will be stuck with low profile short GFX cards (trying to find one with dual DVI, seems to be impossible).
Hi Ross
I work a lot with graphics and 3D cadcam, 2 of my major programs on their next release require win7 64bit. Since I use these all of the time I decided to just buy a whole new system with some good parts. Here is the configuration; Asus motherboard with Intel I7 2.83, 8GB ram, Asus gtx480-15mb, 1TB drive, 27" Asus HD monitor. Hopefully this will keep me going for a long time. It's a little crazy trying to network the Win7 with the XP systems but I'll get there.
My other machines use GTX9800 boards and they are really good and not as expensive.
Laughing at some saying their 480 is great, DUH.
Oops I missed the 2nd page, I wish card dimensions was given in specs.
Get cables extensions if that is the problem.
4870 should be good choice for your needs.
How much too long, it looks like a 4850 is shorter than a 4870, in pictures with these two cards by SOME.
4850: Newegg.com - HIS H485FM1GH Radeon HD 4850 1GB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card
vs
4870:
Newegg.com - ASUS EAH4870/2DI/1GD5 Radeon HD 4870 1GB 256-bit DDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card
4850 is decent card if stuck going that route also.
Thanks for the reply.
The 4870 is a bit too long by a mere 4.7cm
I'm confused.
I checked the Inspiron 530 at support.dell.com. It looks like it would accept a longish, full-height graphics card, although it might require the HD to be moved to the location of the optional second HD. (That's right next to the normal HD location, as you know.) Dell doesn't provide cables that support that location? A little Web searching found at least one user who used a normal-sized 4870, although he/she had to remove the HD from the #1 position.
It looks like the case doesn't require low-profile cards at all.
If your machine is a 530S (slim), it's another story. Low profile would be your only option. If you need two DVI ports, that makes it harder. I see that they make some nVidia Geforce 210 low-profile cards with DLP outputs. (That has a single many-pin output connector on the card itself, with a Y adapter after to provide two independent DVI ports.)
Perhaps you could verify which Inspiron you have.
Hi,
I have the Inspiron 530 but the second optical drive bay is in use. I was going to put the drive 1 on it's side rather than vertical, but the PSU connections prevented me from doing so.
Cheers,
Ross
Glad that it's not a 530S.
Perhaps I'm being dense, but it looks like you should be moving the HD to the location for an optional second drive:
Attachment 81630
Last edited by bobkn; 02 Apr 2012 at 21:53.
Here is a follow up article with new drivers that seems to have solved the 2D problem.
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/ati-2d-performance-radeon-hd-5000,2635.htm
Jim
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