Graphic card hides needed PCIe x1 skt

[traceyw]

Hi

I am seeking help regarding an Nvidia GTX260 graphic card we have but which takes up two slots on the mobo. In the process the GTX260 hides a PCIe x1 socket required to install a TV capture card. As a result the Nvidia card is not currently installed because it hides the PCIe x1 socket and I'm still using a very old video card (an ATI X1950 card with 256Mb ram) although to be fair it has served me very well up to now.

So far I've been happy using the Windows Classic layout but now I'd like to join the rest of the Windows 7 community and start using the aero facility. Yesterday I tried setting up and using the aero facility only to find the graphic card is not fully up to it. However, I believe the Nvidia card we have should, I think, be man enough to run the TV card and other things I do at the same time.

This is where my question comes in. Is there any way I can connect the TV card to the PCIe x1 and have the GTX260 installed??? I've been looking at flexible PCIe x1 adapters but cannot sort out in my own mind exactly how they could possibly be used. Does anyone have any suggestions or is it a case of biting the bullet and finding a single width graphic card? Yes, I know a new computer would be great but we are pensioners and cannot afford to splash out on such luxuries.

If anyone has any ideas of how I can install both the TV card and the Nvidia GTX260 double width card please let me know - it would be very much appreciated. Thanks.

Tracey

 

[TVeblen]

The Gigabyte GA-EP41-UD3L has 7 expansion slots. 1 PCI-e x16, 3 PCI-e x1, and 3 PCI.
The 260 graphics card will cover the expansion slot directly below it, but the second one down should be clear. Do you have something installed in that one?
How about the PCI-e x1 slot directly above the graphics slot? Will the tuner co into there?

 

[traceyw]

Hi

Thanks for your response but I've failed to update my spec. Early this year I built my husband a new PC and took on his old one which had a somewhat faster processor. So I no longer have the EP41 UD3L mobo but an MSI P45 Neo3-FR. This has only one PCIe x1 skt right next to the graphic card slot. Had I still had the EP41 UD3L I would never have put up the message in the first place. I'm sorry to have misled anyone.

Tracey

 

[TVeblen]

Oh. Bummer.
With only one PCI-e slot under the graphics card you are SOOL. (Out Of Luck).

This is one of the more legitimate reasons to need to upgrade a motherboard (aka: the whole system).

 

[Shimshom]

You can always try a riser card with a flexible cable such as the example below

Amazon.com: HOTER PCI-E Express 1X Riser Card with Flexible Cable: Computers & Accessories

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

You can always try a riser card with a flexible cable such as the example below

Amazon.com: HOTER PCI-E Express 1X Riser Card with Flexible Cable: Computers & Accessories

The GPU would block even that.

 

[traceyw]

Hi All

Thanks for all your replies but the more I thought about it the more I was convinced I needed to get a more up-to-date single slot graphics card. Ended up going for a Gigabyte GT610 with 2Gb RAM (Model GV-N610D3-2GI) from Amazon UK. Seems all other graphic cards since the have been dual slot, leastways I've not found any yet. Cost just 40GBP inc postage. Ordered it Thursday evening arrived today (Sat). Installed it about 45 minutes ago and it seems to be doing what I want.

Anyway thanks for your replies but lets call this thread now closed.

Tracey

 

[Papasquee]

You can always plug a PCIeX1 expansion card into a PCIeX16 slot. Just make sure the Pins line up with the socket contacts and secure the card with a screw. I run my Hauppauge T.V. card and my Soundblaster X-Fi Titanium this way. Expansion slot architecture is such that the pins you need to use are the proper ones. This will also work for a PCIeX8 slot (or a PCIeX8 card in a PCIeX16 slot).