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5870 in Antec P180
- Thread starter Cavallino
- Start date
I was able to easily fit a 5870 in the my P180, but then I already had the hard drive cage removed. In fact that way there is so much space you could easily fit a 5970 as well. 
Was using 2 HDD's in the lower chamber. I say was as I've now transfered everything into a lancool K7 instead.
If you have the case already, a quick measure of the distance between the back of the case and the hdd cage would show you if it would fit. You do have to be carefull where you put the HDD though.
Thankfully the power connectors are on the top of the card rather then the end, so no need for additional clearance for those.
Was using 2 HDD's in the lower chamber. I say was as I've now transfered everything into a lancool K7 instead.
If you have the case already, a quick measure of the distance between the back of the case and the hdd cage would show you if it would fit. You do have to be carefull where you put the HDD though.
Thankfully the power connectors are on the top of the card rather then the end, so no need for additional clearance for those.
Ok, just done a quick measurement - its approx 27.5 - 28 cm's from back of the blacking plate to front of the hdd cage. The 5870 is apparently 27 cm's long - so it's going to be tight. Also, the tags/clips of the hdd trays in the cage stick out a fair bit, so you'll probably have to remove one of those.
So long as your HDD isn't in the path of the card, you may just be able to squeeze it in - pending cables etc. However its a lot more convenient to fit the hdd in the lower chamber - and you can fit 3 in there instead of 2 (or 1 after fitting the 5870).
So in answer to your question - yes, it WILL fit, just you may have to remove the cage for convenience.
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Ok, just done a quick measurement - its approx 27.5 - 28 cm's from back of the blacking plate to front of the hdd cage. The 5870 is apparently 27 cm's long - so it's going to be tight. Also, the tags/clips of the hdd trays in the cage stick out a fair bit, so you'll probably have to remove one of those.
So long as your HDD isn't in the path of the card, you may just be able to squeeze it in - pending cables etc. However its a lot more convenient to fit the hdd in the lower chamber - and you can fit 3 in there instead of 2 (or 1 after fitting the 5870).
So in answer to your question - yes, it WILL fit, just you may have to remove the cage for convenience.
Mmm, to be honest I prefer the HD on the runners in the middle cage as opposed to mounting them directly onto the bottom cage... thats my gripe really...
But thanks for checking fizzy and all!
I have 4 hard drives in the bottom cage, they are sound proofed with rubber mounts, they are in between 2 x 120mm fans in a wind tunnel at the end of which is a PSU with a 140mm fan. They will probably be more reliable here than anywhere else.
As for mounting them vertically, I didn't hear of any problems before and I have had my case for about 3 years, only 1 HD a Maxtor diamondmax 10 died.
As for mounting them vertically, I didn't hear of any problems before and I have had my case for about 3 years, only 1 HD a Maxtor diamondmax 10 died.
The whole point of the upper cage is flexilility. If you need a lot of drive you can have then and add an extra fan, if not you can remove them and fit huge graphics cards.
I don't understand what the gripe is really. It's cooler in the lower chamber (people forget how hot a hd can get), further from you so quieter and lets you fit a beefy card... Mounting a HD vertically shouldn't cause any problem, I've got my western digitals in the smae place they were when I got my 182 (when it came out) with no issues. Haven't heard of any either.
I don't understand what the gripe is really. It's cooler in the lower chamber (people forget how hot a hd can get), further from you so quieter and lets you fit a beefy card... Mounting a HD vertically shouldn't cause any problem, I've got my western digitals in the smae place they were when I got my 182 (when it came out) with no issues. Haven't heard of any either.
No gripe Azuse. I dont know where my lower HD cage is (Its not in the case) and I remember the last time I mounted my HD in the vertical cage there was a considerable more vibration through the case than the horizontal one (which would make sense since you are mounting the HD directly (via the rubber gromits) onto the cage whereas the horizontal one you are mounting it onto a tray and then sliding that tray onto the cage.
Ok - I tried fitting my 5870 into my P180 with the top cage installed. Its actually a very tight fit. It fitted, just - but the red plastic around the holes at the back of the card was pushing slightly against the edge of the cage. 
Took a couple of pics - as I said I've rehoused everything into another case, hence why there's no board etc. Also the hard disks would definitely cause an issue if installed, and you'd only get away with using one...possibly none at all looking at the pic, depending on where the card slots line up on the motherboard etc...
Took a couple of pics - as I said I've rehoused everything into another case, hence why there's no board etc. Also the hard disks would definitely cause an issue if installed, and you'd only get away with using one...possibly none at all looking at the pic, depending on where the card slots line up on the motherboard etc...
Many thanks fizzy, thats exactly what I was looking for. I appreciate it.
To me it looks like it can fit, but I assume the red exhaust bits are touching the HD cage? Im sure that will probably cause a little bit of additional vibration from the fans on the 5870 no?
To me it looks like it can fit, but I assume the red exhaust bits are touching the HD cage? Im sure that will probably cause a little bit of additional vibration from the fans on the 5870 no?
Yes, as I mentioned the red exhaust bits are touching/pressed against the lower/inner edge of the hdd cage. Not sure how much vibration it would pass through the case though, as it's a reinforced/stiffened card and is already going to be screwed into the backplate?
I guess you could file back the rounded edging at the effected area, but not sure what effect that would have on the rigidity of the cage.
The other option would be to fit the HDD into one of the 5.25 bays with a suitable adapter - but cooling won't be as good obviously.
Or... go with a 5850, since they're shorter - or an alternative cooling version of the 5870 (or the msi custom shorter board version?) - since it's the red bits of the standard housing that's catching.
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Any excuse to use the Dremel eh ?
Cheers guys. I currently have two 5770s in crossfire and was just thinking about selling them and going for a single 5870, but Im not sure if there is any real advantage to be had tbh (aside from having one source of heat as opposed to two - oh and one fan as opposed to two.)
Cheers guys. I currently have two 5770s in crossfire and was just thinking about selling them and going for a single 5870, but Im not sure if there is any real advantage to be had tbh (aside from having one source of heat as opposed to two - oh and one fan as opposed to two.)