Looking to upgrade my HD6950 (Accidentally ordered a GPU too big!)

Malmortius · 5 Jan 2015 at 17:42

Hey guys. In my other thread i received good info to upgrade my GPU and i decided on a TRI-X r9 290.
My "Sapphire Radeon R9 290 Tri-X OC 4096MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card" arrived today and i realised... its too big for my case. Lesson learned.
I'm getting a refund on it so thats no problem(awesome overclockers) but i have a few more questions so i dont make the same mistake.

I think the problem was, the TRI-X is bigger than a normal r9 290 right? I got mixed up with the sizes, as i was convinced it was smaller.
The TRI-X is 305mm, and my 6950 is only 260. I think i have room for about a 260-290 length GPU.

My specs are

AMD HD6950 2gb
8GB DDR RAM
Intel core i5 CPU 760 @ 2.80 GHz 3.8GHz overclocked
600w psu (Corsair)

Do you have any recommendations for a suitable graphics card?
Also, am i able to order a new GPU before ive sent this R9 290 so i dont have to wait another week?

FlyingPig · 5 Jan 2015 at 17:52

If I were you I'd wait a few weeks as one of the upcoming GTX 960's might be perfect for you, unless you want to stick with AMD.

Malmortius · 5 Jan 2015 at 17:54

FlyingPig said:
If I were you I'd wait a few weeks as one of the upcoming GTX 960's might be perfect for you, unless you want to stick with AMD.

Yeah, i think i want to stick with amd.

kmax86 · 5 Jan 2015 at 17:55

How about the 970 mini-itx edition? They are like 17cm so it will fit for sure. Might look crap if you got a big case though plus the extra cost.

Malmortius · 5 Jan 2015 at 17:58

kmax86 said:
How about the 970 mini-itx edition? They are like 17cm so it will fit for sure. Might look crap if you got a big case though plus the extra cost.

I think i'd like to stick with AMD, but ill go to nvidia if i need to.

Malmortius · 5 Jan 2015 at 18:11

Are there any R9 290s that are smaller than the TRI-X? Overclockers doesnt list dimensions which is a shame.

kmax86 · 5 Jan 2015 at 18:17

Just did a quick search and it seems the MSI 290 Gaming might be one
Card Dimension(mm) 276x127x39mm
http://eu.msi.com/product/vga/R9_290_GAMING_4G.html#hero-specification

Malmortius · 5 Jan 2015 at 18:17

kmax86 said:
Just did a quick search and it seems the MSI 290 Gaming might be one
Card Dimension(mm) 276x127x39mm
http://eu.msi.com/product/vga/R9_290_GAMING_4G.html#hero-specification

Ah, this one? Seems great.
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-239-MS&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=1752

What do you guys think, does this seem suitable?

danjama · 5 Jan 2015 at 18:44

I've recently installed a gigabyte r290 which is 285mm by my calculations

Malmortius · 5 Jan 2015 at 18:50

danjama said:
I've recently installed a gigabyte r290 which is 285mm by my calculations

I'm a moron. Any other card would have fit, but i had to order one of the biggest... Eh.

pastymuncher · 5 Jan 2015 at 18:58

What case do you have? If it's a "normal" size case can't you mod it by removing a drive cage so that the card can fit? They are usually only riveted in and the rivets can be easily drilled out.

Malmortius · 5 Jan 2015 at 19:06

pastymuncher said:
What case do you have? If it's a "normal" size case can't you mod it by removing a drive cage so that the card can fit? They are usually only riveted in and the rivets can be easily drilled out.

I did think that myself, but then what would be supporting the harddrive?

It may just be easier to show you. The pc is almost 4 years old. Pardon the dust. Wouldn't it be easier just buying a smaller card? (The one kmax linked)

kmax86 · 5 Jan 2015 at 20:13

I think it would be better to get the exact dimensions the case can have for the graphics card. 260-290 mm is still quite a big range.

Once you have the maximum length for the card it will be easier to pick

EDIT: The MSI Gaming is 276mm according to their website but if your case can only take 260mm you will have to return it again.

Malmortius · 5 Jan 2015 at 20:18

kmax86 said:
I think it would be better to get the exact dimensions the case can have for the graphics card. 260-290 mm is still quite a big range.

Once you have the maximum length for the card it will be easier to pick

well, the tri-x is 305 and it was about half an inch too long.

At 276 http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-239-MS&tool=3 it seems like there would be plenty of space.

Also, do you think OCUK would mind if i ordered it while i'm waiting to return the Tri-X? I'm getting a refund on it, im just not sure if it'd be alright to buy as im sending something back.

kmax86 · 5 Jan 2015 at 20:25

Dimension wise it will be your call. Personally I dont like it when its very close as I prefer the extra space in case of cables / other stuff get in the way.

Regarding the re-order, it will be better if you ask on the CS section as the OcUk staff will know better

GefGz · 5 Jan 2015 at 20:36

Could have just shoved the HDD in the 5.25in bay with some bungies and removed the cage to fit the card?

Malmortius · 5 Jan 2015 at 20:39

GefGz said:
Could have just shoved the HDD in the 5.25in bay with some bungies and removed the cage to fit the card?

The fact that i didnt understand 80% of what you just said leads me to believe i would mess something up. Its probably best just to buy a smaller card.

nutsnut · 5 Jan 2015 at 20:41

is there a thumb screw missing from that H50 cooler?

Malmortius · 5 Jan 2015 at 20:50

nutsnut said:
is there a thumb screw missing from that H50 cooler?

If you mean the part near the cpu, nope. All 4 are screwed in.

GefGz · 5 Jan 2015 at 20:52

Malmortius said:
The fact that i didnt understand 80% of what you just said leads me to believe i would mess something up. Its probably best just to buy a smaller card.

5.25inch bays are the ones used for CD drives, the one above your hard drive cage, bungies are a way of mounting hard drives

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18269719

Or if you wanted to do a less pretty but just as good solution.. get a hacksaw and cut the top half of the 3.5inch hard drive cage off