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Resolved Question

PCI-E Adapter vs. Extender?

Jun 16, 2013 8:01PM PDT

Hi all, I have a video card not fitting into a case due to a large CPU fan assembly and I was just curious about the advantages and disadvantages of using a PCI-E adapter (PCI or PCI-E x1 to PCI-E x16 adapter to be exact) and/or a PCI-E x16 extender.

Which would be better? I assume the extender would be better as it still connects through the actual x16 and keeps the bandwidth intact but I was curious about how that would work, mounting-wise?

Also, would there be any benefit to using two video cards that are not Crossfire or SLI? They would be two completely different video cards - make, model, and manufacturer. I assume not, but I thought it best to ask someone who knows more.

Thanks in advance for all the help.

Discussion is locked

S1lent Echoes has chosen the best answer to their question. View answer

Best Answer

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I was hoping for model numbers on the PC and card.
Jun 18, 2013 10:43AM PDT

I think this is one of those BX based boards. I had one and gave it away after I found out how limited it was in the long run.

OK, that shroud was plastic on mine and has a lot of leeway as to it's flow. I don't see any reason to not saw it off then seal it back up with Kapton tape.
Bob.

PS. I'd shop for a shorter board since most BX systems don't have big power supplies. Did you check if the PSU is good enough for your un-named video card?

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Yeah...
Jun 18, 2013 10:53AM PDT

I already have the card in my current system with the correct power supply. I was just wanting to transport it, the PSU and a couple of other items to this aforementioned motherboard/case/etc... Which is again a temporary thing.

My current system is in bad need of an upgrade and I had already been making plans to build a new one but someone came along and just gave me this system which had a little bit better specs overall for most of the hardware. This is why I am wanting to spend as little on making this work as possible since it is just a temporary thing meant to tide me over until I can get my new system built.

As I mentioned in the last post, I think I will go ahead and try to modify that shroud. I will report back, especially if I have any problems/questions. Any tips for modifying it?

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Here the tools were simple.
Jun 19, 2013 2:53AM PDT

I marked the interfering area with marker pens. Then off to the shop bench with the Dremel and Kapton tape to seal the air hole I created.

This is a simple mechanical bit of work but today I found most folk have no background in hammers, saws or such.

That's OK. Not everyone wants to do all this.
Bob

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Thanks!
Jun 20, 2013 1:49AM PDT

Well, I got it done though it isn't pretty. I had to do quite a bit of finagling to get everything to work. Both the shroud and the rear mounting had to be adjusted to get everything to work. Even then it isn't quite "level" and I am worried about how tight the heat sink is sitting on the CPU. I know it is tight enough but I will need extensive run time to truly tell.

Still, it is all working fine, for now and again it is only temporary anyways. I appreciate all the help and feedback, thank you.

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Thanks for the update.
Jun 20, 2013 1:54AM PDT

Once you do a few of these you get more adventurous and learn where the tape and Dremel tools came in handy.
Bob

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Answer
Most folk will put the PC in a new case.
Jun 17, 2013 12:16AM PDT

And you covered the adapter versus extender difference well enough.

Both are a bad idea in the long run. Most folk don't want the extender card due to it's mechanically unstable nature.
Bob

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Agreed
Jun 17, 2013 9:11AM PDT

A new case would not solve the problem since it is the motherboard that is the problem. I live off disability so money/funds are limited and buying a new motherboard is just not an option at this point in time. This is just a temporary solution, as plans are in the works to build a new rig but these things take time (i.e. I agree with the long run bad idea but it is only temporary).

What about mounting when using an extender, how does that work?

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Here
Jun 17, 2013 9:25AM PDT

Here these extenders cost as much as a new case. So when you tell me it's the funding then I have to hear more from you as a case is pretty cheap around here. If I pick up some old computer for free then I can forgo the rear face plate and mount in the old motherboard and I'm good to go.

As to the extender how does that work, supply more details but as it stands if the seller is not talking and I can't guess which you looked at my answer is this is a dead end.
Bob

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Case is not the problem
Jun 17, 2013 1:15PM PDT

Again, the case would not solve the problem regardless, since it the mounting of the shroud/heatsink/fan assembly to the motherboard. A new case would only transplant the same motherboard.

Are all extenders that different? I mean I know there are tons of different brands out there but tons of different designs? Designs that are drastically and fundamentally different and lots of them? Surely they all reduce to a few overall designs. But that is why I am here, I honestly do not know and would like to be well informed. I am only curious about how they mount to the rear of the computer for connection to the monitor cables.

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Answer
Let's say something on the card bumps into the motherboard
Jun 17, 2013 9:27AM PDT

Years ago I had that happen and I had to saw off a portion of the heat sinks that didn't quite clear. Remember that most folk do such minor modifications but you won't find this done in most PC shops.
Bob

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Thought about it....
Jun 17, 2013 1:09PM PDT

Appreciate the feedback.

I honestly already considered that option but the one screw that goes into the heat sink (it is in a huge shroud and that is the real problem, this screw goes from the shroud to the heat sink) is right in the way. It "might" work but more likely will not. Given that it is a temporary solution only, I figured adapter/extender was the better option given the low chance that solution will work.

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If you read reviews of those extenders.
Jun 17, 2013 3:07PM PDT

You may realize why the sub 10 buck ones are a dead end. Since it's just the shroud why can't we modify that? Or what's in the way?

There are plenty of replacement chip cooling systems out there.

Wish there were pictures.
Bob

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Custom Motherboard
Jun 18, 2013 8:58AM PDT

I am thinking of modifying the shroud again, due to limited feedback on the extenders and adapters and the fact that I lose nothing even if it does not work. I still have little reason to think it will but it is worth a shot.

Again, the motherboard is custom so it is next to impossible to get a different fan/shroud/heat sink assembly for it.

Here are some pictures -

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/164459361/2013-06-18%2017.49.03.jpg
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/164459361/2013-06-18%2017.49.15.jpg
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/164459361/2013-06-18%2017.49.25.jpg
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/164459361/2013-06-18%2017.49.33.jpg

What will be next to impossible to see in those pictures is where the heat sink screws into the shroud, which is the real problem with modifying it. It is about halfway from the rear computer side of the shroud to the front computer side and almost at the very edge of the bottom side. The video card that is in there is not the one I am trying to get to fit, the one I am trying to get in there has a huge enclosure and extends to about halfway into the shroud.