Adding cards to small form factor PC's

Maxwell

Hi There,

I have a Dell small form factor PC and have never touched it, and since now I was hoping to add a TV Card to it, I see that they wouldn't fit as naturally (becuase of the size)

What is the way around this - yes, I presume I can go USB but that makes it very,very messy going forward if I want to add more.

This is probably a stupid question, please do they make PCI cards suitable for small form factor PC's?

I would appreciate some comments and help if possible?

Thanks

mp3guy

well, take a look inside and see how much space you have. You wouldn't have PCI slots if you couldn't use them

egan007

the card itself will fit.
The problem is the metal strip - it's designed for atx cases
You have 2 options - Unscrew the metal strip from the card and put on for mini atx -might be hard to find for your card...or
Get a hack saw and a plyers - cut the metal strip and bend the top to fit into the slot.
I used this second method with a modem. Takes a few minutes but costs nothing

Maxwell

Excellent thanks for that - will give it a go to see what happens!

Appreciate your help!

Maxwell

Lads, this doesn't work as the card it definitely at least 1 - 1 and a half inches bigger than the machine width - even if I was to pull back the metal, it won't physically fit?

This is the machine in question:


Is that not strange or it is like that because it a business PC?

Should it not be allowed to add PCI cards?

Help!

astrofool

you need a half size PCI card. Cheap graphics cards, and alot of network cards come this way (also used in 1U servers).

vibe666

have you tried ringing dell?

if they think they can sell you something they'll bend over backwards to help.

if they have something that they think will fit, then get the details off them (what spec it is, who it's made by, what the model number of it is etc.

then tell them to feck off and do a google or rebay search for it and you'll most likely find it cheaper somewhere else.

dell have been know to make 'non-standard' parts in the past so you have to buy upgrades off them. sneaky buggers.

ebay has a wealth of info that might help you.

have a look for tv card on the site and see which oens have a low form factor and compare that to what you have now.

worth a go.

Maxwell

Excellent stuff - thanks!

Will ring Dell to see what the story is - although the reason I ask is that I got a PCI card TV adapter that I got with an Xbox and was to be used for playing the xbox on a computer monitor instead of the tv (to keep the wife happy!!)

Feck it, its no use now to me.

Thanks for all the help!

vibe666

Max, what model is the TV card? I might be looking for one depending on if it has a line out or not.