Graphics Card not fitting PCI-E slot

[AledJ]

Had a system built by Scan which had the Rampage V Extreme ASUS motherboard in it, and had the MSI GTX 980 Ti Twin Frozr already in my old system ready to go in to the new one. Problem is when I installed my gfx card I noticed that the SATA power connectors in the bottom right might block it, and sure enough I could not push the gfx card in enough to get the clip to close. So I had to make sure that the gold connectors of the gfx were in enough and put the teo screws in at the back of the case, but even now I find it annoying. How can a company liek ASUS make a motherboard with a stupid design for the SATA power connectors? I mean why put them at the same height as the PCI-E slot? You would have thought that they would have know that there are some long cards out there, and so would have made sure to deisgn the motherboard with this in mind!

Now my question is can I use this to bring the card away slightly, or will this not work at all?

[malfunction]

I presume you mean the SATA ports (data) rather than power. Seems very odd that the SATA ports would be high enough to stop a PCI-E card going all the way in. I have a 970 Twin Frozr (which looks like it uses the same heatsink) and 90 degree SATA ports on my motherboard which the 970 overhangs and there's 1 or 2 mm between the bottom of the card and the top of the SATA ports.

You probably could raise the card up but you'd need to make sure there were no clearance issues at the top of the card (probably not in most cases) and also find a way to secure the back plate of the card to the case (e.g. longer screws or some sort of alternate arrangement - cable ties worst case) otherwise I suspect the card will droop.

[AledJ]

See this page which if you scroll down you can see in the bottom right hand corner, then look at where the PCI-E slot is. The 980ti card length is 269mm which means the SAT ports are in the way, and I cant figure out what my options are. Can't believe that ASUS have been this stupid!!

[malfunction]

I see what you mean but I'm still surprised. Are you sure the back plate for the 980 Ti is sitting properly in the back of the case? If that isn't all the way in the card will be at an angle - high at the back - and hence the other end (where the SATA ports are) will be lower than normal - e.g.

http://www.overclock.net/t/1510001/a...rs-thread/5850

[AledJ]

I can'y see how my card will move any futher to the left to make room in the right corner



I have read that thread before but still can not see how my acrd can fit in.

I am in process of sending this card back to scan to exchange for a EVGA GTX 980 Ti FTW Overclocked, the reson being that the MSI has increased buzzing noise way above normal coil whine. The length of the EVGA card is 226.7mm same the overclock thread so that should at least fit, but the MSI most certainly does not. And in case Scan turn my RMA request down, then I want to try and make this fit.

[peterb]

Not sure if I've missed something, but there are 4 PCI-e slots, can you use the bottom one on the board? (Bottom in the photo in the link you referenced)

[malfunction]

I didn't mean move it further left, I was wondering - as per the thread on overclock.net - if the bottom of the PCI bracket was slotted in place properly. I haven't had an issue in ages but I know with some cases it can be quite hard to line the bottom of the bracket up with the recess in the case, e.g. whereas the blanking plates that come with the case typically overlap outside of the case like this:



Actual PCI cards (PCI-E, X, etc) have to have the bottom part of the bracket go between the inside of the case and the motherboard like this:



As before I haven't had an issue getting it right in ages but I can remember it being quite difficult with some cases and especially so for longer cards. Especially cases that have a kind of slot in the case itself at the bottom of the bracket bit like this:

[GoNz0]

bottom ones only a pcie-8 in hiding in a 16x holder, so no.

Asus told me my case was the reason my asus 980 strix hit the heatsink over the backplates I/O even when I explained I had assembled out of the case and the card would not fit in the top slot without catching the heatsink, only way was to allow the card to droop on it's own weight until I got a EK backplate and cut the corner out to make it fit.

That was the end of me being an asus fan. Even after repeating this was out of the case I was still told that the case was to blame.

[AledJ]

Not sure if I've missed something, but there are 4 PCI-e slots, can you use the bottom one on the board? (Bottom in the photo in the link you referenced)

Annoyingly, the SATA ports run all the way down stopping just before the PCI-E 8_4 slot right at the bottom, but I thought my card would need to have a PCI-E X16_1 slot like the first one.

[peterb]

Annoyingly, the SATA ports run all the way down stopping just before the PCI-E 8_4 slot right at the bottom, but I thought my card would need to have a PCI-E X16_1 slot like the first one.

I thought it was too obvious a solution... But worth mentioning just in case

[AledJ]

I didn't mean move it further left, I was wondering - as per the thread on overclock.net - if the bottom of the PCI bracket was slotted in place properly. I haven't had an issue in ages but I know with some cases it can be quite hard to line the bottom of the bracket up with the recess in the case, e.g. whereas the blanking plates that come with the case typically overlap outside of the case like this:

Im not sure im just tired but I cant picture what you mean? Did try to clcik on the links, but they are not working.

[AledJ]

I thought it was too obvious a solution... But worth mentioning just in case

When I noticed the issue I thought I had found the solution...........................I then reliesed I could not put my card there because its pci-e 8

[malfunction]

Im not sure im just tired but I cant picture what you mean? Did try to clcik on the links, but they are not working.

I've converted them over to in line images. They're working fine for me even in another browser so I don't think there's any hot link prevention going on?

Based on Gonzo's comments - assembling outside of the case still causing issues - it probably isn't your alignment / case causing the issue but I thought it was worth a punt. I've just checked the specs on my 970 and it is the same length and sits just above my SATA ports just fine so it does sound like a mobo issue (though why they'd use taller than usual SATA connectors is beyond me).

This is my 970 for what it's worth - has no problem sitting over the right angled SATA ports (on my completely different motherboard, obviously). As before, there's 1mm or so between the top of the SATA ports and the bottom of the card:

[GoNz0]

virtually a dead fit on mine, it is dark and heavy so the best I did was to shove a business card between the sata port and the 980, I had to force it and you could see the card lift.

try screwing the card into the case and then see if that's enough to pop it in the clip pcie clip?

I do wonder if the case is contributing to the issue.