mini tower video card upgrade

[Hooahguy]

my little bro wants to upgrade the video card for our desktop, which is a mini tower. since as far as i can tell, the port is smaller than in a normal tower, do i need a certain kind of video card?

[{BHC}HolySpagetty]

Depends, does he have a x16 slot?

If so, I would go for an 8600GT for low budget, and a 9800GT for like $150, and if he really wants a card, go for the 280.

Yeah, i'd stick with nVidia. ATI FTL. :smash:

[Hooahguy]

but does a mini tower accept a type of video card for a normal tower? and it does have a x16 slot as well as a x1 slot. and its black, which i assume indicates PCI-E. does anyone have a good card for under $75 that would be able to play BF2142? thats the whole reason why he wants this card.

[Hooahguy]

btw, here is the computer- note its "slim" body, my cause for concern that the new video card wont fit.
http://i.dell.com/resize.aspx/inspndt_530s_314_not_rel/200

[caravel]

If it's a slimline lower, then you may need the low profile card bracket. Some cards ship with these and some do not. It's worth asking before you buy.

[Hooahguy]

what do you mean by "slimline lower"?

[Hooahguy]

ok, so here are some pics:

an overlook of the computer:
https://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa73/hooahguy14/overlook-6.jpg

a closer look:
https://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa73/hooahguy14/closerlook.jpg

a blurry pic of the PCI-e slot, or so i assume (can someone clarify this?)
https://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa73/hooahguy14/pcie.jpg

and finally the comparison between the port for a normal tower CPU and a slim CPU.
you can see how the slim one has a smaller opening, my cause for concern.
https://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa73/hooahguy14/different.jpg

[caravel]

You've answered your own question. Any adaptor cards you buy will need the shorter bracket, otherwise they won't fit. You will simply have to ask before you buy.

[Hooahguy]

but how do i ask from a site such as Newegg or tigerdirect?
does low profile video cards have smaller brakets?

[Geezer57]

but how do i ask from a site such as Newegg or tigerdirect?
does low profile video cards have smaller brakets?

I don't shop TigerDirect, but Newegg has photos of almost all their merchandise. You should be able to determine from that which models are low-profile enough to fit the slimline case.

[Hooahguy]

meh. i cant really tell the difference....

[Hooahguy]

how does this one look?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814139018

[Geezer57]

how does this one look?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814139018
I don't know if that GPU is stout enough to satisfy your younger brother's desire for the games he wants to play, but this image (http://www.newegg.com/Product/ShowImage.aspx?CurImage=14-139-018-S05&ISList=14-139-018-S01%2c14-139-018-S02%2c14-139-018-S03%2c14-139-018-S04%2c14-139-018-S05&S7ImageFlag=1&Item=N82E16814139018&Depa=0&WaterMark=1&Description=JATON%20GeForce%208400%20GS%20Video-PX8400GS_LX%20Video%20Card%20-%20Retail) shows two low-profile backplates included in the box with the card, one for DVI/TV-out, the other for the VGA D-sub connector. They'll take up two expansion slots, one directly behind the card, the other just off to one side. You'll have to dismount the original backplate (by removing 4 hex-head fasteners using a nut driver), and replace the single backplate with the two new ones. If you can live with that, it should work for you.

This card (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814162016) is out of your budget, but with the $25 rebate it gets closer - plus it's much more powerful and already has the low-profile backplate mounted (as you can see here: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ShowImage.aspx?CurImage=14-162-016-S06&ISList=14-162-016-S01%2c14-162-016-S02%2c14-162-016-S03%2c14-162-016-S04%2c14-162-016-S05%2c14-162-016-S06&S7ImageFlag=1&Item=N82E16814162016&Depa=0&WaterMark=1&Description=Galaxy%20GeForce%209600%20GT%2096GFF6VIFCXX%20Video%20Card%20-%20Retail). The 5-egg rating doesn't hurt, either! :beam:

[Hooahguy]

thanks!