Fitting ATI Radeon video cards into your computer?
 

A friend is having this issue, tried replacing an nvidia 8800 with an ATI Radeon HD 5870 video card. He says the card is much larger and it does not appear to fit properly, the connections may be loose. I thought I read similar issue for ATI cards a couples years ago for macs that they are not easy to fit in (perhaps a general issue with ATI cards compared to other brands.) Does anybody have advice about this? Is there some special installing/fitting technique for ATI cards?

I've installed ATI cards of various designs into cases of various sizes, (all PC), since '96 without ever having any problem. However, I would not be surprised if there is a problem fitting them into Macs.

Had four capacitors blow up on my 256mb card. Friend brought over a 256 card from his machine (he had upped to a 512). Card would not fit; had to cut the case. Installed card - not working. Finally got a replacement card; different brand but fits perfectly. Everything's fine now, except for the gaping hole that I cut in the back of the case.

Seems there are two sizes of cards, with the difference being between the edge of the card and it's attachment to the back of the case. Best way to test for fit might be to simply compare the cards to see if they have the same footprint.

My friend uses a normal pc not a mac. I was simply making the comment I'd read about a similar issue before. :)

hmmm...well I use ATI cards and the only Issue I've had is that I make sure there is a slot next to the card unused...

is he using an AGP or PCI card?

all of my cards have been AGP....

I second the suggestion from Peerless; video cards get Hot.

there is empty slot ... more than one, it's PCI-E (PCI-express)

well, I've never worked on anything newer than my Asus p4c800 MoBo so I must say I'm rather clueless about this problem...

I do know that many times the screw that attaches cards to the case is what really hold them in place and many times helps seat the sucker in place...

does the card look similar to this one with the 'hook' on the fin furthest from the case end?

http://www.itreviews.co.uk/graphics/...dware/h666.jpg

from what I'm seeing in other images that hook is locked in place by a mechanism on the end of the pci-e slot and that should hold everything nicely along with the case screw

My friend is an internet friend I have not personally seen their ati card or computer.
oops your image is not working Peerless. ;)

Some googled images ATI Radeon HD 5870 Review > Radeon HD 5870 - Card - TechSpot

ATI Radeon HD 5870 Review - TechSpot

oops had to remove a link .. was auto censored.

Relayed message:

yes it snaps into place and latches the hook at the back end of the card
it's snug, but flickers and cuts out ... behaves as if bad contact