What size graphics card do I need?

What size graphics card do I need?

Author
Discussion

Johnnytheboy

Original Poster:

24,498 posts

186 months

Saturday 28th February 2015
quotequote all
I suspect my father's gfx card in his office PC is dying - the fan is getting very noisy when worked hard.

Looking at it (writing on it now) the interface plate (terminology alert!) visible from the back of the PC is shorter than I'm familiar with. It's approx 2.5" long.

If I set out to buy him another, what is this size/protocol called?

The PC is an off-the-shelf HP s5000 'Pavilion Slimline' if that helps.

I'm not worried about what spec of card I get, just the size. smile

Some Gump

12,687 posts

186 months

Saturday 28th February 2015
quotequote all
PCI express?

Johnnytheboy

Original Poster:

24,498 posts

186 months

Saturday 28th February 2015
quotequote all
It looks like this size...



Rather than this...



Both Google Image results for PCI Express.

smile

Magic919

14,126 posts

201 months

Saturday 28th February 2015
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PCI Express is commonly like the smaller one, but there are at least 4 different sizes in the spec. Looks at x1 and x4, for example.

Mr Pointy

11,205 posts

159 months

Saturday 28th February 2015
quotequote all
It's commonly referred to as 'low profile'.

moleamol

15,887 posts

263 months

Saturday 28th February 2015
quotequote all
Is it not easier to just pull it out and compare it?

Johnnytheboy

Original Poster:

24,498 posts

186 months

Saturday 28th February 2015
quotequote all
moleamol said:
Is it not easier to just pull it out and compare it?
Compare it to what?

TonyRPH

12,968 posts

168 months

Saturday 28th February 2015
quotequote all
According to HP

It's a PCI-E card.

So you want a low profile PCI-E graphics card.


moleamol

15,887 posts

263 months

Saturday 28th February 2015
quotequote all
Johnnytheboy said:
moleamol said:
Is it not easier to just pull it out and compare it?
Compare it to what?
Cards for sale.

Some Gump

12,687 posts

186 months

Saturday 28th February 2015
quotequote all

Johnnytheboy

Original Poster:

24,498 posts

186 months

Saturday 28th February 2015
quotequote all
Yeah, good one, what I meant was I'm not sure I'm clever enough to compare a gfx card in my hand with a picture on the internet.

I assumed, mistakenly it would appear, that someone would instantly know what this type/size of card would be.

Mopar440

410 posts

112 months

Saturday 28th February 2015
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You were told 4 posts up.

annodomini2

6,860 posts

251 months

Some Gump

12,687 posts

186 months

Saturday 28th February 2015
quotequote all
Mopar440 said:
You were told 4 posts up.

Some kids just can't get right.

Johnnytheboy

Original Poster:

24,498 posts

186 months

Saturday 28th February 2015
quotequote all
Ah gotcha, sorry my eye was drawn by the large illustrated posts that were just taking the piss.

Johnnytheboy

Original Poster:

24,498 posts

186 months

Saturday 28th February 2015
quotequote all

Some Gump

12,687 posts

186 months

Saturday 28th February 2015
quotequote all
...and not by the first 4 posts giving you the exact answer you asked for? The word you were lookking for was thanks. It's no longer needed.



TonyRPH

12,968 posts

168 months

Saturday 28th February 2015
quotequote all
Yes, I would probably go with this one

Just note that this has DVI and HDMI connectors - so if your monitor only has VGA - you'll need an adapter.

Also - in the link you posted, nearly all were standard profile - you need a low profile card I think?

ETA: I would avoid a passively cooled one - as you may not have enough physical space to accommodate it.

Edited by TonyRPH on Saturday 28th February 22:23

anonymous-user

54 months

Sunday 1st March 2015
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Some can be really long like the Big GTX thingeys

MyM2006

222 posts

144 months

Sunday 1st March 2015
quotequote all
You should have a low profile 16x PCI-E graphics card.

When you buy the replacement check to see if you have any card in the adjacent PCI-E 1x in the PC, if not then you can have a card that uses 2 slots.
The length is also quite restricted, so make sure that although it is low profile it is not too long as I think the drive cage gets in the way otherwise.
You also need to see what PSU rating you have, they used a range of power ratings from 200 something watts up, so any card you buy will need to be usable with the PSU you've got unless you want to change that as well.
Lastly some motherboards in slimline systems also limit the power supplied via the PCI-E so it is worth checking to see if anyone else has upgraded and what to.