Powercolor R9 280x doesn't fit in Slot 1

[MaxTrouserhill]

Hey,

I have got a Powercolor Radeon R9 280x in my Mac Pro 2008 installed in Slot 2 (upper Slot) because I don't know why it doesn't fit in Slot 1. Can anyone teach me how to install it in Slot 1 (lower Slot)?

Thank you

Max

 

[Darmok N Jalad]

Does the card have a backplate? If so, that's probably keeping it from dropping low enough to fit into the slot. A standard card without a backplate is already pretty close to the lower chassis wall.

 

[MaxTrouserhill]

Yes ist has a backplate. Are there any disadvantages when I remove the backplate to make the card fit? Is it possible to remove it?

 

[Darmok N Jalad]

Yes ist has a backplate. Are there any disadvantages when I remove the backplate to make the card fit? Is it possible to remove it?

I'm not sure. Usually the backplate is there to either cool the rear components, like any GDDR that is on the back, or to help stabilize the card if it has a massive cooler. You might have to do some searching in gaming/modding forums to see if anyone else has removed the backplate and if there were any drawbacks. I wouldn't want to advise you to alter your card without any prior experience with the card!

 

[MaxTrouserhill]

Okay thank you so far There must be a way to make it fit in the lower slot, I have seen some pics of Mac Pro 4,1/5,1 with the same card installed in the lower slot... Also it does not fit in the lower slot in my 5,1 ...

 

[Darmok N Jalad]

Okay thank you so far There must be a way to make it fit in the lower slot, I have seen some pics of Mac Pro 4,1/5,1 with the same card installed in the lower slot... Also it does not fit in the lower slot in my 5,1 ...

Yeah, even the GT120 which has a bit of overhang on the back from the shroud sits pretty flush. When I had a cMP and a 7870, there wasn't a whole lot of space under the card, so I'm guessing the person you saw with that card in pulled the backplate. Best I can tell from a quick search is that you may have higher temps without the card, though the GPU is cooled from above.

 

[MaxTrouserhill]

You mean that I wil get higher temperatures when I remove the backplate, not the card, right?

I only need the card to drive my 4k display, I do not do anything like gaming oder video editing, just music production, but I don't want higher temperatures, because I don't want the card to be damaged... So may it is better to leave it in Slot 2, it is not a problem, but it would be nice to have the possibility to install other PCI Cards in future, in the moment the card blocks the other slots...

 

[h9826790]

You mean that I wil get higher temperatures when I remove the backplate, not the card, right?

I only need the card to drive my 4k display, I do not do anything like gaming oder video editing, just music production, but I don't want higher temperatures, because I don't want the card to be damaged... So may it is better to leave it in Slot 2, it is not a problem, but it would be nice to have the possibility to install other PCI Cards in future, in the moment the card blocks the other slots...

The card will run hotter in slot 2. Remove the back plate and install it in slot 1 is better.

 

[MaxTrouserhill]

Success! I removed the backplate and now it fits in slot 1. I noticed that the card got very hot in slot 2 before. I hope that it now will be cooler now. Also I noticed that the wallpaper does not change to default every time I boot up the machine. Thanks a lot!

Max