XPS 8300 PCIe slot is too close to the video card’s slot, can it still be used? If not, that only leaves 1 slot available for the XPS 8300

I thought I'd add photos so you can see what I'm talking about.  Here is a picture of the slot next to the video card - notice how close it is to the video card:

Here is a picture of a sound card placed into that slot - notice how close it is to the video card:

Is it ok to leave a card so close to the video card?  It is blocking one of the two video card's fans.  I know video cards can heat up, does anyone know if the heat from the video card would damage the card next to it if it's this close?

yes its kinda snugg in that area ,,dell mustent be to concerned as i  built mine with a tv card and soundcard fitted in them slots next to a hd 5770 the gpu has that case grill to allow it to gain more ventillation  but  the remaining slot can only be used if use the onboard graphics after remove your addition

I tend to not use the slot next to a dual slot video card for Air Circulation reasons.

My card does have 2 fans, and one of them is not blocked.  I was planning to test it out by measuring the video card's temperature after a certain period of time.  Do you think that would be a good guideline to go by?  

Am I the only one who would think it's not the best motherboard design if we could only use 1 PCI-e (X1) slot?  That would be the case with the XPS 8300 if you choose not to use the slot next to the dual slot video card...

Just to clarify, the video card doesn't actually use 2 slots - it only uses 1.  But today's video cards are bigger so they take up the space of 2 slots.  And if I'm worried about the proximity of the card next to the video card, I may choose not to use that slot.

If I choose not to use that slot, one problem would lead to another.  If I can only use 1 slot, then I won't be able to add a firewire card which I need because of a camcorder.  I'd be forced to use a firewire-to-usb cable/adapter, but there doesn't seem to be any legitimate devices like this anywhere.  I started a thread about that here:  http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/desktop/f/3514/t/19427173.aspx

This is all much ado about nothing.

Leave the sound card in the slot that Dell originally install it and use the slot that is close to the video card for installation of the firewire card that you desired.  Many firewire cards are tiny and are not even one forth the height of the video card - which means the video card will still enjoy all the air circulation that it needs.

I just wanted to update this thread.  I just got a USB/Firewire card and placed it into the slot next to the video card.  It does not seem to be as bad as I thought.  Here is a pic:

Although small, there is still space between the 2 cards.  Also, this card is smaller than the sound card so it is giving the video card fan about 3/4 of its space to breathe:

It's been in for about an hour and the video card temperature has remained constant in the low 30 degree Celsius range.  The sound card would have blocked the entire fan so I guess it's better to put a smaller card beside the video card.  I could have gotten an even smaller one (2 Firewire ports only) but this one gets me 2 USB and 2 Firewire ports.  So the problem of the XPS 8300 not having firewire ports has been solved.    

So all seems to be looking fine right now.  I just hope this is not detrimental to either card in the long term...

Here is a video I posted about this topic:

This looks like a solution to my problem.  Is everything still working?  What card did you use?

"Just to clarify, the video card doesn't actually use 2 slots - it only uses 1. "

That's wrong. Its clearly a 2 Slot card that uses the 2nd Slot for air Vent due to the Dust Buster Fan Design.

Not all modern cards use 2 slots or Use a Fan.  One way makers get around not using 3 Slots that is to run the heatsink over the top and to the back side

of the card.  This card is also is 2 Slots and the Mounting Bracket Clearly shows this.  That's not a "Terrible Design" by Dell.  Its Industry Standard Design as far as the Dimensions of the Slots.

This card is 1 Slot and you can tell by the bracket that it only uses 1 slot and does not violate the space of the 2nd or 3rd slot away from it.

If you look though, the video card that came with the computer had the fan in the rear which would not interfere with any cards placed directly below it.  The card he replaced it with has the fan in the middle which may complicate things a bit in this situation.  The cards with the fan in the middle don't exhaust all the heat out like they do in the rear, but they normally keep the chip cooler and are more quiet.  Most all high-end video cards are dual slot.  The Dell installed card was a HD 5770 or possibly even higher-end.  Personally, I would not put a card that close to the fan.  The GTX 560 Ti runs pretty cool anyway so he may be OK.  Under idle conditions, there is probably no worries.  However, if gaming a lot, I would have some concerns.  

"Just to clarify, the video card doesn't actually use 2 slots - it only uses 1. " That's wrong. Its clearly a 2 Slot card that uses the 2nd Slot for air Vent due to the Dust Buster Fan Design.

Yes the video card takes up the space of 2 slots but when I say "slot" I was referring to the actual slots on the motherboard.  If you look at the 3:49 mark of the video I posted, you can see that the video card only fits into 1 slot (both cards in your photos also fit into 1 slot only).  If I were to remove the video card you'd see that it's covering an unused single lane PCIe slot and one of my points was that you're actually getting 1 less slot than advertised because most modern video cards are "double deck" and will be covering that unused slot.

The other point I was making was that the next available slot is too close to the video card.  You can clearly see that in the photos I posted.  So when I said "terrible design", it's almost like they didn't bother to test it by actually placing a video card into the slot before designing or approving the spacing of the slots on the motherboard.  Perhaps it's the industry standard but a large company like Dell (the world's #1 or #2 computer company) surely has some say in the motherboards it ships out.

Anyway, so far I'm glad to report that I haven't had any problems using my setup.  I have 2 monitors connected and have played graphics intense games and the video card has stayed within a reasonable temperature range, even with another card so close beside it.  If anything changes, I'll update the thread...

[quote user="SpeedStep"] "Just to clarify, the video card doesn't actually use 2 slots - it only uses 1. " That's wrong. Its clearly a 2 Slot card that uses the 2nd Slot for air Vent due to the Dust Buster Fan Design.

Yes the video card takes up the space of 2 slots but when I say "slot" I was referring to the actual slots on the motherboard.  If you look at the 3:49 mark of the video I posted, you can see that the video card only fits into 1 slot (both cards in your photos also fit into 1 slot only).  If I were to remove the video card you'd see that it's covering an unused single lane PCIe slot and one of my points was that you're actually getting 1 less slot than advertised because most modern video cards are "double deck" and will be covering that unused slot.

The other point I was making was that the next available slot is too close to the video card.  You can clearly see that in the photos I posted.  So when I said "terrible design", it's almost like they didn't bother to test it by actually placing a video card into the slot before designing or approving the spacing of the slots on the motherboard.  Perhaps it's the industry standard but a large company like Dell (the world's #1 or #2 computer company) surely has some say in the motherboards it ships out.

Anyway, so far I'm glad to report that I haven't had any problems using my setup.  I have 2 monitors connected and have played graphics intense games and the video card has stayed within a reasonable temperature range, even with another card so close beside it.  If anything changes, I'll update the thread...

[/quote]

The Design is industry standard.  The Space between slots is specified by the PCI SIG.  It only has 1 connection into the motherboard but

the card is CLEARLY 2 SLOTS WIDE.  "The other point I was making was that the next available slot is too close to the video card.  "

Too close or not is based on the design of the card.  Any Motherboard with the same number of slots will have the same result.

Engineers don't make slots wider and the circuit traces longer.  There is a specific industry standard Spacing for the slots and this is

well known industry wide.   "terrible design", it's almost like they didn't bother to test it by actually placing a video card into the slot before designing or approving the spacing of the slots " PCI just as in AGP and other "standards" uses the same spacing.   Again this analysis is flawed.  Dell and other Manufacturers use the same slot width as everyone else.   You will not find another board maker with the same slot configuration with different spacing. If board makers used variable spacing then the card brackets would not fit for double wide cards and there would be other mechanical problems.

The Majority of video cards are not 2 Slots wide.  The implication is that the majority of cards are 150W or higher cards.  That is also wrong.

Single Slot and Low profile cards are the majority. This factor is based on price.    It is well known that you put a dual slot card in and you can only

use 1 connection and that the other connection is lost due to being covered by the 2 SLOT wide card.  This is not false advertising.

Industry standard or not, that slot is too close to the video card.  There’s no doubt about it.  You yourself posted earlier in this thread that you wouldn’t put a card so close due to air circulation reasons.  

I tend to not use the slot next to a dual slot video card for Air Circulation reasons.

I would have surely thought that the world’s top computer companies are the ones that set the industry standards, think outside the box, and have a say in the design of their motherboards.  Perhaps I was expecting too much.  They could have easily put that slot a little further away from the video card and then design the chassis to accommodate it (while still leaving room for a “double deck” video card).  It would probably mean making the tower a little bit taller but I think most people would sacrifice a little bit of space for the well-being of the cards.  My previous Dell had slots that were spaced much better so I know they have a say in how their motherboards are shipped (or at least which type of motherboard to use). 

By the way, I got my XPS 8300 from Best Buy and the original video card that the computer came with was a "double deck" card (seen at 3:49 of the video).  Also, this computer is marketed as Dell’s "high performance" model to accommodate today’s demanding games and other graphics intense applications (like entertainment, etc).  If marketed that way, then it is a fair assumption that users would want to take advantage of this and use higher end video cards, such as the “double-deck” cards.  The motherboard should have been designed with this assumption if they marketed the computer this way.

Anyway, I don't want to beat a dead horse because as I've mentioned I got it to work out and there hasn’t been any issues for now.  I’m just concerned about any long-term effects (like a possible shortened life-span of the cards).  I guess only time will tell.

Industry standard or not, that slot is too close to the video card.  There’s no doubt about it.  You yourself posted earlier in this thread that you wouldn’t put a card so close due to air circulation reasons.   I would have surely thought that the world’s top computer companies are the ones that set the industry standards, think outside the box, and have a say in the design of their motherboards.  Perhaps I was expecting too much.  They could have easily put that slot a little further away from the video card and then design the chassis to accommodate it (while still leaving room for a “double deck” video card).  It would probably mean making the tower a little bit taller but I think most people would sacrifice a little bit of space for the well-being of the cards.  My previous Dell had slots that were spaced much better so I know they have a say in how their motherboards are shipped (or at least which type of motherboard to use).  By the way, I got my XPS 8300 from Best Buy and the original video card that the computer came with was a "double deck" card (seen at 3:49 of the video).  Also, this computer is marketed as Dell’s "high performance" model to accommodate today’s demanding games and other graphics intense applications (like entertainment, etc).  If marketed that way, then it is a fair assumption that users would want to take advantage of this and use higher end video cards, such as the “double-deck” cards.  The motherboard should have been designed with this assumption if they marketed the computer this way. Anyway, I don't want to beat a dead horse because as I've mentioned I got it to work out and there hasn’t been any issues for now.  I’m just concerned about any long-term effects (like a possible shortened life-span of the cards).  I guess only time will tell.

1. "I would have surely thought that the world’s top computer companies are the ones that set the industry standards, think outside the box, and have a say in the design of their motherboards. "

Name or post one motherboard from ANY vendor anywhere on planet earth that has slots with different PCI-E card spacing. (There are none Afaikt.)

2.  "They could have easily put that slot a little further away from the video card and then design the chassis to accommodate it (while still leaving room for a “double deck” video card).  "

 I have looked for and seen no company that engineers slots in that way I disagree. There are companies that have 5 slots or 6 slots with non useable slots due to DOUBLE Wide Cards.

3. " My previous Dell had slots that were spaced much better "

Dell does not make slots spaced differently from the industry standard on Any model.   This statement is false.

4. "  If marketed that way, then it is a fair assumption that users would want to take advantage of this and use higher end video cards, such as the “double-deck” cards.  The motherboard should have been designed with this assumption if they marketed the computer this way."

The board does allow for 2 Slot wide cards. This statement is moot.

5.   "Anyway, I don't want to beat a dead horse because as I've mentioned I got it to work "

The disagreement is the derogatory characterization that Dell specifically has a "Terrible design"or that it is somehow "false Advertising".  There have been no examples put forth including "previous Dell " with "slots that were spaced much better"

I have a Dell 8300 and I am looking to add a firewire card. Can you please tell me which make & model you purchased and how it is working? Thank you.