So I’ve resolved to make my desktop more than half the size it is, and it has come with an onslaught of problems. First of all, the new, smaller case I got is a Cooler Master something something. It’s a $40 dollar case that is probably the smallest one you can fit a full ATX board into. The power supply goes in the bottom front bay, and stupid me, I did not realize the problems I would encounter right off the bat. I managed to get the whole thing super clean inside, which was great! I really need to chuck the extra IDE drive I have in there, stupid thing is just clogging things up. I unfortunately made the bad decision to put my operating system on that drive (yes, the oldest and most lethargic one) so I’m temporarily stuck. I have two other 500 gig sata drives crammed in there as well, and all my games are installed onto one of those, so reformatting isn’t terrible as I’ll still have all my stuff. The problems start from this point forward.
My graphics card, initially, did not fit. This makes sense, as it is quite long, and the case is quite stupidly short, and I should have seen this coming before I bought the case. After having all of your computer components in a full tower metal Antec case, everything looks small. The cables were one thing, even with them managed perfectly fitting my old 8800 GT in the new case was going to be a feat. I would hafta craftily arrange everything in there, making sure to mind the wires and such.
After slipping a few cables in the little holes left by the divots on the sides of where the card pops into the PCI-Express slot, I was ready to cram that baby in there!
Clunk! Clunk!
Hrm.. seems that with the new power supply positioning, DIRECTLY TO THE RIGHT OF THE MOTHERBOARD, the card was a LITTLE TOO LONG TO FIT. I just paused here for a while and kinda looked at it, willing it to work with the power of my mind. Alas, I’ve slacked on my Jedi training lately (ever since I stopped playing Jedi Outcast) and the card would not magically fit. After staring at this thing for a while, I figured out there was a little plastic spacer right next to the power supply that could be removed to create some additional space!! With a renewed sense of wonder, I went to work getting the power supply reseated further towards the front of the case.
With the biggest sense of false achievement that anyone has ever mustered, I slid that card straight into the PCI-Express socket and jumped for joy. As I marveled at my small franken-PC, the falseness of my achievement started to dawn on me. As I started to meticulously plug in cables, finishing the job off, I went to plug in the 6-pin connector for my 8800GT. Located at the tail end of my card. Which was now about less than a centimeter away from the power supply.
I’m not sure how long I sat there looking at it; it wasn’t too long, and 15 minutes and one bent graphics card later, I can say it fits perfectly.
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