I have a Dell 3847 and have just bought an R9 290X but it won't fit in the case and might not fit mobo...

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sputniknick

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Jun 21, 2015
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I purchased a Dell 3847 with 16gb ram and i7 4790, it came with an Nvidia 720 so I've purchased a 290x and a 750w 80+ gold upgrade, although the 290x hasn't arrived yet.

The problem is there is only space for 25cm before the hard drive mounts get in the way and the 290x is 29cm long and I can't remove the hard drive mounts off as they seem to be bolted down on the other side of the case. So I am considering ordering a new case and then migrating all the components over, but whilst I know for certain that'll sort out the length of the graphics card into a standard ATX case, will it physically fit the width on the motherboard? Or will the RAM clips get in the way?

A picture of the motherboard can be found here:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/icz6vippndl7z1k/Mobo.jpg?dl=0
 
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sputniknick

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Jun 21, 2015
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Aha! Thank you for pointing that out, so hanging down will the PCIe port get in the way? Or are the graphic cards designed to avoid them?

Do you think there is any way I could hack out the hard drive mounts with a Dremol or something like that? Or will migrating to a new case be the better alternative?
 
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sputniknick

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I can't seem to remove the hard drive mounts, they are screwed in at the end that you can see in the photo, but the other end they seem to be boltless screws? No head or anything to access to remove them

Edit: I'll have a look now at removing the mount, it'll save me much hassle if I could just fit the 290x into this case
 
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sputniknick

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I can't remove the right side panel as it's bolted down with headless screws, and it appears the hard drive mount is the same too, and with no access underneath either

https://www.dropbox.com/s/2njva8o8j6rx95l/Mobo2.jpg?dl=0

Other side of the case:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/lw2znttosl85ap8/Case%20panel.jpg?dl=0

Headless screws

https://www.dropbox.com/s/vv649u03e20h5oi/Headless%20screws.jpg?dl=0

Also, as the 290x is 29cm, will the connectors for my SATA on the motherboard get in the way as well if I do manage to either hack off the hard drive mount or get a new case? Because if I need to buy a new motherboard as well as the case, then it'll be cheaper for me to refund this base unit as I haven't even turned it on yet, and to buy all the parts individually

https://www.dropbox.com/s/xl7k0h3xl0rkvlh/Mobo3.jpg?dl=0
 
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coozie7

coozie7

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That's a little odd, those fasteners look like pop rivets rather than screws, it may be done deliberately by Dell to stop people doing what we're trying to achieve though.
My advice is to either:
Return the Dell and build from scratch, it'll certainly incur some fees though.
Keep the Dell but return the R9 290X and go for a GTX970, the Nvidia card is available in more compact forms but again some restocking/transport fees will have to be paid.
Don't hack out the HDD bays, you'll lose the Dell warranty.
 
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sputniknick

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Jun 21, 2015
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If it definitely doesn't fit the motherboard even with a new case, then I will refund the whole unit, from what I can see from Dell's return policy, there isn't any restocking fee etc other than the approximate charge of £25 for arranged delivery back to them under the Distance Selling Regulations of 14 days cooling off period which I only received the computer 5 days ago.

When I get the graphics card though which should be arriving around Tuesday, if it does fit the motherboard, then I'll just buy a new case and migrate everything over.

To be honest, I've looked at costs for both building from scratch and keeping this unit (£476), the difference is probably no more than £50 more to keep this and to buy a new case and motherboard as I'll have to take into consideration the £25 delivery return charge
 
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sputniknick

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I contacted Dell today and they are collecting it back in a few days time, no charge for returning it whatsoever :D

I have since purchased all components for a custom build, thanks for everyone's help :)
 
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