Am I screwed? Can I upgrade my GPU to a GTX 980 Ti or am I stuck with what I have?

simonz93 · Nov 25, 2015

Hi guys
Total noob in PC, just opened one for the first time in my life. I have a prebuilt HP envy phoenix 860-019, here's the specs http://support.hp.com/ca-en/document/c04799759

I'm looking to upgrade my current GPU (GTX 960 that came with the PC) to a Evga GTX 980Ti or Asus 980 Ti Strix, and also replace the crappy default PSU and cooler.

However I was badly surprised when I opened the case. It looks like this.

First of all, it seems very packed, and there is barely any place to fit a GPU. The case itself is only 14.5 inch in length.
And that leads to my second concern. Why is my GTX 960 like this?
http://i.imgur.com/MHi1U2e.jpg

Is this how they look? Anyway that's not what how I pictured it after seeing a bunch of videos replacing/installing GTX graphic cards. This one doesn't have the external case and it looks much smaller than usual GTX GPUs.
So my main question is, can I upgrade the GPU at all? It seems there is simply no place to fit a 10.5 inch GTX 980Ti in there.

Guys please enlighten me, Thank you so much!

kanewolf · Nov 25, 2015

Your choice of that GPU implies that you are ALSO creating a custom water cooling solution.

Geekwad · Nov 25, 2015

It looks as though the way the case is designed, and with the placement of the x16 PCIe slot on the custom motherboard, that a ~11" card has the possibility to fit in there somehow if you used something like this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA4M52YX8765&nm_mc=KNC-GoogleMKP-PC&cm_mmc=KNC-GoogleMKP-PC-_-pla-_-Server+Accessories-_-9SIA4M52YX8765&gclid=CJKa26LUrMkCFQyPaQodL_4ALw&gclsrc=aw.ds

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA1JM1CH2197&nm_mc=KNC-GoogleMKP-PC&cm_mmc=KNC-GoogleMKP-PC-_-pla-_-Add-On+Cards-_-9SIA1JM1CH2197&gclid=CLWOmNnUrMkCFZOCaQod1fICLQ&gclsrc=aw.ds

Measure very carefully though!

The Hydro is the wrong choice for a 980ti in this case though (if you can find a way to make it fit)....you're going to have to go with an air cooled model. Switching into another case probably isn't an option either. As you've discovered.....the 960 is a custom built 960 for HP, and the motherboard is also likely not standard, with non-standard mounting hole placement preventing it from being transferred to standard ATX cases (check to be sure, but with pre-builts, this is VERY common).

Last, you'll definitely need a new power supply anyway to go with a big GPU upgrade like that.....which will help with the cabling.

EDIT: Could also consider a Fury Nano, which has ITX cases in mind, so may be a drop-in solution.

bystander · Nov 25, 2015

If you are going to be replacing the GPU and PSU and CPU HSF, might I suggest you get a new PC case with good air flow and plenty of room, and just move everything over. You can more than pay for it by going with a good air cooled aftermarket 980ti instead of the water block and all the extra hardware you'll have to buy to get it working.

simonz93 · Nov 25, 2015

bystander :

Guess not then lol. Somebody recommended that to me, I don't know anything...

timeconsumer · Nov 25, 2015

Motherboards mounted upside-down. What will they think of next?

It looks to me like you can fit a pretty big GPU in there, it would go between the HDD cages and external drive bays. Since a micro-ATX board is 9.6" wide it looks like you can fit a 12" double-slot card in there.

simonz93 · Nov 25, 2015

bystander :

Thanks, I wish I could do that, but I can't, because apparently the motherboard is custom made for HP, and won't fit the normal ATX cases...So if I buy a new case, I will have to change everything lol...

simonz93 · Nov 25, 2015

Geekwad :

It looks as though the way the case is designed, and with the placement of the x16 PCIe slot on the custom motherboard, that a ~11" card has the possibility to fit in there somehow if you used something like this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA4M52YX8765&nm_mc=KNC-GoogleMKP-PC&cm_mmc=KNC-GoogleMKP-PC-_-pla-_-Server+Accessories-_-9SIA4M52YX8765&gclid=CJKa26LUrMkCFQyPaQodL_4ALw&gclsrc=aw.ds

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA1JM1CH2197&nm_mc=KNC-GoogleMKP-PC&cm_mmc=KNC-GoogleMKP-PC-_-pla-_-Add-On+Cards-_-9SIA1JM1CH2197&gclid=CLWOmNnUrMkCFZOCaQod1fICLQ&gclsrc=aw.ds

Measure very carefully though!

The Hydro is the wrong choice for a 980ti in this case though (if you can find a way to make it fit)....you're going to have to go with an air cooled model. Switching into another case probably isn't an option either. As you've discovered.....the 960 is a custom built 960 for HP, and the motherboard is also likely not standard, with non-standard mounting hole placement preventing it from being transferred to standard ATX cases (check to be sure, but with pre-builts, this is VERY common).

Last, you'll definitely need a new power supply anyway to go with a big GPU upgrade like that.....which will help with the cabling.

EDIT: Could also consider a Fury Nano, which has ITX cases in mind, so may be a drop-in solution.

Thank you! So it means I can't fit a GTX 980 without these extender? But a reply below says I can easily fit one...
Can you tell me where exactly the 980 GPU should go so I can measure with precision the space I have?

timeconsumer · Nov 25, 2015

simonz93 :

Measure this:

Geekwad · Nov 25, 2015

simonz93 :

The space that I'm most concerned about is here:

From the perspective in the picture, it looks as though that if the card was longer, it would have to go up and over the ram. What I'd measure carefully is what distance from the flush top of the PCIe slot to the top of the installed RAM to determine if the card was mounted there, if there would be enough room for the card to clear the RAM. It would be really bad design for an expansion card longer than the factory installed one to not fit, but I've seen crazier things before.

timeconsumer · Nov 25, 2015

Geekwad :

I think that's just an issue of the perspective of that picture. This is a standard m-atx board, it's just mounted upside-down in a weird case. I don't think DIMM slots going beyond the first PCI slot is ATX compliant (could be wrong though) Looking at it from the other image he gave it seems like it has clearance:

But it would be worth measuring because a card with a backplate might not squeeze by.

bystander · Nov 25, 2015

timeconsumer :

Geekwad :

I think that's just an issue of the perspective of that picture. This is a standard m-atx board, it's just mounted upside-down in a weird case. I don't think DIMM slots going beyond the first PCI slot is ATX compliant (could be wrong though) Looking at it from the other image he gave it seems like it has clearance:

But it would be worth measuring because a card with a backplate might not squeeze by.

It looks like an issue in that picture too. Those white clips are where the RAM goes to. The RAM sticks are just obscured by the cables in your pic.

timeconsumer · Nov 25, 2015

bystander :

I know that. But to me it seems like the PCB can clear it by a millimeter or two. Here's a picture of the bare-board from HPs site:

bystander · Nov 25, 2015

That picture looks better, but I'm not 100% sure that is the same MB. His has some silver square behind that PCIe 1 slot that this picture doesn't show, and it's a different color, but you may be right in that it just clears. It would indeed be strange if it didn't.

timeconsumer · Nov 25, 2015

bystander :

I think that silver square is just a sticker, you can see it better in his picture here: http://i.imgur.com/MHi1U2e.jpg
There's writing on it an the CE logo, etc. Yeah the PCB is blue instead of green, but that's not unheard of to vary the PCB color for the same board design. I'm still 90% sure having the DIMM slots beyond the PCI slots doesn't comply with ATX standards.

simonz93 · Nov 25, 2015

timeconsumer :

Thanks! The length is 13 inch/33cm, and height 2.75 inch/7 cm.
So judging only from these, it seems it can fit a GTX 980

timeconsumer · Nov 25, 2015

simonz93 :

Good stuff. But also take a look an ensure the PCB can clear the RAM clips.

simonz93 · Nov 26, 2015

Geekwad :

simonz93 :

The space that I'm most concerned about is here:

From the perspective in the picture, it looks as though that if the card was longer, it would have to go up and over the ram. What I'd measure carefully is what distance from the flush top of the PCIe slot to the top of the installed RAM to determine if the card was mounted there, if there would be enough room for the card to clear the RAM. It would be really bad design for an expansion card longer than the factory installed one to not fit, but I've seen crazier things before.

Sorry about the unclear pictures before. Here i reuploaded some focusing on that spot. From what I saw, there was nothing obstructing a longer card. But again since I know nothing, I may be wrong...

timeconsumer · Nov 26, 2015

Yeah you look pretty good. As long as your new card doesn't come with a really thick backplate everything should fit fine.

By the way, I'm curious, what monitor will you be using with this new 980 Ti?

determinologyz · Nov 26, 2015

bystander :

One thing i would do if i were you is to learn how to build a pc theres plenty of tutorials online...

For me if i was in your position i would get a new case and put all the new gear into the new case because your going to run into a airflow issue and everything looks cramped as it is as i recommend a full tower. Also i would look into getting a new power supply im not fond of prebuilt psu in most cases

simonz93 · Nov 26, 2015

timeconsumer :

Thanks so much for your reassurance!
How do I know if my card will come with a think backplate? Is it something I can take off myself? http://www.ncix.com/detail/evga-geforce-gtx-980-ti-b2-109571-1244.htm
Height: 4.376in 111.15mm
Length: 10.5in 266.7mm
Width: Dual Slot

For the monitor, I'm looking to get a 1440 p monitor. I was considering 4K as well but it seems too expensive right now, and the rig I have may not be enough to ensure both stunning graphics and good performance.

simonz93 · Nov 26, 2015

timeconsumer :

sorry can you elaborate a bit? I don't really understand...sorry I'm still learning...

timeconsumer · Nov 26, 2015

simonz93 :

It will probably fit even with that backplate. If you look at the picture of it in profile it doesn't add much thickness. But like a lot of the other guys said, getting a new case isn't a bad idea either. If you're going to go through all the work of removing the motherboard to attach a new HSF as well as install a new PSU, you might as well just throw it all in a better case that has more airflow. You can get a decent case for pretty cheap, $30-$50.

The 980 Ti will be great with a 1440p monitor.

simonz93 · Nov 26, 2015

timeconsumer :

Thanks! Haha yeah I think it's a good idea. Had I known I would have to go through all this I would have built my own from the start lol (this was the reason why I went pre-built because I know nothing, even with the guides I fear I may break something in the process...)
But can my motherboard be mounted onto a new case? I thought it was one specialized for the HP case?

timeconsumer · Nov 26, 2015

simonz93 :

Yes it can be mounted in almost any case. it is a micro-ATX board which is a standard size and design. The only reason it looks funny is because it is mounted upside-down in that case.

Am I screwed? Can I upgrade my GPU to a GTX 980 Ti or am I stuck with what I have?

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