Does anyone make, or is anyone planning top make a high end single slot PCI Express HD DX10 card? None of the dual slot 2900xt and 8800GTS cards will fit on my motherboard. I‘ve a Dell E521 and unfortunately the PCI-E is the furthest slot on the left and so wont take a dual card).

I was thinking of going for a new motherboard and case but don’t fancy the messing about. My only thought is to go for a 2600XT or 8600GT card and upgrade in early 2008.

Anyone got any thoughts on whats best for HD and occasional gaming?

If you can afford it, you ay want to purchase the 2600/8600 now and buy a new card next year as it has been reported that Nvidia's new cards will be out Nov 12 and ATI should have a new card out early next year. Both cards are supposed to be manufactured with smaller dies, which hopefully means smaller cards.

Well, you might need to "mess about" anyway, as you'll undoubtedly need a PSU upgrade from whatever Dell provides in order to run a top end card. Said PSU might not fit in that Dell case.

Any standard ATX psu with the right dimensions will fit in the case and if willing to mod an 8800GTS with the HR-03 that will also fit.

if you got it from dell your OS wouldn't work on a new mobo (probably anyway)

I also have an E521 and currently a 8600GT. I'll see after Nov if I can use the 8700GTS or whatever it's going to be.
If not I'll either go with a 7950GT or 8600GTS. The HD2600's look like they're too long to fit in our cases.
BTW: The stock psu has 22amps.

Thanks for the help. I’ve gone for a 2600xt. It’s cheap, it fits (took a while to find a short one) and given that the x1300pro that’s in there now runs the world in conflict demo ok, should be all the card I need for now

the saphire x1950pro has a signle slot cooler, would be your best bet i think...

too late

I was not expecting much from the 2600XT but it has turned out to be a bit of a bargain upgrade (£60 inc vat). It’s a compact card with a very quiet fan. The quality of DVD playback is stunning (I’ve not had a chance to try HD yet) and performs great on games like Rainbow Vegas and Company of Heroes. Roll on the 2650 Gemini (or what ever its going to be called) now I’m an ATI convert

£60 is not bad at all..

the sappire 1950pro costs about £70-80 any way...so yeah...not bad at all.