My graphics card won't click into lace, does it fit?

[celticsfan011]

This is my first post here, so go easy on me. Also my first pc build.

Before i get started, here are my specs.

Cooler Master RC 692 Advanced
PNY XLR8 8 GB DDR3 @ 1600 MHz
ASRock 970 Extreme3 MOBO
OCZ ZS 650w PSU
Phenom ii x4 955 ( Yet to arrive )
Standard DVD drive
160 GB HDD

I recently got a HIS Radeon 6850 1 GB ( Not IceQ )

I tried to plug it into the motherboard's x16 slot, but for some reason it won't click into place, if i push somewhat hard and wiggle it around, it will fully go in the slot, but i'm not sure if this is the correct way to do it.

The motherboard also has a x4 PCI e slot, i plugged the card in that slot and, "click", goes right into place

Is something wrong with the PCIe x 16 slot, should i order a new MOBO, i need your opinions.

Also, the card seems to be very slightly elevated on one side, i think this is due to the fact that i inserted the card one side first, then pushed the rest in, but that was the only way to lock it into place with the little clip on the slot.

 

[undercovernerd6]

Hi there. gently pull the tab back and insert the card. dont put it in side to side you can damage the chip connection screw the card in at the back and then wire the 2x4 pin connections.

 

[house70]

Make sure there is nothing under the end of the card, preventing it from getting close to the mobo. Some wires can do that, and even if they are flexible, they will not allow the card's end to click in.

 

[celticsfan011]

I got the card to click in, it's locked into the little clip on the mobo. However what still worries me is the fact that the end of the card is a little more pushed into the slot than the rest of the card, and i can't get the rest of the card to push in any further, is this normal?

Also, the card slides so easily into the x4 slot, that also worries me a lot that something might be wrong with the other slot. Am i worrying to much?

 

[celticsfan011]

Make sure there is nothing under the end of the card, preventing it from getting close to the mobo. Some wires can do that, and even if they are flexible, they will not allow the card's end to click in.

Yeah man, it seems to be fully seated but for some reason, one side of the card seems to be a little bit more pressed into the pci slot, i can't push the rest of the card into the slot anymore, is this ok?

 

[swifty_morgan]

you're trying either of the 2 upper slots right ? did you check the motherboard for high spots/caps, etc... not hitting the sata cables on the back end ?

 

[celticsfan011]

you're trying either of the 2 upper slots right ? did you check the motherboard for high spots/caps, etc... not hitting the sata cables on the back end ?

I'm positive, both slots look the same, nothing is in the way, the only thing i can think of is that something is wrong with the x16 slot, because i know it shouldn't be like that. I have to push farely hard to put it somewhat in the slot, the other slot however us very smooth to insert the card, i'm going to try disassembling everything and plugging the card in while the MOBO is out of the case, if that doesn't work, i'm going to RMA the MOBO.

 

[swifty_morgan]

you have 2 16x slots. the upper is giving you trouble so plug it into the second. there has to be something hitting it. coming in contact with the card housing or something. as said above, if you pull the retention tab in the rear open and then push, does it fit better ?

 

[celticsfan011]

you have 2 16x slots. the upper is giving you trouble so plug it into the second. there has to be something hitting it. coming in contact with the card housing or something. as said above, if you pull the retention tab in the rear open and then push, does it fit better ?

It's not so much a retention tab, its just a slider that you slide back and once you place the card in, you slide it forward to lock it in. But iv'e been plugging in the card while it's slid back. Like you said, there has to be something getting in the way inside the slot, either that or something is behind the MOBO but i doubt it.

I am going to reassemble the MOBO and see if it works then, if not i'll order a new one and tell you how things go.

 

[celticsfan011]

you have 2 16x slots. the upper is giving you trouble so plug it into the second. there has to be something hitting it. coming in contact with the card housing or something. as said above, if you pull the retention tab in the rear open and then push, does it fit better ?

<a href="http://tinypic.com?ref=147m3d" target="_blank"><img src="http://i43.tinypic.com/147m3d.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a>

Alright, i took out the motherboard and got some good shots at how the card looks while it's plugged in.

This is the card plugged into the PCI e x4 slot,

http://tinypic.com/r/147m3d/5

As you can see all of the little pins highlighted in red are all pretty equal and all pushed in all the way.


Here is the card plugged into the PCI e x16 slot

http://tinypic.com/r/fof7ms/5

Now in this pic, you can see that the pins in the red box are not all on the same level, the ones on the left are pushed in the slot more than the others, i can't seem to push the others in any more. You can also tell that the card is raised more than when plugged into the x4, so clearly it doesn't push in all the way.




I recorded two videos, one of me plugging the card into the x4 slot and one into the x16 slot. Tell me if you want to see them.

 

[house70]

One thing to try would be to insert the card in a different x16 slot, better yet in another mobo. If it still does not sit right, it means the card's PCB could be cut too long on one end, carefully filing it to size could solve the problem (without damaging the electrical contacts). It will allow you to tell if the card itself is out of spec, or the mobo's x16 slot.
Another thing would be to try to seat the card by starting at the tab end, making sure it clicks in place, then carefully seating the screw end using the screw (the one that secures the card to the backplate). I had a card before that needed that to be properly seated, and it worked fine.
If neither works out, after using the first method to pinpoint which is at fault (card or mobo) you can RMA the faulty one.
Good luck!