EggXpert

Not sure if anyone else has requested this before, but I'm in a real pickle with my next video card upgrade.

 With video/graphics cards getting longer and longer I'm running into the problem that these cards wont FIT in my case.  I have a 1 inch clearance between the hard drive bay (with hard drives loaded) and the end of my video card.  Once I plug in the power connectors to the hard drives and video card the back-ends of the SATA power connector butt up against the back-end of the pci-e power connector. 

 If Newegg could list the length of the graphics/video cards it would help users like me out to no end.  When we order we will know with certainty that a video card will fit.  This would cut down on the number of RMA's, shipping costs and restocking fees.  End result would be happy customers, and a better, more profittable Newegg.

Well, here's the deal. Newegg takes specs from the manufacturer's site, so if the manufacturer doesn't list the size, Newegg wont post them, since Newegg doesn't want to 'assume' anything.

As far as upgrades go, most people know what they are getting into, they are system builders and they know that high end cards are longer. So when considering getting such a card and if they aren't sure if the card will fit or not, they measure.

Same thing goes for after market heatsinks, power supplies, and some other things.

 

Agreed it would make things easier for a lot of people, but society being what it is, doesn't always do what it takes to make things easier, does it? LOL. Serg is right though, if the makers would post the measurements, NE would be more inclined to post them as well.

The manufacturer may not post this information on their box, but I'm sure this is information all manufacturers have readily available.

 And yes, as far as upgrades go most people know the risks, and everyone can assume high end cards are longer then a low-end card.

 

But I think you unknowingly just made my point:

SergeiV:

So when considering getting such a card and if they aren't sure if the card will fit or not, they measure.

So they measure and compare against.........?  If the information isn't posted anywhere how's a customer to know if it will fit? 

 

SergeiV:

Same thing goes for after market heatsinks, power supplies, and some other things.

All those things you just mentioned do have deminsions posted in their specifications.  So, I guess you're still making my point.  This is something that should be posted in the item specifications so consumers know what will fit and what wont, other then using trial and error, wasting shipping, rma's etc.

Newegg provides a link to the manufacturers page for every product so it doesn't take much to look for yourself.

When investing in a major peace of hardware it is always good to do some research before hand anyways.

One thing I forgot to add is when searching on Google you can find out dimensions and measure.

Kardon:

Newegg provides a link to the manufacturers page for every product so it doesn't take much to look for yourself.

When investing in a major peace of hardware it is always good to do some research before hand anyways.

 

SergeiV:

One thing I forgot to add is when searching on Google you can find out dimensions and measure.

 

Searching the VisionTek website for on the 4850 512Mb PCI-E video card for the product dimensions, returns nothing.  A Google search of the samething returns the product BOX dimensions.  The only dimensions I was able to find were from two forums where two different people reports two different lengths for the same card.

 I challenge either of you to find a manufacturer website that lists the product dimension for a video card, not the box it comes in.

 And it seems that you are dismissing this suggestion as meaningless, or frivolous.  But face it, there's no place to find the information I'm asking for except from the manufacturers.  And if you were a manufacturer, would you  answer a question like this from a consumer or from an on-line super merchant.  Newegg has the clout to get this information from the manufacturers for their customers.

I guess that means you should avoid VisionTek and go with another vendor that lists their dimensional specs, then, huh? :p

If VisionTek doesn't list their specs anywhere, then you just don't have the specs for them.. stop harping on us (and newegg) for a vendor's deficiency.

I dont know too many makers who do list the dimensions. Pene

Use the right google search words and you'll get your answer.

Go to ASUS website and you'll see the size of the 4850, I didn't check other models.

CheapAsianGamerGuy:

I guess that means you should avoid VisionTek and go with another vendor that lists their dimensional specs, then, huh? :p

If VisionTek doesn't list their specs anywhere, then you just don't have the specs for them.. stop harping on us (and newegg) for a vendor's deficiency.

 

Hmmmm, harping?  No, clarifying the situation that my suggestion has some merit? Yes.  I thought this was the Newegg.com suggestion forum, not the " Your idea sucks, go do it yourself" forum.

Again, Newegg has the clout to get this information from the manufacturers for their customers.  This information would be a great service and benefit for their customers.

I didn't say it was a bad idea and to go do it yourself, just that Newegg can't list any specs that are not already listed by a manufacturer.

And a decent # of manufacturers DO list such data.

Since Newegg will likely not be able to do this unless the manufacturers cave in and list this info (why they don't hell if I really know), here's a simple method I've used time and time again to figure it out when reliable stats aren't available. A PCI express bus is 9cm from end to end on the inside, so that means the portion of the card is too.  Find a nice marketing picture of the card at some right angle view, and measure the length of the bus connection as it compares to the card as a whole.  Use that percentage to multiply up annd you have card length.  give or take a centimeter.

There could be some sort of "compatibility engine" built-in to the NewEgg web-site, accessible to anyone.  Companies could pay to be included in it's data base (how you fund & maintain it's creation).  Like the memory compatiblity engines you see.

Does Video Card "X" work with Motherboard "Y" ?

If the Manufacturer's hardware isn't in the database, their prospective customers won't know one way or the other, and they will lose business.  Those Manufacturer's that drop a few grand get included, and sell more product; their competitors that don't, don't.

In fact, to reduce RMA's and wailing & disgruntled customers, NE might consider building the engine into the purchase process and force the customer to choose to either participate in finding out if their hardware is compatible, or choose not to, which can then be recorded and kept for future reference, in the event said wailing & disgruntled customer wants an RMA, and is dumb enough to tell you that their motherboard is incompatible.

 And, prospective customers will be drawn into NE by the engine.  Links to it can be posted in Tech Forums throughout the internet, thereby increasing traffic, and business.

I'd like some discounted shipping, please.  Or half-price on a 1 Terrabyte (Seagate only thank you.  5 years is better than 3) Hard Drive.

pkilway01:

  

Again, Newegg has the clout to get this information from the manufacturers for their customers.  This information would be a great service and benefit for their customers.

 

Where does it end?  I would like heights on motherboards (tallest part), exact dimensions on heatsinks, memory module height, interior case cavity width (motherboard tray to cross-brace if so equipped or protrusions on case side panels and rest of side panel if not), diameter of all round cabling, etc., etc.  All in all, that is a lot of work.

 

If there is a good picture of a video card it should be easy enough to approximate it's length because the (now PCIe) card edge on the bottom is a standard length.  Copy the card picture and scale a grid on it with Photoshop or PSP, whatever, with that scale corresponding to # of cm long the PCIe edge is (8.5 cm).

 

Another alternative is to look at another manufacturer's product of same series that has measurements provided since most of them are either reference designs or by looking at the two you can tell well enough if it's slightly longer or shorter than the other card which has measurements provided.