I'm currently upgrading my PC and I'm considering a 3-slot GPU, the 9070 XT, but I also need to use the fourth PCIe slot for my NIC. I'm wondering if a 3-slot GPU will physically fit with the fourth slot occupied. I've read that 3-slot cards are about 60.96mm wide, and some cards might be over 61mm. If it fits without hitting any fans, will it cause cooling problems since it's going to block 1 to 1.5 of the fans?
3 Answers
It really depends on your motherboard layout. If you have an ATX board, it typically has 7 slots. If your top PCIe slot is #1, a 3-slot GPU should fit alongside a card in the fourth slot. But keep in mind, many boards place the top PCIe slot in position #2, which might affect spacing. Make sure to check your specific layout!
This is kind of an "it depends" scenario. GPU sizes can vary significantly despite being labeled as 3-slot. Also, your NIC might not take up the full width of its slot. If you have a specific GPU in mind, I recommend checking the official specs or looking for build photos where folks have used the same card to see how they fit.
It varies by card! For instance, I have an mATX motherboard with my x16 slot in the first position and x4 in fourth. My 9070 XT Red Devil barely fits alongside an X520 NIC without cooling issues because the cooler is oversized for its wattage. However, I had to replace it with an X710, which didn't fit due to some components on the back blocking the fan. Watch out for that!
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