A gamer wants to upgrade a gifted PC cost-effectively. Since there isn’t much space in the compact case, he comes up with a brilliant idea. This way, he can use a graphics card that is actually much too large and also saves money.
It often happens that companies sort out their old PC systems and replace them with newer models. In such a situation was also the Reddit user DntPMme, who received a mini-PC from his company for free.
However, he received the device without a hard drive and gaming-capable graphics card. To keep the financial expenditure as low as possible, the gamer opted for a standard graphics card that would not easily fit into the compact case. However, there are also cases where the newly purchased graphics card is unknowingly too large for one’s own case.
As the owner of a 3D printer, he had the idea to attach the graphics card to the outside of the computer using a self-printed mount. How he went about it in detail can be found here with us at MeinMMO.
Gamer shows how a normally sized graphics card “fits” in a mini-PC
What is it about? A Reddit user received a mini-PC as a gift. It is a Lenovo ThinCentre M720s in a compact design, known as the SFF format (Small Form Factor). His employer had decommissioned several of these systems and left him one of the devices. For data protection reasons, the hard drive was removed and properly disposed of beforehand. Sometimes lucky finds full-fledged gaming PCs, including data carriers, in the trash.
The following specifications were provided:
- Processor: Intel Core i7-8700, base clock 3.20 GHz
- Memory: 16 GB DDR4
- Power supply: 180 watts
Now DntPMme’s plan was to create a gaming system for less demanding games from the former office computer for little money. For this, he needed a new storage device and a suitable graphics card. Suitable low-profile graphics cards with low height were too expensive for him on the second-hand market, with prices ranging from 85 to 140 Euros.
So the gamer decided to buy a normally sized model and mount the graphics card on the outside of the case. Due to the small power supply, he chose a Nvidia 1050 TI from Gigabyte for around 50 euros. For the new storage, he installed a 1 TB NVMe SSD from Crucial. The SSD also cost him 50 euros.
How did DntPMme proceed? According to his statement, the necessary craftsmanship was quite manageable. Within 10 minutes, he designed a suitable device using CAD software to attach the 1050 TI. He then produced the finished design with his 3D printer and attached the mount to the PC case. Significantly more work had to be invested by a builder in completely overhauling his old Xbox console.
With a small saw, he removed a piece from the top of the case to connect the graphics card to the rest of the computer. He used a newly purchased PCIe riser cable for about 15 euros between the slot on the motherboard and the external Gigabyte 1050 TI.
Normally, such expansion cards/cables are used to install large graphics cards in a space-saving, vertically oriented way. The gamer could do without an additional power cable since the card draws its power through the PCIe connection alone.
Was DntPMme erfolgreich mit seinem Plan? According to the comments on his post, yes. He has conducted several tests and put the system to the test with less graphically intensive games. He says that older titles are playable at medium graphic settings, and newer games with low settings are also playable.
The gamer is satisfied with his project and is already considering whether he could install a stronger and therefore larger power supply. However, he remains open as to whether he wants to install a power supply with larger dimensions inside or mount it on the outside like the graphics card.
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