PCI Express card touching PCI slot card -- Shorting out

[darklight]

I have two PCI slots -- One has a multi-channel sound card in it, the
second has another multi channel sound card in it. (Yes I need both,
as I record bands on a regular basis and need all the channels that
both cards give me)

My problem is, I have an aftermarket video card (PCI-E) installed in
the next slot. Although the cooling fan on the card touches the entire
back of the sound card, and makes both cards not work. Although they
do work seperatly, I can not add them both in at the same time.

Is there any way I can have both sound cards and the video card
plugged in at the same time instead of having to swap out one sound
card any time I want to play a game.

The PCI slot is just very close to the PCI-E slot. They FIT, they just
touch.

what motherboard do you have?

 

[David]

I have two PCI slots -- One has a multi-channel sound card in it, the
second has another multi channel sound card in it. (Yes I need both,
as I record bands on a regular basis and need all the channels that
both cards give me)

My problem is, I have an aftermarket video card (PCI-E) installed in
the next slot. Although the cooling fan on the card touches the entire
back of the sound card, and makes both cards not work. Although they
do work seperatly, I can not add them both in at the same time.

Is there any way I can have both sound cards and the video card
plugged in at the same time instead of having to swap out one sound
card any time I want to play a game.

The PCI slot is just very close to the PCI-E slot. They FIT, they just
touch.

 

[MJP]

I have two PCI slots -- One has a multi-channel sound card in it, the
second has another multi channel sound card in it. (Yes I need both,
as I record bands on a regular basis and need all the channels that
both cards give me)

My problem is, I have an aftermarket video card (PCI-E) installed in
the next slot. Although the cooling fan on the card touches the entire
back of the sound card, and makes both cards not work. Although they
do work seperatly, I can not add them both in at the same time.

Is there any way I can have both sound cards and the video card
plugged in at the same time instead of having to swap out one sound
card any time I want to play a game.

The PCI slot is just very close to the PCI-E slot. They FIT, they just
touch.

Fit a thin strip of insulating material between the two cards, the side of a
plastic carton will probably do at a push.


MJP

 

[kony]

I have two PCI slots -- One has a multi-channel sound card in it, the
second has another multi channel sound card in it. (Yes I need both,
as I record bands on a regular basis and need all the channels that
both cards give me)

My problem is, I have an aftermarket video card (PCI-E) installed in
the next slot. Although the cooling fan on the card touches the entire
back of the sound card, and makes both cards not work. Although they
do work seperatly, I can not add them both in at the same time.

Is there any way I can have both sound cards and the video card
plugged in at the same time instead of having to swap out one sound
card any time I want to play a game.

The PCI slot is just very close to the PCI-E slot. They FIT, they just
touch.

So it is just the fan, a metal sticker on the fan, or the
metal of the heatsink touching the sound card? I'm
wondering if it's shorting out the back of the sound card
and if it is, this is a potentially damaging/dangerous
situation as it could short out a system power rail.

Ideally you would not have a fan (being doubly magnetic)
right next to an analog I/O device meant to preserve signal
quality.

Since it doesn't fit you might be able to get a slimmer
heatsink, a different video card, or a different motherboard
with more space between (or larger total # of) slots you
need to use.

 

[ProfGene]

I have two PCI slots -- One has a multi-channel sound card in it, the
second has another multi channel sound card in it. (Yes I need both,
as I record bands on a regular basis and need all the channels that
both cards give me)

My problem is, I have an aftermarket video card (PCI-E) installed in
the next slot. Although the cooling fan on the card touches the entire
back of the sound card, and makes both cards not work. Although they
do work seperatly, I can not add them both in at the same time.

Is there any way I can have both sound cards and the video card
plugged in at the same time instead of having to swap out one sound
card any time I want to play a game.

The PCI slot is just very close to the PCI-E slot. They FIT, they just
touch.

It sounds like you need a motherboard with more PCI slots and there are
plenty of them that have three four or five PCI slots. It would be
better to get a new motherboard than take a chance of ruining other
expensive hardware because the placement of the cards jeopardizes their
safety. The only other solution would be to find a video card that
didn't create this conflict.

 

[Bennett Price]

Fit a thin strip of insulating material between the two cards, the side of a
plastic carton will probably do at a push.


MJP

Or a piece of electricians tape on the parts that touch.

 

[GT]

I have two PCI slots -- One has a multi-channel sound card in it, the
second has another multi channel sound card in it. (Yes I need both,
as I record bands on a regular basis and need all the channels that
both cards give me)

My problem is, I have an aftermarket video card (PCI-E) installed in
the next slot. Although the cooling fan on the card touches the entire
back of the sound card, and makes both cards not work. Although they
do work seperatly, I can not add them both in at the same time.

Is there any way I can have both sound cards and the video card
plugged in at the same time instead of having to swap out one sound
card any time I want to play a game.

The PCI slot is just very close to the PCI-E slot. They FIT, they just
touch.

A few have suggested a different motherboard with more slots, or something
that insulates the two cards to stop the shorting, but I have another
worry - if the cards are that close together you will probably have a heat
problem - the fan on the graphics card won't have any space to suck air in
properly, so your graphics card might be getting a bit hot. I would tend to
agree with the new motherboard with more PCI slots idea - or perhaps you
could look into USB sound cards - make one of them external?

 

[larry moe 'n curly]

I have two PCI slots -- One has a multi-channel sound card in it, the
second has another multi channel sound card in it. (Yes I need both,
as I record bands on a regular basis and need all the channels that
both cards give me)

My problem is, I have an aftermarket video card (PCI-E) installed in
the next slot. Although the cooling fan on the card touches the entire
back of the sound card, and makes both cards not work. Although they
do work seperatly, I can not add them both in at the same time.

Put a layer of thin, tough material on the sound card, something that
can't easily be pierced, unlike electrical tape. Mylar transparency
film from an office supply or fish paper from an electronics supply
should work. Fish paper is made especially as electrical insulating,
and it looks a lot like automotive gasket paper but is stiffer.