Thanks for all the help. I'm just really worried about buying something and it not being able to fit. Then have to worry about returning it if it doesn't fit and any costs associated with that.
The absolute worst case scenario would be that you have to relocate the card using a PCI express x16 riser. The issue with that would be cost, as the cheapest one I can find is $35 shipped.
I had an e521 and if you remove the shroud it will over heat like a SOB. The heatsink fan combo is dependent on the cover. If you remove it there is no where to attach a fan to the rather oddly shaped heatsink. Dell builds that way to cut manufacturing costs. Not only does that fan cool the cpu heatsink it also draws air out of the case.
Contact Dell and ask them what vid card will work in that system that is close to what you want.
I had an e521 and if you remove the shroud it will over heat like a SOB. The heatsink fan combo is dependent on the cover. If you remove it there is no where to attach a fan to the rather oddly shaped heatsink. Dell builds that way to cut manufacturing costs. Not only does that fan cool the cpu heatsink it also draws air out of the case.
Contact Dell and ask them what vid card will work in that system that is close to what you want.
Well, if I got the riser, wouldn't I have the same problem? I would need to put the card in the slot below the current one since it is the only other one left open, but wouldn't the PCIe x1 be in the way, along with the PCIe x16? The only other solution I can think of is to use the riser, then just lay/stick the graphics card in the case.
Here is a picture I just took, sorry for the poor quality, it is a cell phone pic: