Video card related questions

So, a friend of mine bought a new Dell Dimension E510 with an ATI Radeon X600 (on PCI-E). He wants to buy a better video card to replace that one in the hopes of running Oblivion on higher-than-low settings. He was looking at the Radeon X800 XT (PCI-E), but it requires a 6-pin power connector (female, I think). He has something coming from his power supply that looks like a 6-pin female power connector, but it looks like one of the pinholes is not wired. Here's a picture we took of the connector, can I get a MajorGeek opinion here?

http://img77.imageshack.us/img77/6214/dscn10579co.jpg

Also, what's that smaller connector in there for anyway?

 

First of all, can you crop the picture a little next time? And the small flat connector is for a floppy drive, which is silly, since no one ever puts the useful little buggers in any more. I won't say anything about the big one, because I don't have one on my power supply.

 

Sorry, I'd edit it now to change it, but too much time has gone past for me to do that. Thanks for addressing the smaller connector, we were a bit confused about what that was for. I still need to know what that 6-pin connector is for though. Any ideas? Or know anyone who might know?

 

Okay, we've found an ATI Radeon X850 XT for the same price as the X800 models. The problem is that the X850 models seem to require an extra PCI-E slot above it to fit into the case. I'll include some pictures here.

This is a picture showing the PCI-E slot on his motherboard.
http://img516.imageshack.us/img516/6744/dscn1059b5dx.th.jpg


This is a picture at an angle showing the PCI-E slot and the opening for it on the back of the case.
http://img516.imageshack.us/img516/4322/dscn1060b0pa.th.jpg


Here is the picture of the card in question, the X850 XT.
http://www.gpureview.com/database/images/videocards/reference/ati-radeon-x850xt-pci-e.jpg
Are we correct in assuming that the X850 XT would require two openings in the back of the case? If that's the case, is there another, EASY way to make this card fit into this case? Or would we be better off just sticking with an X800 XT (shown below)?
http://www.gpureview.com/database/images/videocards/reference/ati-radeon-x800-xt-pci-e.jpg

 

Some cards are powered right off the motherboard and they do not need extra power cables. I have a x850xt on my built computer, which plays games great. Since you only have one slot, I would get the x800. There is no simple way to mod your case in order to make the x850xt fit. Yes the x850xt requires 2 slots, but only one plugs into the board. So if nothing is in the way, you can have the x850xt.

 

What is the mother board in ques?? Can't you move other PCI cards and let the x850xt do it's job. That bottom slot is purely for heat extraction and would be excellant for thermal management of the sys.

 

Thats strange, it looks like the mobo is backwards compared to most....Usually the slots would be on the left which is why the card has the cooler underneath: it should/would occupy a PCI slot.

Onto the cable: yea, that is a PCI-Express cable. Im surprised Dell gave you that much of an upgrade choice....

Like John said, some cards can get enough power directly from the PCI-Express slot but the more powerful ones will need a power cable. It should say in the requirements if you need one or not.

Also, are you set on going with ATI? Even so, you could go for a x1800 GTO or an nVidia card such as a 7600GT or 7900/7800GT

 

No, that is not a PCI-Express video connector. It looks like some kind of a proprietary connector. Maybe for a video card??? What exactly did it come off of? Or was is not being used?

Here is what a PCI-Express video connector looks like:
http://www.power-on.com/images/product/accessories/drivetopciexpress.jpg

Here is an up close image:
http://www.pcstats.com/articleimages/200512/ShuttleXPSD11G5_psu.jpg