The Dell manual only references PCI type cards. There is no PCIe connector shown in the motherboard description in the manual. There is no way to modify the motherboard to accept a PCIe card.
The Optiplex GX520 comes in three different sized cases called "Mini Tower", "Desktop", or "Small Form Factor."
I am not sure what your "Small Desktop" description means but you can follow this link to the manual and look at each in detail to determine which you have:
The small form factor does not have an expansion slot for a video card, but the Mini Tower and the Desktop versions do have an available PCI-E X16 slot where you can install a dedicated video card.
The manual (link above) also details how to remove the case cover as well as how to insert a card.
The Optiplex GX520 comes in three different sized cases called "Mini Tower", "Desktop", or "Small Form Factor."
I am not sure what your "Small Desktop" description means but you can follow this link to the manual and look at each in detail to determine which you have:
The small form factor does not have an expansion slot for a video card, but the Mini Tower and the Desktop versions do have an available PCI-E X16 slot where you can install a dedicated video card.
The manual (link above) also details how to remove the case cover as well as how to insert a card.
This is wrong.
The GX520 has NO X16 video slots on any model any version.
The GX520 has 2 Ram slots whereas the GX620 has 4.
The GX520 is like a stripped down GX620
The ONLY GX520 Model that has ANY PCI-E slots is the Tower which has a Single X1 PCI-E slot.
fireberd
9 Legend
•
33.4K Posts
0
January 10th, 2012 05:00
The Dell manual only references PCI type cards. There is no PCIe connector shown in the motherboard description in the manual. There is no way to modify the motherboard to accept a PCIe card.
speedstep
9 Legend
•
47K Posts
0
January 10th, 2012 11:00
The GX520 TOWER has a Single X1 Slot.
The Desktop and SFF and USFF only have 32 bit 33mhz PCI slots.
1
fan connector (FAN)
12
password jumper (PSWD)
2
processor connector (CPU)
13
battery socket (BATT)
3
power connector (12VPOWER)
14
PCI Express x1 connector (SLOT4)
4
memory module connectors (DIMM_1, DIMM_2)
15
PCI connector (SLOT2)
5
serial ATA drive connectors (SATA0, SATA2)
16
PCI connector (SLOT3)
6
front-panel connector (FNT_PANEL)
17
serial connector (SER2)
7
CD drive analog audio cable connector for optional analog audio cable (CD_IN)
18
floppy drive connector (DSKT)
8
power connector (POWER)
19
standby power indicator (AUX_PWR)
9
CD/DVD drive connector (IDE)
20
system board speaker (BEEP)
10
RTC reset jumper (RTCRST)
21
internal speaker (INT_SPKR)
11
chassis manual voltage-selection switch connector (INTRUDER)
System Board Components
1
fan connector (FAN)
10
chassis intrusion switch connector (INTRUDER)
2
processor connector (CPU)
11
password jumper (PSWD)
3
power connector (12VPOWER)
12
battery socket (BATT)
4
memory module connectors (DIMM_1 and DIMM_2)
13
PCI connector (SLOT2)
5
serial ATA drive connector (SATA0)
14
serial connector (SER2)
6
front-panel connector (FNT_PANEL)
15
floppy-drive connector (DSKT)
7
power connector (POWER)
16
standby power indicator (AUX_PWR)
8
CD/DVD drive connector (IDE)
17
system board speaker (BEEP)
9
RTC reset jumper (RTCRST)
18
internal speaker (INT_SPKR)
Dell OptiPlex GX520 User's Guide - Documentation
Dell™ OptiPlex™ GX520 User's Guide
Mini Tower Computer
<ADMIN NOTE: Broken link has been removed from this post by Dell>
Desktop Computer <ADMIN NOTE: Broken link has been removed from this post by Dell>
Small Form Factor Computer
<ADMIN NOTE: Broken link has been removed from this post by Dell>
speedstep
9 Legend
•
47K Posts
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January 10th, 2012 11:00
The GX620 Small Desktops have PCI-E x16 Slots. So if you need a 520 to have PCI-E then get a 620 to replace it.
The Slot is ONLY for Video though. The Physical Board is the same. Main Difference is 4 ram slots VS 2 and the X16 Video Slot.
System Board Components
1
fan connector (FAN)
12
password jumper (PSWD)
2
processor connector (CPU)
13
battery socket (BATT)
3
power connector (12VPOWER)
14
PCI Express x16 connector (SLOT1)
4
memory module connectors (DIMM_1, DIMM_2, DIMM_3, DIMM_4)
15
PCI connector (SLOT3)
5
serial ATA drive connectors (SATA0, SATA2)
16
PCI riser connector (SLOT2)
6
front-panel connector (FNT_PANEL)
17
serial connector (SER2)
7
CD drive analog audio cable connector for optional analog audio cable (CD_IN)
18
floppy drive connector (DSKT)
8
power connector (POWER)
19
standby power indicator (AUX_PWR)
9
CD/DVD drive connector (IDE)
20
system board speaker (BEEP)
10
RTC reset jumper (RTCRST)
21
internal speaker (INT_SPKR)
11
intrusion switch connector (INTRUDER)
postner
91 Posts
1
January 10th, 2012 13:00
The Optiplex GX520 comes in three different sized cases called "Mini Tower", "Desktop", or "Small Form Factor."
I am not sure what your "Small Desktop" description means but you can follow this link to the manual and look at each in detail to determine which you have:
support.dell.com/.../index.htm
The small form factor does not have an expansion slot for a video card, but the Mini Tower and the Desktop versions do have an available PCI-E X16 slot where you can install a dedicated video card.
The manual (link above) also details how to remove the case cover as well as how to insert a card.
speedstep
9 Legend
•
47K Posts
0
January 12th, 2012 07:00
This is wrong.
The GX520 has NO X16 video slots on any model any version.
The GX520 has 2 Ram slots whereas the GX620 has 4.
The GX520 is like a stripped down GX620
The ONLY GX520 Model that has ANY PCI-E slots is the Tower which has a Single X1 PCI-E slot.
The 520 DESKTOP motherboard has 2 PCI 2.2 slots.
System Board Components
Dell OptiPlex GX520 User's Guide - Documentation
Dell™ OptiPlex™ GX520 User's Guide
Mini Tower Computer
<ADMIN NOTE: Broken link has been removed from this post by Dell>
Desktop Computer
Small Form Factor Computer