I have a slimline Gateway 2800 with a 300W power supply and a small-form-factor video card right now. If I simply left of the side of the computer, could I run a more powerful video card? I also suspect I'd have to somehow get a new power supply sitting somewhere else as well.|||They make replacement slimline cards, they just have an interchangeable bracket. Don't expect to get a high end gaming card, but there are a few options. You most likely will be OK with your 300W PSU on these types of cards.|||No, the card simply will not fit in the slimline formfactor case|||You may or may not have to bend the bracket in order for the card to slide fully into place... so it might fit, but that approach isn't recommended.
Replacing the bracket allows a slimline card fit into a standard PC but not the other way around, because the card is physically too tall.
Leaving the case open might be necessary anyway because slimlines are notorious for overheating- the cramped interior of the cases doesn't allow for good airflow and cooling, which becomes more important when the additional heat from a standalone video card is added to to the equation.
Transplanting all of the guts (motherboard, drives etc) into a standard ATX case would allow you to run any standard-sized card you want.
That would also make power supply upgrades easier because for most slimlines, the psu is proprietary. For some models 3rd-party replacements exist, but the are 2-3 times the price of regular ATX psus, and frequently still low-wattage.
The easiest solution is to just get a low-profile Radeon 5570. That's typically the best a slimline can take.
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