How can I securely seat this computer board?

Factual Questions
1

I recently finished a new home-built computer, but after a few days I’ve discovered some flaky display problems. Fairly often this new computer’s display will show a grossly excessive amount of blue. When I jiggle the cable at the digital KVMA end, it makes no difference, but at the computer end, jiggling it will intermittently cause it to go back to normal. If I leave it just right, it’ll stay fine for hours.

I’ve tried replacing the cable, but it made no difference (I always tighten the connection fully, by the way). It is now clear to me that the reason the jiggling works is that it moves the display card in the slot so that it’s properly seated. I’ve tried removing the card and re-seating it carefully several times, but the problem still occurs. This is because the slot is just too loose, and as time passes, the mere weight of the display cable causes the card to become loose.

It is a digital display card (Nvidia e-GeForce 8400 GS) connected to the single PCI-E slot on my Intel DQ35MP mobo. I won’t bore you with the details as to why, but the very last thing I want to do is send anything back for replacement.

Is there a reasonably non-kludgy way to keep the thing seated properly?

2

The PCIe slot should have a sliding tab at the rear of the slot where a hook on the card will fit into. When you seat the card, slide this tab into place, then screw it (or clasp it, if it’s a toolless case) to the case and it should be held firmly in place. Without sliding that tab in place, a slightly ill-fitted motherboard can cause the rear of the card to buck out of the slot a little bit when you screw it to the case.

3

I wonder if the problem is actually the DVI connector on the card. The card working loose from the slot is probably going to cause way more problems than a tint to the display, such as graphics corruption or a hard system crash. Look at the solder points between the DVI connector and the card and see if any of them are cracked or loose. You should be able to reflow cracked joints with a soldering iron.

4

Cardinal Fang, bring out… the comfy chair!