I think the cards may work in the 1705. Maybe it will be the new 9300. I would be very surprised if the XPS 1710 doesn't use the same basic motherboard.
You wont be able to do it any other way. It is not the heatsink in the way, it is actually a piece of circuit board over the standoff. I think it will be OK, but I didn't want to cut my friends brand new 1705. The connectors all line...