Now your GPU can do much more by turning into half motherboard with ASUS’ RTX 4060 Ti with an M.2 slot
Up to date: Jul 3, 2023 10:03 am
ASUS has proven off a brand new idea graphics card, one that may characteristic an M.2 slot on it. Surprisingly this isn’t too loopy of an idea and doesn’t appear to impede both of the gadgets. As a substitute, it’ll make the most of extra of the obtainable connectors not utilized by the graphics card.
In a video posted on Bilibili and reported by Videocardz, Tony from ASUS showcased an RTX 4060 Ti that includes an M.2 slot on the backplate of the GPU. Within the demo, he makes use of a Samsung 980 Professional 2TB SSD so we get to see the affect of utilizing that specific slot for an excellent SSD.
The way it works and why it’s not detrimental to efficiency
M.2s already use PCIe to attach through the motherboard to the system. That’s the similar normal that graphics card use, so that they’re already interconnected through the identical hyperlink sort. Now all it’s important to do is join it up from the PCB to the interconnect.
That’s the place the GPU tier issues. The RTX 4060 Ti is simply a PCIe 4.0 x8 connector, but it nonetheless sits within the full x16 slot as any card does. Subsequently there are nonetheless eight lanes obtainable and never getting used, so why not use it for an SSD? Since these solely have a tendency to make use of x4 lanes themselves, just like the 980 Professional it’s a PCIe 4.0 x4. Putting in that in your GPU solely takes up 12 lanes of the 16.
With no affect on the GPU, it additionally has no change within the pace of the SSD. Examined by Tony it ran at 6.8GB/s as a substitute of a 6.9GB/s peak sustained learn pace. What can be stunning is the NVMe runs 10°C cooler than the usual. That is because of it sharing the heatsink with the processor itself, with thermal pads connecting it up.
It may appear a bit foolish generally, however it does truly make it extra accessible. The M.2 is now simpler to get to as often motherboard slots put it straight behind the graphics card, making PC constructing that bit simpler. It does additionally give it an excellent cooling resolution with a flow-through fan design and heatsink. Though we’re undecided if that may stick with it whereas additionally operating at 100% utilization that may throw out loads of warmth.
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