Related Articles
I’m testing an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3090 Ti this week. No fully-formed, review-style ideas on it but, although after an unusually stressy set up I do have a query: does it have to be so god-damned massive?
“Sure, as a result of warmth” might be the reply, as once you’ve bought as many processor cores because the RTX 3090 Ti, working at such excessive clock speeds because the RTX 3090 Ti, and with as a lot reminiscence because the RTX 3090 Ti, it’s a foul thought to strive constructing an RTX 3090 Ti that’s the scale of a postage stamp. However the best graphics cards aren’t big as a rule, and when it’s bought to the purpose the place new GPUs can’t simply match into a normal mid-tower PC case, it may be time for some course correction.
For me, the case in query is the NZXT H510 that homes the RPS check rig, and the precise graphics card is the Zotac Gaming GeForce RTX 3090 Ti AMP Holo. I’ll cop to some blame right here, as I did not take my very own recommendation about checking clearances earlier than arranging for the cardboard to return in – presumably whereas drunk on overconfidence, having beforehand put in an RTX 3090 Founders Version into my very own, broadly comparable NZXT Supply 340 case with out subject.
Oh, however there was a difficulty. At 355.9mm lengthy, Zotac’s card wouldn’t squeeze into H510 with the CPU cooler’s front-mounted radiator and followers nonetheless in place. The picture beneath thus reveals the one approach I may get all the things practical: with the facet window off, CPU cooler dangling outward with uncovered followers that look primed for Harrison Ford to punch a Nazi into. The state of it, truthfully.
All bodging apart, it’s a little regarding that higher-end graphics playing cards are getting so swole that they’ll’t reliably match into essentially the most middling of mid-towers. One of many cool issues about upgrading your graphics card is that you could simply pull out the outdated one and slot the brand new mannequin in, however what if that new card successfully wants a brand new, extra spacious case as nicely? That fast (if comparatively costly) improve abruptly turns into a full, much more costly rebuild.
AMD have new GPUs popping out later this yr, Nvidia possible do as nicely, and Intel’s first Arc graphics cards ought to arrive in the summertime. Deep down I’m a efficiency nerd, and gained’t stamp my toes in the event that they become RGB paving slabs. However, if any clear effort in any respect goes into making them shorter and sweeter, that might be as excellent news for PC builders as any damaged benchmark report.
