Wednesday, July 26th 2023
Report: ASUS to Start Production of GPUs With No External Power Connectors
We witnessed an exciting concept during the Computex 2023 show in late May. ASUS has developed a GPU without an external power connector called GC_HPWR. Unlike current solutions, this connection type doesn't require additional cables. Using the GC_HPWR means that power is being supplied directly from the motherboard and that these special-edition GPUs also require special-edition motherboards. Thanks to the latest information from the Bilibili content creator Eixa Studio, attending Bilibili World 2023 exhibition in Shanghai, China, we have information that ASUS is preparing mass production of these zero-cable GPU solutions. Scheduled to enter mass production in Fall, ASUS plans to deliver these GPUs and accompanying motherboards before the year ends.
Additionally, it is worth noting that the motherboard lineup is called Back To Future (BTF), and the first GPU showcased was the GeForce RTX 4070 Megalodon. The PSU connectors are placed on the back side of the BTF board, while the CG_HPWR connector sits right next to the PCIe x16 expansion slot and looks like a PCIe x1 connector. You can see images of both products below.
Sources:
Eixa Studios, via Tom's Hardware
Additionally, it is worth noting that the motherboard lineup is called Back To Future (BTF), and the first GPU showcased was the GeForce RTX 4070 Megalodon. The PSU connectors are placed on the back side of the BTF board, while the CG_HPWR connector sits right next to the PCIe x16 expansion slot and looks like a PCIe x1 connector. You can see images of both products below.
64 Comments on Report: ASUS to Start Production of GPUs With No External Power Connectors
AMD, Intel, cooling companies (but primary producers, not brand names like TT or Corsair) and power supply producers must sit together and create new standard. Actually, two new standards: one highly integrated, to be used for laptops and small PCs - for that purpose, even ATX derivatives can be used successfully. Other for desktop PCs that will separate CPU and GPU, and enable easier cooling and power supply to both.
However, with desktop PC being dying breed, I do not see that happening any time soon. Also, nVidia, AMD and Intel can't just increase power consumption indefinitely... PCIe 5 and newer drives also increase consumption too much... That is simply not sustainable... Maybe back to basics and actually using engineering prowess, instead of just cramping MOAR of everything into smaller space will be needed... God forbid, what we are gonna to do ???
Wtaf am I kidding, I know your style.
The motherboard need to deliver that amount of power over it which will increase the motherboard cost as they need to design thicker copper power plane inside the PCB to deliver that high power.
When I am Ocing my 7900XTX, I have seen power up to 850W being pulled at the PCIe connector using the WireView from Thermal Grizzly. :roll:
Like we have nowadays sometimes melting GPU power cables and connectors, maybe we will have burning mainboards. :eek:
As an overlocker I will not buy such motherboard.
Just for reference, I need to real push the 7900XTX and let it consume power like hell to get this top 2nd place in Time Spy. :D
www.3dmark.com/search#advanced?test=spy%20P&cpuId=&gpuId=1526&gpuCount=0&gpuType=ALL&deviceType=ALL&storageModel=ALL&memoryChannels=0&country=&scoreType=graphicsScore&hofMode=true&showInvalidResults=false&freeParams=&minGpuCoreClock=&maxGpuCoreClock=&minGpuMemClock=&maxGpuMemClock=&minCpuClock=&maxCpuClock=
We're going to see a separate "box" that comprises basically all the hardware except storage as an ADDON, main processing device. Think of an XBox Series S but without the SSD. SO:
1) You buy a really BASIC computer that serves you for web browsing, office tasks etc.
2) You setup all the SOFTWARE. You don't want to build a new PC from scratch.
3) You buy a new "box" that comprises a SoC/APU and shared memory (just like a game console)
4) Plug it in. It just works.
NOTE: this would work with basically ANY existing computer, and ignoring SSD asset streaming even a USB2 connection would be sufficient as the game content for most games just gets moved over to the shared memory. You attach the MONITOR to the new box... for NEWER computers that act as the core PC you can make this work even better. Have an 80Gbps USB4 connection for fast SSD asset streaming, and for laptops have the video going back through to the laptop screen.
Want to upgrade? Sell the box which would be easy to test since it's self-contained and ideally just runs it's own standalone diagnostic. Buy a new one. Plug it in.
Many PROS and CONS but it would work well for many people. I know people who just want to game and do video editing and would like to just spend $500 and plug in the thing (whatever, they don't know) and have it just work. The SIZE would be far smaller than a normal PC as there's no wasted space. Basically similar to a graphics card in a box shape. The COST if this caught on would be cheaper. Less shipping costs. Less wasted material. Less cooling.
Microsoft could actually just release the next XBOX as a device like this if they wanted to. Same exact hardware just a different box and connectivity, although they have obligations in the hardware space that make this complicated. VALVE would be someone I'd actually love to see do this but using Linux. I even have a name. We could call it the "Steam Machine!"
I don't like all connectors at the back. It has to be ironclad standardized thing or its DOA. Furthermore its less costly to manufacture with everything on one side (like right now) than complicate the design even further with power connectors on the other side of PCB. You'll need excellent cable management so plugs won't cook/unplug themselves. Usually at the back of the case there is no airflow, which in age of 700W Intel CPUs, and 600W GPUs... in one word: hot.
Synergy Cooling
Looking at those articles they about putting connectors on the back not adding GPU power fully via PCIe. I have 2 cables going into my GPU, hardly a web. ;)
For all those saying ATX is dead/obsolete etc. please state why. Change shouldnt be done because we got bored. I will always see the problem as the devices are being released as a too high power device, the future is less energy usage not energy sucking machines.
Do people really hate cables that much?
There is already a system available for high power guzzling components, it has recently been delivered via a new standard. Also I think this will be a temporary fad like we seen in the past where occasionally the manufacturers get stuck and resort to crazy power consumption, then they will figure something out and it will drop again.
This time there is risk of intervention from regulators though e.g. hoover's got regulated in the UK to lower power consumption as their peak power got too high.