ASUS Readies Size-Optimized GeForce GTX 670 DirectCU Mini for Mini-ITX Builds

[btarunr]

ASUS is working on the GeForce GTX 670 DirectCU Mini, a high-end graphics card that's size-optimized for mini-ITX gaming PC builds. NVIDIA's reference-design PCB for the GTX 670 already established that compact (<20 cm long) PCBs are very much possible for the chip. ASUS designed its own short (17 cm long) PCB with a 5-phase VRM, which draws power from a single 8-pin PCIe power connector, instead of two 6-pin. This allows you to make do with compact PSUs that only feature one PCIe connector, and avoid wasting Molex cables on the second 6-pin.

What's more interesting about the GTX 670 DirectCU Mini is its cooler, which appears to use a combination of a thick metal plate that draws heat from VRM and memory on the obverse side; and a round aluminum fin-stack, which could be cooled by a single ~80 mm fan. ASUS did not release pricing or availability information, and is still gauging community interest in such a product.



View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[Ze]

That thing is TINY, and it can support 3/4way? Do want

 

[The Von Matrices]

Thank you, ASUS, for using a single 8-pin connector instead of 2 6-pin connectors. I wish more manufacturers would do this since both solutions support 150W but the single connector creates less cable clutter.

 

[Widjaja]

This is the size the 670 should have been in the first place.

 

[15th Warlock]

What a cute little card Don't be mistaken though, it packs a punch!

This thing alog with a mini-ITX i7 would make for a nearly silent and killer HTPC!

 

[badtaylorx]

"50 shades of Geek"???

Ms Lian Li "Hurry up I dont have all night. Put it in my slot already."

Mr Kepler (looking dejected) "It is"

oh god, its waaaaaayyyy too late

 

[Ghost]

Seems to be about the same size as Zotac version introduced in June 2012.

http://www.techpowerup.com/167657/ZOTAC-GeForce-GTX-670-TwinCooler-Graphics-Card-Detailed.html

 

[jihadjoe]

This is the size the 670 should have been in the first place.

Indeed. Considering the size of the PCB I think you're very right.

 

[MxPhenom 216]

That is awesome. Im not a fan of Asus lately, but that is sweet. I want to get one to stick into my server when I move it to a Bitfenix Prodigy case, and when I use it as a backup rig when I upgrade to Haswell this summer.

 

[NeoXF]

Awww...

 

[LiveOrDie]

Nice to see i like these builds for my lan PC.

 

[silapakorn]

When I heard "Asus DirectCU" I automatically assumed that it would consume 3 slots and have a backplate. F*** me, right?

 

[btarunr]

Final version could have a backplate. ASUS is yet to finalize cooler shroud design and other cosmetic things.

 

[Vancha]

At last! This is what I was hoping for when we first saw the small PCBs of the 670. I desperately hope this is becomes a trend that catches on.

When I heard "Asus DirectCU" I automatically assumed that it would consume 3 slots and have a backplate. F*** me, right?

Well considering all 600 cards but the 680 2GB use two slots, yeah, fuck you.

 

[Delta6326]

Very nice, can only hope gpu's get smaller in the future.

 

[HammerON]

Very interesting card. I too like the 8-pin feature versus two 6-pins.

 

[dj-electric]

If sparkle could manage to make a GTX560Ti, it would not be suprising you could do that with GTX670 at all.

 

[suraswami]

w1z please post power consumption for these cards.

 

[iO]

Really nice card.
But that screaming ~80 mm fan kinda ruined it...

 

[tacosRcool]

interesting that it needs only one 8 pin connector

 

[natr0n]

Arnie voice "hello cutie pie"

 

[newtekie1]

Really nice card.
But that screaming ~80 mm fan kinda ruined it...

With as cool as these cards run, I don't think it will be all that loud.

 

[Widjaja]

Indeed. Considering the size of the PCB I think you're very right.

I feel that the size increase of the cooler itself was primarily a marketing tactic.

See....there are people who are not too smart and tend to believe bigger is better.

Personally I do not believe nVidia needed to use that big cooler on the 670 and could have very easily made a cooler which stayed within the length of the PCB.

 

[Crap Daddy]

This is the size the 670 should have been in the first place.

How do you think anybody would have bought a tiny card for 400$?

 

[Widjaja]

How do you think anybody would have bought a tiny card for 400$?

That's the problem.
I know it performs like a $400 card but it's not big enough to be $400.