12VHPWR cable for 3080-some questions

[Ruru]

nVidia needed the 12+4pin.
Was the “solution” to its FE pcb-cooler design.

Try and fit 3 or 4 8pins on this…
View attachment 362446

Later on, most AIBs adopted the same layout for their reasons…

I don't even understand why the hell they needed that hilarious-looking V-design for the PCB. Or why it can't be few centimeters longer for housing more classic connectors?

Also I remember that some reference cards have the connector soldered to the PCB with extension wires instead of having the connectors on the PCB.

 

[Zach_01]

I don't even understand why the hell they needed that hilarious-looking V-design for the PCB. Or why it can't be few centimeters longer for housing more classic connectors?

Also I remember that some reference cards have the connector soldered to the PCB with extension wires instead of having the connectors on the PCB.

Like I said PCB-cooler design.

The FE has 2 fans.
One on each side of the card
The bottom fan pushes air on gpu die and goes right outside the case and top fan (pic) pulls air straight through fins and heat pipes.

 

[Ruru]

Like I said PCB-cooler design.

The FE has 2 fans.
One on each side of the card
The bottom fan pushes air on gpu die and goes right outside the case and top fan (pic) pulls air straight through fins and heat pipes.

View attachment 362472

I know, but that could stil have been done with traditional 8-pin connectors. That dual-side cooler is pretty genious.

 

[Zach_01]

I know, but that could stil have been done with traditional 8-pin connectors. That dual-side cooler is pretty genious.

We are doing circles now...
More connectors dont fit

Its not only the actual connector(s) but also the components after it.
Not enough PCB space/area for more components cant you see it?



What do you think all this is?
Decoration?

 

[Ruru]

We are doing circles now...
More connectors dont fit

Its not only the actual connector(s) but also the components after it.
Not enough PCB space/area for more components cant you see it?

View attachment 362485

What do you think all this is?
Decoration?

View attachment 362492

My opinion is still that few extra centimetres aren't anything when you think the size of modern high-end cards.

 

[Dr. Dro]

6/8 pin have done their job perfectly well for 2 decades. it aint broke dont fix it.

These connectors are not adequate for high-power graphics cards, but the real reason for their implementation is that it streamlines manufacturing and simplifies board design. That's why the traditional PCIe connectors are on their way out.

My opinion is still that few extra centimetres aren't anything when you think the size of modern high-end cards.

Smaller traces means lower latency and higher achievable bandwidth, as well as fewer electrical losses and less susceptibility to noise, so smaller, tightly integrated PCB is a big bonus. Kind of bizarre this same breakthrough in technology mostly came at the same time air cooled cards started going giant

 

[chrcoluk]

Its a multitude of things, I am comparing to the 3080 FE.

4080 FE is a taller card (also fatter and longer), the heatsink is way too big for its TDP, it didnt need to be this size, but I think Nvidia made it bigger as bigger heatsink makes higher $ feel like you getting something more for that higher price. But with the card being taller, the cable is closer to side panel of case. Most reviewers of course using test benches, wouldnt pick up on this flaw.
3080/3090 FE had angled cable, meaning there was less bend stress on the cable. For some reason Nvidia havent declared why this design was changed for the 4000 series FE cards.

Wouldnt surprise me if deals have been made with companies like Corsair who make both PSUs and cases, make the GPU bigger, make a new connector which brings out a new PSU standard, then Nvidia get % cut of cases/PSUs sold.

For me I would say 3080 cooler is probably about as big as coolers should ever get on a GPU, if a card is deemed to need bigger then that then it should be an AIO, and if you charging 4 figures for a card or at least close to four figures you can afford to add an AIO for the price. This is relevant because a smaller card, means more room for that 2 inches or so of straight cable.

 

[Zach_01]

My opinion is still that few extra centimetres aren't anything when you think the size of modern high-end cards.

How many more? 2-3cm? Would then be enough for 3x8pin or 4x8pin?
I doubt it.

4090 is 304mm long as it is. Adding 20-30mm would make the card hard to fit in some cases.

And the next comment should be:
Who ever has the 2000 to afford a 4090 can a afford a bigger case that can fit 350mm long cards

I can’t answer everything unfortunately as to why nVidia chose to keep the card around 300mm.

 

[dirtyferret]

ill take 8pin all day long vs the horribly designed and small 12pin. and really theres no need. just add more 8pin if needed. goto 3 or 4.

These connectors are not adequate for high-power graphics cards

just to go into further detail what the DR stated

assuming we are talking about an ATX 3.x spec PSU with a 12VHPWR connector you would get the following
600w through one cable (assuming the PSU designed so)
12V rail handles lower voltage drops better
200% of rated power for 100μs

I know you plan or wanted to use the adapter but if you are designing a connection for card that can spike over 500w than the 12pin makes sense

 

[inquisitor1]

thats fine, but why the hell so small. make it it a bit bigger. instead of 2x8pin, make the 12pin as big as both 8 pins. why the hell does it have to be so dang small

maybe good idea, but crep implementation. bad design for sure