Honestly, when was the last time you installed something? PCIE slot Wasn’t that a graphics card? The ATX motherboard comes with a few slots 1x and 4x for expansion cards, but you can still indulge in this carade, which is hardly used by anyone. Meanwhile, what is used for graphics cards is becoming more and more overloaded to the point that it is barely suitable for purpose. Kill this 4 year old idea of expansion cards. Yes, it includes those on the top of the GPU. There needs to be a better way.
Knowing that standard plastic slots can’t deal with strain, most of the best gaming motherboard designs today feature metal-reinforced PCIe slots and engineering exhaust systems, with some of the latest graphics cards getting bigger than they can fit in a regular case. Why are we patient with PC hardware systems that are clearly not yet at work?
The current PCIE slot upgrade system forces graphics card manufacturers to build extra large gimmicks. The cooling system is so big that people have to install anti-sag brackets underneath it, but the slots are close to enough power and high-end graphics cards are melting due to unstable and excessive cables. Let’s face it, the PCIe slot is not working.
I say this with some regret. Because I’m a veteran PC gamer who remembers fondly the 90s and really needs a motherboard with as many PCI and ISA slots as possible for a sound card, modem, SCSI controller, 3DFX voodooer card, and a Sillus Logic 5446 2D card. But those times have long gone. As an example, let’s compare my old PCI Sound Blaster X-Fi sound card with this new Asrock Radeon RX 9070 XT card.
The Sound Blaster X-Fi is definitely a “card.” This is a PCB that connects to a single old school PCI expansion slot. Conversely, the graphics card has the PCB surrounded by a backplate and a huge cooling system, allowing you to barely see the PCB, and the box also includes a support stick to stop it from hanging down. Occupies the same room as the three expansion cards, most metal I/O plates are passed to the vents of the cooling system. Technically it may include a PCB and a PCIE connector, but it’s difficult to think of it as a “card” just like a sound card.
But these ridiculously oversized gimmicks are the only ones that fit in the PCIe slot on my motherboard right now. Almost every additional feature I can imagine is otherwise integrated into the motherboard or available in a USB box with convenient access to all ports. For most people’s needs, PCIE slots can now proceed.
Instead, forget about the PCIE slots and think about what you need for a graphics card upgrade system. The 16x PCIE 5.0 bus itself is perfectly suited to the job in terms of bandwidth. You need a more secure socket system that provides access to these lanes. Having a CPU-style socket system is a non-starter here, as GPUs only require a PCB and chip with memory.
But what about a large standardized modular system that connects directly to the motherboard so that the PCB is flat? It could occupy a large area of the motherboard (after all, most people don’t need these additional PCIe slots). It can then be held on the motherboard not only by wide socket latch systems that hold it safer than thin slots, but also by standardized screw layouts via standoffs around the edges.
The socket system must provide both power and 16x PCIE data connections. I mean not only 75W, but the right amount of power – I should be able to install the graphics module without the need to connect a power cable.
This is not out of the question as motherboard manufacturers can already provide GPU power via their motherboard sockets, as seen in ASUS BTF systems. There is a need for a safe and stable way to allow enough 12V power to move from the PSU to this part of the motherboard, and it is spreading, so it won’t send a ridiculous amount of current with just one small cable. The fewer user connections involved, the better.
Once you have a large graphics module lying on top of your motherboard, you can think about cooling properly. Pack in as few slots as possible, not constrained by pressure placed on thin slot connectors.
Instead of three small fans blowing hot air inside the case, they can instead think properly about the cooling system. This could be that a full-size fan is working in conjunction with the front back airflow system of the case. Using a large area, we have built a decent heat sink and heat pipe system that is fixed to the motherboard, and the heat is exhausted straight from the back. Alternatively, it can be equipped with a flow cooling system.
Of course, I’m not a motherboard engineer – there may be good reasons why this idea is unrealistic, but at least let’s ask. Is there a better way than using a PCIe slot?
GPUs are undoubtedly the most important component of gaming PCs, but now they require a huge amount of power and cooling, and the industry needs to collectively think about better ways to install them. I’ve done it on an M.2 SSD and CAMM memory, but let’s do it for the graphics card as well. Maybe in the future, our best graphics card guide GPU looks completely different – I can hope.
Am I the only one thinking about this? Please tell me if I’m right or wrong on the Community Disparity Server.
