ASUS, a leading computer hardware company, is revolutionizing consumer graphics cards by introducing GPUs with built-in solid-state drives (SSDs). This innovative concept aims to optimize the utilization of PCIe lanes, ensuring that none go to waste.
Typically, entry-level and mid-range graphics cards are designed to operate with PCIe Gen4 specifications and 8 lanes. However, these cards are ultimately inserted into a 16-lane slot, leaving some lanes unutilized. While these cards feature a full-sized connector, not all lanes are electrically connected.
To address this issue, ASUS has conceived a solution. Tony Yu, General Manager at ASUS, showcased a concept RTX 4060 Ti Dual graphics card that incorporates an M.2 SSD slot. This allows the unused PCIe lanes to be allocated for other devices, such as high-speed SSD storage. The concept GPU presented featured a Samsung 980 PRO 2TB SSD attached to the backside.
Installing SSDs on graphics cards offers multiple advantages. It eliminates the inconvenience of tight spaces on motherboards where SSDs are typically installed, often necessitating the removal of graphics cards or CPU coolers. With M.2 SSDs integrated into a graphics card, users can enjoy easier access.
Addressing concerns about power requirements, the graphics card’s greater power consumption should not exceed 10W at maximum. This level of power can be easily handled by an RTX 4060 Ti with just one 8-pin power connector.
Tony also discussed the potential heat issues arising from connecting an SSD to a graphics card. Interestingly, temperature measurements showed that the modified PCB design, which allows airflow from the GPU cooler to reach the SSD, effectively reduced temperatures by around 10 degrees Celsius. Additionally, any performance loss was minimal, with the sustained read speed only dropping from 6.9 GB/s to 6.8 GB/s.
It’s worth noting that ASUS is not the first company to incorporate on-board SSDs into graphics cards. AMD previously explored this idea with the professional Radeon SSG based on the Vega architecture, although the implementation was less convenient. Nonetheless, it is hoped that ASUS’s innovative concept will be embraced more widely by the mid-range GPU segment in the future.
This exciting development from ASUS opens up new possibilities for graphics card design and utilization of unused PCIe lanes. As technology continues to evolve, users can look forward to enhanced access, improved cooling, and greater efficiency in their GPU performance.