About ****ing time someone made this!! http://www.techpowerup.com/223105/evga-unveils-unique-l-shaped-vga-power-adapter Hope they come in several versions or other people make similar things, because cables = ugly. Now we just need one for ATX + EPS.
Great idea, but the execution is... chunky. You don't gain any height advantage over existing low-profile 90° PCIe power plugs (actually looks a bit taller than some existing adapters), and the big plastic arm will block airflow from cards that exhaust out the front.
Definitely a step in the right direction - but I'd like to go a bit further, with the plugs facing towards the PCIe slot.
I believe they put the connection for longer cards on the top as to allow space for for the card and cables to fit in smaller cases. EDIT: If they could make the top half as thin as possible it would allow more choice of cards to fit in media cases
It isn't a problem, but lack of choice in the matter can be a pain for some. My case doesn't have a window so it's not an issue but, if it did, I'd want the cables at the end.
Although a nice idea couldn't they just put the power connectors on the bottom corner of the card? either facing down to the PCI-E slot or on the front (i.e. down the case)? Could then use something similar to this as an extender to get the cables past the motherboard to the cable tidy holes...? Actually, what with GPUs requiring more and more power connectors why hasn't the PCI/PCI-E standard moved on to allow for higher power draw?
Because it's mainly the niche products that require more power - the vast majority of GPUs are more power efficient than the previous generations, requiring less power for the same or better performance.
Is it really that niche? Don't most discrete graphics cards require at least one power connector? If you want/need a discrete graphics card you're probably not going to buy the super-low-end ones that don't, whereas anyone that doesn't want/need a discrete GPU will be happy with the iGPUs. Also as the primary function of PCI-E slots seems to be for installing discrete graphics cards, I still don't see why the standard has not been souped up power-wise... Its also not like we haven't had a split/evolution of the standard before PCI/AGP/PCI-E, mainly to improve data transfer rates, but why not another split/change to (say) PCI-E+ that allows greater power draw? The mobo manufacturers can then add it as another tick-box to their gaming/enthusiast boards and sell more at over-inflated prices... Wouldn't you prefer to reduce the cable clutter in your case?
Exactly. Or in sync with cases where there's holes in MB tray so the plugs can be popped in from the back. Same reason why ATX/EPS connectors should be on the BACK of MB PCBs frankly. I don't agree. A lot of cards take 2 cables. It's a stupid situation and, yes, it should be upgraded with either something like a mezzanine with lots of lower amp pins or a single, bigger high-amp connector. I've petitioned for it before but never turned out. It's controlled by PCISIG and industry groups like this don't give a **** about what end-consumers think. Whatever they do is for cost, ease of implementation and manufacturing compatibility.
It's funny how excited I get when I see things as simple as this. Things we should have had years ago really. Right now I have two 8 pin cables crossing directly in front of a fan. If I could move those cables then happy times. It's nice that EVGA let us order from them now (something to do with the EU IIRC) but their shipping prices are horrendous. £16 for a back plate.. Still, hopefully we'll see these at major retailers. I'm sure it will only be a matter of time now. The PC community is funny really, with every one stealing ideas from every one. The ideas usually come from modders, but I would imagine something like this would be terribly hard to make with your general modding tools. Give it six months and every one will be making these
Um, what are you disagreeing with? Are you saying that newer generation cards don't draw less power? Both the 1080 and 1070 cards use one 8 pin connector.
I think it's a neat idea but not very practical, considering the way people are going nowadays with small cases and some graphics cards are already very long. With my current setup I simply would not have enough space to mount cables to the end of the card (well... it actually adds more length to the card, so double whammy). What about something far simpler: an "L" (90 degree) connector for PCI-E, much like we get for SATA? It would keep cables tidy under the gpu instead of directing them out and into the side of the case. Something like this has already been done, but somewhat strangely the cables are angled to the side rather than underneath, preventing two PCI-E connectors from being placed side-by-side as they would be in 99% of real world applications... design fayul. In the event that you have two connectors in mirror configuration, one connector would direct the cables towards the back of your case rather than the front. Again, design fayul. If anybody does take the idea of a 90 degree "under" PCI-E connector and make it into a real thing, I said it here first!
Certainly could! I wanted to before - even have access to a 3D printer, but no time to learn how to do designs I mean, power irregardless it should have a single connector. Even the dual GPU cards that have or 3 8-pins should only ever require a single connector. Jacob from EVGA said they are designing several connector standards, but obv with their own card lengths in mind.
