DirectCU Mini 780? Titan?

[lucke1986]

Hi,

Theoretically, if you have the opportunity to talk with ASUS (manufacturer) and NVIDIA about DirectCU Mini for GTX 780 and Titan, what would you say to engineering and sales?

Driver for change - new Mac Pro is really small, higher-up suspect the market will shift and less risky to propose b/c "Apple is going small".

Key challenge - sales for the DirectCU Mini sucked compare to regular versions.

 

[Phuncz]

GTX 760 PCB

GTX 780 PCB

You don't even have to ask. The GTX 760 or GTX 670 was an already compact card, it wasn't made much smaller, but the DCU Mini is higher than the PCI-e standard dictates.

The new Mac Pro uses workstation-class cards without added coolers and video connectors, it's basically just the PCB. We also don't know which cards they are going to use but my guess is they will fit in 150W power to minimize heat and to drop extra power connectors.

 

[lucke1986]

You don't even have to ask...

When I spoke with NVIDIA sales, I was told ASUS might be able to design a new board and get it to work, but I'm not an engineer, so I don't understand the technical challenge.

 

[Phuncz]

It might be possible, when based on the GTX780M but I highly doubt they could make a mini GTX780 for a price below that of a Titan, considering almost every component needs to be (massively) upgraded.

It's not just a matter of possible, ofcourse it's possible, but of commercial viability.

 

[lucke1986]

This will most likely be a not for profit endeavor.

I just want a small GPU for my M1

 

[vipz]

I think the max you can get is a fully enabled GK104 (680/770) on either the DirectCU mini or stock 670/760 PCB, with the appropriate BIOS to limit power draw in case of the 770.

 

[medeyer]

I thought about the possibility of a short 3-slot GPU using two PCBs side by side. But I know next to nothing about that sort of thing.

 

[Zap]

Key challenge - sales in for DirectCU Mini sucked compare to regular versions.

What Asus needs to understand is WHY the sales sucked.

I bought a "short" card. Mine was a Zotac GTX 660 Ti, going into an SG05. Not that I needed that short a card, but here was my reasoning.
1) It did not cost more than other cards.
2) It used normal dual 6-pin.
3) Short? Why not, in case I ever put it in a more cramped case.

I don't see why other companies didn't do something similar. Use the reference short PCB (through GTX 670) and put a shorter cooler on it. Why use a custom PCB and increase costs?

 

[lucke1986]

I suppose it's also a Chicken or the Egg problem.

Should computer cases that require shorter GPU come first or should the shorter GPUs come first.

Micro-ATX and Mini-ITX isn't mainstream enough to create the demand.

 

[milkcow]

I suppose it's also a Chicken or the Egg problem.

Should computer cases that require shorter GPU come first or should the shorter GPUs come first.

Micro-ATX and Mini-ITX isn't mainstream enough to create the demand.

I'd say that mATX is pretty much standard with Dell & Co ?!

 

[SithSolo1]

I'd say that mATX is pretty much standard with Dell & Co ?!

Yeah, mATX has been mainstream for years. The problem with the OEM builders is that they either use a mATX case large enough to fit a full size card with a weak psu or they use the Slim-mATX cases that are not only limited by the psu but also by card length and height.

I doubt OEMs will go mini-ITX. They are more likely to jump directly from mATX to something NUC sized. mini-ITX cases like you are refering to will stay a niche market.

As for your crowd sourced mini 780/Titan idea, it'll never get off the ground. You would need tens of millions of dollars and thousands of orders to make it even remotely feasible.

 

[Phuncz]

It's because the general populace still believe a fast computer needs to be large/bulky and have a 750W PSU, even for a single mid-end GPU. You see this at LAN-parties all the time: people chugging HUGE cases (I did once too), taking up all the space. Oh well...

 

[Necere]

MicroATX is almost 10" deep anyway, so short cards really only make sense for mini-ITX.

 

[lucke1986]

As for your crowd sourced mini 780/Titan idea, it'll never get off the ground. You would need tens of millions of dollars and thousands of orders to make it even remotely feasible.

While I can't reveal actual figures, but based on the "most funded" page on Kickstarter, it's not hopeless.

Look at it this way: @ $500/GPU, $1,000,000 = 2000 units, while that's a big number, but is it really impossible in the GPU market?

For people buying high-end GPUs, if they choose the "shorter reference card" over longer ones, they get the satisfaction of changing history.

In a perfect scenario - a not-for-profit campaign backed by NVIDIA, is it really impossible to get 2000 backers?

The bigger picture is to push for high performance GPUs on shorter cards. I understand the Titan/780 have power and thermal issues that makes it difficult. However, if these companies decide to entertain this idea, GPUs of next generation are also possibilities (assuming the next generation GPUs are more efficient).

 

[illli]

the DCU mini also came out kind of late. much later than when the standard-sized batch of 670s came out. if it had been an option at the start i think it would have sold better.

 

[SithSolo1]

Look at it this way: @ $500/GPU, $1,000,000 = 2000 units, while that's a big number, but is it really impossible in the GPU market?

But it wouldn't be $500 a unit. You would also have to cover the cost of the R&D of the new smaller PCB and then the fab costs. Even breaking even you'd be in the $1000s per unit.

 

[medeyer]

the DCU mini also came out kind of late. much later than when the standard-sized batch of 670s came out. if it had been an option at the start i think it would have sold better.

Not to mention it was more expensive.than the original 670.