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USB-style sockets could require less force to insert than a typical card, so they're less likely to break, but that's also a function of design. A plastic sleev
by astrodust 9y ago
USB-style sockets could require less force to insert than a typical card, so they're less likely to break, but that's also a function of design. A plastic sleeve to guide the card into place and ensure a good fit isn't that hard a concept.
- wlesieutre 9y agoForce to insert it isn't what I'm worried about, it's snapping it off with perpendicular force. Double height GPUs are heavy and most of that's supported by hanging off the socket.
- astrodust 9y agoAny heavy-weight CPU would have 4 or 8 sockets holding it up, so that shouldn't be an issue. If all that weight was hinging on one socket an accommodation to have some kind of flange wouldn't be too hard to incorporate.
- wlesieutre 9y agoTrue, you could still run the PCB footprint out to the edge and have a support socket on the motherboard to grab it. Then we could eliminate the cost of the USB components by building contacts into the support socket that connect to pads on the PCB! I dunno, ease of inserting and removal just isn't on my list of desires for a GPU. I install one maybe every 2 years, and I don't want to worry about it falling out and smashing around inside my case if I pick up my computer or something. Whatever mounting shenanigans are necessary to lock it in place with weaker connectors feels like a solution looking for a problem. The somewhat high force of PCIe slots is a feature, not a bug.