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If you're at a motherboard manufacturer I have some definite points for you to hear. One is.. there are essentially zero motherboards that space out x16 pci-e
by mk_stjames 3y ago
If you're at a motherboard manufacturer I have some definite points for you to hear.
One is.. there are essentially zero motherboards that space out x16 pci-e slots so that you can appropriately use more than 2 triple-slot GPUs. 3090s and 4090s are all triple slot cards, but often motherboard are putting x16 slots spaced 2-apart, with x8 or less slots in between. There may be a few that allow you to fit 2x cards, but none that would support 3x I don't think, and definitely none that do 4x. Obviously that would result in a non-standard length motherboard (much taller). But in the ML world it would be appreciated because it would be possible to build quad card systems without watercooling cards or using A5000/A6000 or other dual slot, expensive datacenter cards.
And then, even for dual-slot cards like the A5000/A6000 etc again there are very few motherboards that you can get the x16 slots spaced appropriately. The Supermicro H12SSL-i is about the only one that gets 4 x16 slots double-slot spaced appropriately and in a way that you could run 4 blower or WC'd cards and not overlap something else. And then, even when you do, you have the problem of the pin headers on the bottom of the motherboard interfere with the last card. That location of the pin headers is archaic and annoying and just needs to die.
Remember those mining-rig specialty motherboards, with all the wide-spaced pci-e slots for like 8x GPU's at once? we need that, but with x16-bandwidth slots. Those mining cards were typically only x1 bandwidth slots (even if they were x16 length) because for mining, bandwidth between cards and CPU isn't a problem, but for ML it is.
Sure, these won't fit the typical ATX case standards. But if you build it, they will come.
- ohgodplsno 3y agoThe thought of power draw of 4 4090s going through a commercial along with insisting on staying with aircooling in a case that is now going to be horribly cramped and with no airflow probably keeps a firefighter awake a night sometimes. There's no reasonable use of consumer motherboards having the space for that. Even SLI is more or less abandoned. Needless to say: * Making a new motherboard form factor, incompatible with _everything in the market_ * Having to make therefore new cases, incompatible with _everything in the market_ (or, well, it'll be compatible. It'll just be extremely empty. * Having to probably make your own PSUs because I wouldn't trust a constant 1200W draw from just GPUs on your average Seasonic PSU If you build it, not only will noone come, but they also don't have the money to pay for what you'd charge to even just offset costs.
- Tepix 3y agoThere are cases on the market today with more than 7 slots next to each other like the Fractal Design Define 7 XL and the Fractal Design Meshify 2 XL. These could fit three 3-slot cards with the right mainboard. I think there is a market for it and i hope these products will arrive soon.
- brucethemoose2 3y agoThis would have to be a server board, or at least a HEDT board. And yeah, as said below, 4x 4090s would trip most circuit breakers and require some contortions to power with a regular PSU. And it would be so expensive that you mind as well buy 2x A6000s. Really, the problem is no one will sell fast, sanely priced 32GB+ GPUs. I am hoping Intel will disrupt this awful status quo with Battlemage.
- Tepix 3y agoI totally agree! There are a few more boards with 4 x16 slots at 2 slot spacing: GIGABYTE MU92-TU0 ASRock Rack SPC621D8 (3 variants) ASRock C621A WS Supermicro X12SPA-TF
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