They've been Galax for a while now. Hopefully this one gets released. I'm not sure the 750ti Razor that Galax announced awhile back ever saw official availability.
That's because it's single slot. Where else should they place the video output ports? Yes, they could have gone with a single mini-DP or so, putting restraints on the systems the GPU can work in.
two mini DP ports, one on top and one on the bottom of the slot, would allow the card to drive multiple monitors, while allowing almost a full slot for cooling.
Especially since you can drive multiple monitors from a single DP.
I can think of a couple SFF cases I have had over the years that did not have room for a "double wide" GPU. Noise is a tradeoff that some are willing to give up in order to fit into smaller cases, but we still don't know anything about the noise output of this particular card.
If these cases don't offer enough space for a second GPU slot, where shall the heat produced by this card go? It's vented exactly to the position where the 2nd slot would be. Do those cases have a metal mesh grid at this position? And for the fan?
No, I'm acting like this card is blowing ~150 W of heat inside the chassis. And people are looking to put it into the most cramped place available (ITX). And expect it to work just fine, because the card is single slot. I'm sure they'd experience a very unpleasant surprise (the card being lound and throttling massively), unless there was sufficient outside air exchange. And by that I don't mean just a few vents, but rather something serious. If an ITX design has that, maybe it's fine.
They found a way to cram this GPU into laptops without being too loud, my guess is that they can do the same for a single-slot desktop card. We used to have single-slot GPUs that weren't loud (and plenty that were), so why don't we just wait and see? Could be a massive failure, could be a sign of good things to come.
"Wait and see" is a proper approach here. However, I haven't experienced any of the "good enough" single slot coolers of old handling more than 50 - 60 W well. We're talking about almost triple that power here. Good point about the laptops, though.
Watercooling. Full face blocks are single slot, but most cards are built for two slots. You use an extra PCI slot in your case for absolutely no reason.
Yes, but only if the motherboard supports PCIe Bifurcation (e.g. Asrock X99 ITX, or the Z170 Fatal1ty ITX), you use a riser with a clock duplicator, and the OS and drivers handle it. Currently, it works under Linux with Nvidia GPUs but the Windows Nvidia drivers don't work properly (either see only one card, or crash). IIRC AMD cards with on Windows, but I'm not sure if that's in crossfire or just multi-adaptor.
Possible, just wait for eGPU Thunderbolt box that is capable of dual card which doesn't exist yet but hey, itx with dual pci-e slot is also non-existent.
I'm glad that single slot is at least a option on air cooling with the 1070.. I still would have preferred 4X or 5x Mini display ports instead of the other options, but i'm sure they have to include HDMI for nvidia (VR requirement)
I like the idea of single slot graphics cards, but a 1070 seems a bit much for a single slot solution. Kudos if Galax can pull it off and even more kudos if they can do it without high pitched fan whine. I do think a 1060 and/or 1050 would have been a better candidate for something like this though.
I figure the only way you make your money back on the expensive cooling components is on a more expensive card. You can hide the extra cost easier on a $350 card than a $200 card I imagine.
However I agree.
I feel like if you had a case that was set up right, say with 140mm fans at front and back, you would be able to evacuate the heat well enough... But yeah. Typical It's case is So full if cables the airflow would be tricky.
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Byte - Tuesday, December 20, 2016 - link
I guess they took over the old Galaxy brand?jtd871 - Tuesday, December 20, 2016 - link
They've been Galax for a while now. Hopefully this one gets released. I'm not sure the 750ti Razor that Galax announced awhile back ever saw official availability.Gunbuster - Wednesday, December 21, 2016 - link
My burning question is will they loose another letter in 2017 and become Gala?Gigaplex - Tuesday, December 20, 2016 - link
A blower design with no rear venting? Odd.MrSpadge - Wednesday, December 21, 2016 - link
That's because it's single slot. Where else should they place the video output ports? Yes, they could have gone with a single mini-DP or so, putting restraints on the systems the GPU can work in.TheinsanegamerN - Wednesday, December 21, 2016 - link
two mini DP ports, one on top and one on the bottom of the slot, would allow the card to drive multiple monitors, while allowing almost a full slot for cooling.Especially since you can drive multiple monitors from a single DP.
DanNeely - Wednesday, December 21, 2016 - link
Dump the DVI too for a 3rd miniDP/microHDMI connector.nathanddrews - Tuesday, December 20, 2016 - link
That's awesome, we need more of these designs.Murloc - Wednesday, December 21, 2016 - link
we don't, because it's surely noisy as hell. So what's the use case? Not an HTPC for sure! Why would you need a single slot card then?nathanddrews - Wednesday, December 21, 2016 - link
I can think of a couple SFF cases I have had over the years that did not have room for a "double wide" GPU. Noise is a tradeoff that some are willing to give up in order to fit into smaller cases, but we still don't know anything about the noise output of this particular card.MrSpadge - Wednesday, December 21, 2016 - link
If these cases don't offer enough space for a second GPU slot, where shall the heat produced by this card go? It's vented exactly to the position where the 2nd slot would be. Do those cases have a metal mesh grid at this position? And for the fan?nathanddrews - Wednesday, December 21, 2016 - link
Most have mesh, some don't. Without testing this card specifically, I can't say what sort of impact (if any) would occur.TheinsanegamerN - Wednesday, December 21, 2016 - link
ever wonder why many of those old cases have multiple vents cut out around the PCI slots?Thats why.
The fan pulls heat from inside the chassis. You act like youve never imagined the concept of a blower style card before.
MrSpadge - Wednesday, December 21, 2016 - link
No, I'm acting like this card is blowing ~150 W of heat inside the chassis. And people are looking to put it into the most cramped place available (ITX). And expect it to work just fine, because the card is single slot. I'm sure they'd experience a very unpleasant surprise (the card being lound and throttling massively), unless there was sufficient outside air exchange. And by that I don't mean just a few vents, but rather something serious. If an ITX design has that, maybe it's fine.nathanddrews - Wednesday, December 21, 2016 - link
They found a way to cram this GPU into laptops without being too loud, my guess is that they can do the same for a single-slot desktop card. We used to have single-slot GPUs that weren't loud (and plenty that were), so why don't we just wait and see? Could be a massive failure, could be a sign of good things to come.MrSpadge - Wednesday, December 21, 2016 - link
"Wait and see" is a proper approach here. However, I haven't experienced any of the "good enough" single slot coolers of old handling more than 50 - 60 W well. We're talking about almost triple that power here. Good point about the laptops, though.Ducky21 - Wednesday, December 21, 2016 - link
Watercooling. Full face blocks are single slot, but most cards are built for two slots. You use an extra PCI slot in your case for absolutely no reason.RaichuPls - Tuesday, December 20, 2016 - link
ITX build with SLI? Is that possible?megadirk - Wednesday, December 21, 2016 - link
Nope, ITX has only one PCI-E slot.edzieba - Wednesday, December 21, 2016 - link
Yes, but only if the motherboard supports PCIe Bifurcation (e.g. Asrock X99 ITX, or the Z170 Fatal1ty ITX), you use a riser with a clock duplicator, and the OS and drivers handle it. Currently, it works under Linux with Nvidia GPUs but the Windows Nvidia drivers don't work properly (either see only one card, or crash). IIRC AMD cards with on Windows, but I'm not sure if that's in crossfire or just multi-adaptor.WorldWithoutMadness - Wednesday, December 21, 2016 - link
Possible, just wait for eGPU Thunderbolt box that is capable of dual card which doesn't exist yet but hey, itx with dual pci-e slot is also non-existent.TheinsanegamerN - Wednesday, December 21, 2016 - link
barely, with specific setups.But a dual slot DTX board could do it, or a micro ATX board with room between cards for cooling.
mortenelkjaer - Wednesday, December 21, 2016 - link
Doesn't look like they want to do SLI with this one at all - from the pictures.Morawka - Wednesday, December 21, 2016 - link
I'm glad that single slot is at least a option on air cooling with the 1070.. I still would have preferred 4X or 5x Mini display ports instead of the other options, but i'm sure they have to include HDMI for nvidia (VR requirement)BrokenCrayons - Thursday, December 22, 2016 - link
I like the idea of single slot graphics cards, but a 1070 seems a bit much for a single slot solution. Kudos if Galax can pull it off and even more kudos if they can do it without high pitched fan whine. I do think a 1060 and/or 1050 would have been a better candidate for something like this though.doggface - Friday, December 23, 2016 - link
I figure the only way you make your money back on the expensive cooling components is on a more expensive card. You can hide the extra cost easier on a $350 card than a $200 card I imagine.However I agree.
I feel like if you had a case that was set up right, say with 140mm fans at front and back, you would be able to evacuate the heat well enough... But yeah. Typical It's case is So full if cables the airflow would be tricky.