VGA NEWS: Asus Redesigns Graphics Cards, Unveils ReverseCool Technology

[TechZ]

Asustek Computer, a leading maker of computer components, recently announced an innovation that has been around for years, but was never implemented. The company installed graphics processor on the backside of the Extreme N6600TOP Silent graphics card, which is expected to provide better cooling.

All the typical graphics cards usually have their graphics processing unit (GPU) installed on the front-side, which means that when installed into a conventional tower computer case, the GPU does not dissipate heat in the most efficient way. Hot air typically tends to go up, which means that part of the heat conducted by the heat-sink usually returns to the GPU, which reduces overall cooling efficiency. ASUS installed graphics chip and memory on the backside of the print-circuit board to ensure that the heat goes away from the card.

Full story: xbitlabs.com (http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/video/display/20060102220053.html)

http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/6258/asusreverse2wp.jpg


-From what they've said, it actually makes good sense to put the chip/memory on the top of card.

[confus-ed]

I can't fault the logic of heat rising, but I will ask what good this'll do if you don't have a tower style case ?

I'd have thought it much simpler for most folks with this issue to not put anything in pci slot 1 except an exhaust fan, which'd cost about £5 - & I bet that's way cheaper than getting an 'upsidedown' vga card..

What wants designing 'properly' is the motherboard layout & the entire airflow through the case, like btx (http://www.formfactors.org/FFDetail.asp?FFID=12&CatID=1) attempts to ..

I can see one of these upsidedown video cards being in an ideal possition to blow lots of nice warmed air (by the gpu) onto the cpu - Mmm I'm sure that's not quite the point !?! ;)