System Light Dark

xentr_theme_editor

xentr_page_setup xentr_appearance xentr_sidebar

  • xentr_page_width

    xentr_toggle_page_width

    xentr_page_width_description

    xentr_color_pickers

    xentr_toggle_color_picker

    xentr_toggle_color_picker_description

    xentr_typography

    xentr_select_the_font_you_want_to_use

    xentr_node_layout

    xentr_grid_layout

    xentr_grid_layout_description

  • Style variation

    xentr_select_the_style_variation_you_want_to_use
    System Light Dark

  • xentr_sidebar

    xentr_toggles_sidebar

    xentr_sidebar_description

    xentr_sticky_sidebar

    xentr_sticky_sidebar_description
    xentr_sidebar_position
    Left
    Right
  • Please do not post any links until you have 3 posts as they will automatically be rejected to prevent SPAM. Many words are also blocked due to being used in SPAM Messages. Thanks!

to GPU backet or GPU brace? that is the question!

Marzipan

Marzipan

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 21, 2007
Messages
15,898
Reaction score
6,599
Age
46
Location
Prince Rupert, British Columbia, Canuckistan
xentr_thread_starter
this would be for an Asus Prime RTX 4070 Super OC on an MSI Z790 Edge WiFi in a Phanteks XT Pro Ultra. Phanteks has a GPU brace accessory, but they're insanely expensive (more than the damn case!), but aside from that lunacy, nobody has them in stock either.

aside from looking 'cool', is there any cooling or air flow advantage to positioning your GPU in a vertical orientation vs. the horizontal while using a brace? are any of you using a vertical bracket?

it dawned on me I didn't think about getting a brace, which definitely be a must, and then I saw these newfangled vertical doohickies. suggestions appreciated!
 
There can be some airflow benefits based on the case / gpu combination. A vertical mount may change how much fresh air it is able to pull in, sometimes better sometimes worse depending on the combination. I would however expect the actual measured results to be pretty small.

There can also be some cable routing benefits (12VHPWR chaos) with less strain on the connection instead of stressed due to the side panel, or may no longer be necessary to use 90/180 adapters.
 
Depends entirely on the GPU itself and how close it is to the side panel. A few years ago I wouldn't even consider putting a GPU vertically because even a 2-slot would be too close to the side panel - and even if it was a grille instead of a window, that's just too close and makes lots of noise / doesn't cool well. The GPU itself part comes down to bypass airflow amount (at least that what I call it, I think others call it "flow through"). Some GPUs have an entire fans airflow (half if it's a 2 -fan card, or a third if it's a 3 -fan card) going directly through through the heatsink and out the back/top of the card. A 2-fan card especially, with 1 of the fans fully "flowing through", seems to favor standard installation more (the air doesn't have to change directions so much.

Sadly... Asus design. Ugh. Your card has a tiny bypass section, barely half of one fan in area. I'd suggest mocking it up normally and testing temps, then doing it again vertically. See which one is better before buying a GPU support.

Oh! Little -mentioned fact: in a vertical GPU install you almost never need a GPU support. Vertical gpu means any PCB bend is going to be on the same plane as the PCB (aka very strong already) and the vertical PCIe slot is more than enough support by itself for the card.

I've only used GPU supports on Heeaavvvyyy GPUs that are installed in the standard orientation. And some modern midrange and lower options are strong enough with their existing backplate, so long as the backplate is well-made And bolted to the card, the GPUs heatsink AND all the IO panel brackets.

Hope it helps.
 
xentr_thread_starter
CMetaphor said:
Depends entirely on the GPU itself and how close it is to the side panel. A few years ago, I wouldn't even consider putting a GPU vertically because even a 2-slot would be too close to the side panel - and even if it was a grille instead of a window, that's just too close and makes lots of noise / doesn't cool well. The GPU itself part comes down to bypass airflow amount (at least that what I call it, I think others call it "flow through"). Some GPUs have an entire fans airflow (half if it's a 2 -fan card, or a third if it's a 3 -fan card) going directly through through the heatsink and out the back/top of the card. A 2-fan card especially, with 1 of the fans fully "flowing through", seems to favor standard installation more (the air doesn't have to change directions so much.

Sadly... Asus design. Ugh. Your card has a tiny bypass section, barely half of one fan in area. I'd suggest mocking it up normally and testing temps, then doing it again vertically. See which one is better before buying a GPU support.

Oh! Little -mentioned fact: in a vertical GPU install you almost never need a GPU support. Vertical gpu means any PCB bend is going to be on the same plane as the PCB (aka very strong already) and the vertical PCIe slot is more than enough support by itself for the card.

I've only used GPU supports on Heeaavvvyyy GPUs that are installed in the standard orientation. And some modern midrange and lower options are strong enough with their existing backplate, so long as the backplate is well-made and bolted to the card, the GPUs heatsink AND all the IO panel brackets.

Hope it helps.
Click to expand...
yeppers!

rom what I'm seeing, most, if not all, vertical GPU brackets use a PCIe riser cable to the GPU slot. for standard horizontal installation, the issue is about the weight of the card and the torque / stress it puts on the said PCIe slot and motherboard PCB. teh backplate for CPU coolers spreads their weight out in a way that it's anchored and held solidly.

there are so many points and perspectives to figuring out the configs and solutions it's almost maddening!
 
Marzipan said:
From what I'm seeing, most, if not all, vertical GPU brackets use a PCIe riser cable to the GPU slot.
Click to expand...
Not all, some use a PCB riser that's held from the bottom of the case. Regardless, vertical GPUs, unless they're MASSIVE, can support themselves vertically pretty well with a decent backplate *and* slot brackets.

Cheap cases with ultra thin case materials on the back though? Different story, especially if the gpu isn't supported by a riser that has its own supports.

Marzipan said:
for standard horizontal installation, the issue is about the weight of the card and the torque / stress it puts on the said PCIe slot and motherboard PCB. teh backplate for GPU cooler spreads their weight out in a way that it's anchored and held solidly.
Click to expand...
Yes the pcie slots need to be beefier for horizontal / standard gpu installation, but the GPU heatsink itself could worsen the flex on the PCB, not improve it. Backplates help (which why I consider them a Must/Minimum for standard installs), but for heavy cards, especially when theyre 3-fans long, often do need a support.

Maybe try this one out? Just got this one myself, but haven't tested it yet:
$12 on Amazon
note: this *Has* to be used on an ATX case, as it shares two mounting holes present in the ATX form factor (the bottom right mount and the one directly above it). As I said, I haven't tested it yet. But it might just be enough to prevent flex without looking like there's a giant stick holding up your gpu. YMMV.
 
As a side note if you just want a a post style support in the end there are a mountain of 3d printable ones that would be at most $1 worth of plastic if you have made a friend locally with a printer. Mailing you a print would probably defeat the purpose.

I do like the "hidden" one @CMetaphor shared for a purchased one.
 
sswilson said:
In most cases just a basic brace that sits on the case "floor" (in most cases this day it's a PSU shroud) will do the trick for a standard orientation video card.
Click to expand...
For regular / horizontal mounting that's okay, albeit ugly. A big ol' vertical rod haha. But if the "floor" of the main chamber has fan spots you want to use, outta luck.
Izerous said:
As a side note if you just want a a post style support in the end there are a mountain of 3d printable ones that would be at most $1 worth of plastic if you have made a friend locally with a printer. Mailing you a print would probably defeat the purpose.

I do like the "hidden" one @CMetaphor shared for a purchased one.
Click to expand...
3D printed is a good call if you've got the printer 👍 Someday I'll learn OnShape and get to printing parts myself, I've got like 5-6 brackets/adapters/plates I want to make for the cases that don't seem to exist currently anywhere.
 
I have not run a vertical GPU yet.. my case can do it, but I would need to buy a cable, so I don't want to.

Running in BTX is ok, that would be the only other way I would run a GPU.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

xentr_legal_notice_title

xentr_legal_notice_description

Back
Top