Next-generation graphics cards

[nutball]

I know we've touched on this in the past, but I came across this and it confirmed some of my suspicions and fears about the next generation of graphics cards:

http://www.nvnews.net/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=26426

The reference design of the NV40 has two external power couplers to supply the necessary power, so it's pretty clear it's going to pump out helluva heat!

Cooling that thing silently is going to be a challenge, don't ya think

Good job I'm happy with my FX5900U

[bigred]

The board layout and especialy memory location and orientation looks similar to the Matrox Parhelia.

There sure are a lot of screw holes on the board... Perhaps those white lines are outlines for heatsinks and fan assemblys.

[Nowhere_man]

One giant heatsink and fan to cool them all, one giant heatsink and fan to rule them all.............I don't think that one will come with a heatpipe cooler. That looks like a shim around the core.....Hmmmm........

[nutball]

Well, looking in another thread it looks like the new version of the Zalman Z80 thingy will support NV40, so getting the heat from the chip into the case might not be an issue.

Where it goes from there... however... that's what worries me.

[PretzelB]

I'd also be worried about supplying power. Are the 300w power supplies (like the one provided by ARM) going to cut it anymore?