RTX 3060Ti Aero alternative? Meet the DIY PALIT StormX 3060Ti ITX Edition

[Runamok81]

The most powerful card you can "shrink" to ITX dimensions atm is the RTX A4000. You can use the same cooler mentioned in this thread. The PCB is pretty much identical to the Reference 3060 but uses a lower clocked 3070Ti GPU and comes with 16gb Vram. Due to the lower clock (workstation card an such) the performance is more comparable to the 3060Ti, but with a much lower power consumption (~140 W).

That is VERY interesting. Especially, the lower power consumption. Here is the techspot review that includes the performance comparison of the A4000 with the power consumption figures at the bottom. https://www.techspot.com/review/2342-nvidia-rtx-a4000/

The A4000 slides in just under the 3060Ti, but with MUCH lower power consumption. Does anyone know if anyone has effectively been able to increase the voltage supplied to the a4000 to up it's performance? It would be amazing to have an itx-sized card that can scale up from 3060Ti to 3070ti if you can keep it cool.

 

[mikefize]

That is VERY interesting. Especially, the lower power consumption. Here is the techspot review that includes the performance comparison of the A4000 with the power consumption figures at the bottom. https://www.techspot.com/review/2342-nvidia-rtx-a4000/

The A4000 slides in just under the 3060Ti, but with MUCH lower power consumption. Does anyone know if anyone has effectively been able to increase the voltage supplied to the a4000 to up it's performance? It would be amazing to have an itx-sized card that can scale up from 3060Ti to 3070ti if you can keep it cool.

I thought long and hard about whether to get the A4000 for my next SFF Build. It was a valid alternative, especially before the recent GPU price drop and as I could use the extra Vram for video production. In the end I got a good deal for a 3060 Ti and went that road.

I did quite a bit of research concerning overclocking possibilties for the workstation cards. Usually it's pretty much locked and nothing you can do. However, I found an article from Igor's Lab talking about a specific Beta version of afterburner which (accidentally?) unlocked the voltage controller for workstation cards. You can read it here yourself:

NVIDIA RTX A5000 and RTX A6000 overclocked! Workstation overclocking as a benefit or pure oversight? | igor´sLAB

Disclaimer: The following article is machine translated from the original German, and has not been edited or checked for errors. Thank you for understanding!

www.igorslab.de

 

[Moncavo]

You guys knows what is the thermal pad thickness?

 

[Runamok81]

You guys knows what is the thermal pad thickness?

I think you can use 9mm of thermal pads and still meet OEM quality?

 

[Moncavo]

I think you can use 9mm of thermal pads and still meet OEM quality?

No. I asking about the ali express versions. inRoberts shop says is about 2mm.

 

[Happiertoast]

Would there be any possible 3070 or 3080 that also has a short pcb?

 

[rfarmer]

Would there be any possible 3070 or 3080 that also has a short pcb?

Zotac RTX 3070 Twin Edge

 

[Runamok81]

No. I asking about the ali express versions. inRoberts shop says is about 2mm.

Prior video was a joke. Thought it would be funny to show how NOT to do thermal pads.

Zotac RTX 3070 Twin Edge

The Zotac RTX 3070 Twin Edge PCB (image below) is good bit longer (200mm?) than the 170mm 3060 Ti reference PCB used for this mod. I don't think it is compatible.

 

[rfarmer]

The Zotac RTX 3070 Twin Edge PCB (image below) is good bit longer (200mm?) than the 170mm 3060 Ti reference PCB used for this mod. I don't think it is compatible.

I think you are right but other than the 3070 FE I think the Zotac has the smallest PCB.

 

[SFFMunkee]

There definitely are a few short-PCB 3070s and 3080s, the FEs are shortest I think, followed by reference PCB and the Twin Edge probably the next shortest.
That said this cooler is designed for a 170W TGP RTX3060 card, not the 220+W of an RTX3070, definitely not the 320+W of an RTX3080 (and especially not the double-sided GDDR6X!!)

There's also the compatibility question.
While I think the Founders Edition 3070 & 3060Ti PCBs were the same, I'm not confident the reference designs are. Nor do I actually know which models use the reference PCB)

If it turns out it does fit, you'd have to dial back the power / performance of your 3070 to be closer to a 3060/3060Ti anyway to remain under the cooling limitations
I feel that if you really want a short 3070, put a waterblock on a reference or FE card (if you can find one )

::EDIT:: I don't think the reference PCBs are the same, as the 3060 Ti has an 8-pin PCIe, where the 3070 needs 2x8-pins I think, plus there's additional VRM/power circuitry that extends the PCB.

Reference RTX 3060 PCB (GA106)

Reference RTX 3060 Ti PCB (GA104)

Reference RTX 3070 PCB (GA104)

 

[Happiertoast]

Dang. Was really hoping for one that I guess unrealistically would be less than 180mm. I bought the densium 4 and it is sitting here sad as can be. I don't want to buy a 3060 since my current build is a 5700xt red dragon so a 3060 isn't much of an upgrade. So I guess I just wait for a 4060. I just want to use my small case!!!!!

 

[Happiertoast]

There definitely are a few short-PCB 3070s and 3080s, the FEs are shortest I think, followed by reference PCB and the Twin Edge probably the next shortest.
That said this cooler is designed for a 170W TGP RTX3060 card, not the 220+W of an RTX3070, definitely not the 320+W of an RTX3080 (and especially not the double-sided GDDR6X!!)

There's also the compatibility question.
While I think the Founders Edition 3070 & 3060Ti PCBs were the same, I'm not confident the reference designs are. Nor do I actually know which models use the reference PCB)

If it turns out it does fit, you'd have to dial back the power / performance of your 3070 to be closer to a 3060/3060Ti anyway to remain under the cooling limitations
I feel that if you really want a short 3070, put a waterblock on a reference or FE card (if you can find one )

What does this mean for the next gen? Sites show rumors of higher power usage so would that mean that itx gpus are just going to be harder to get?

 

[SFFMunkee]

That's been the issue for a while rising TGPs and ever extending PCBs/coolers to handle the power and heat.

 

[Neathdrawls]

Someone on Taobao made the Storm X cooler work with the Zotac card. It was somewhere on the first page of this post.
https://smallformfactor.net/forum/t...t-stormx-3060ti-itx-edition.17033/post-255849

Although the person did have to shave off some of the fins from the cooler.

 

[SFFMunkee]

Someone on Taobao made the Storm X cooler work with the Zotac card. It was somewhere on the first page of this post.
https://smallformfactor.net/forum/t...t-stormx-3060ti-itx-edition.17033/post-255849

Although the person did have to shave off some of the fins from the cooler.

Great catch, was that for a 3060Ti or 3070?

3060Ti Twin Edge PCB: https://www.techpowerup.com/review/zotac-geforce-rtx-3060-ti-twin-edge/images/front.jpg
3070 Twin Edge PCB: https://www.techpowerup.com/review/zotac-geforce-rtx-3070-twin-edge-oc/images/front.jpg

Looks like it might still work, but you'd probably be pushing the limits of it's ability to cool the GPU.

 

[Neathdrawls]

The item listing is taken down, so don’t really have access to the review again.

Although I must say that it was highly unlikely that it was a 3070 Twin Edge. The 3070 Twin Edge is around 10mm longer than the 3060(ti) according to Zotac’s website. Also as the 3070 requires 2x8pin power connectors, based on my experience the Storm X cooler has just enough clearance for the 1x8pin for the 3060(ti), although that would probably just mean even more shaving.

ZOTAC GeForce RTX 3060 Ti Twin Edge Review

The Zotac GeForce RTX 3060 Ti Twin Edge is the only custom design that matches the NVIDIA MSRP of $400. While it lacks a factory overclock, pricing makes it a tempting choice, especially considering the large price hikes of other custom boards.

www.techpowerup.com

Zotac GeForce RTX 3070 Twin Edge OC Review

Zotac sells their factory-overclocked GeForce RTX 3070 Twin Edge close to the NVIDIA MSRP, which makes it an excellent choice for the value-oriented buyer. The card is also the only dual-slot design today, so it can fit into smaller systems that still pack a punch.

www.techpowerup.com

 

[Happiertoast]

I'm

That's been the issue for a while rising TGPs and ever extending PCBs/coolers to handle the power and heat.

Super sad now... I guess I'd be willing to try my hand at taking the interior PSU out and using that room for a rad fan setup while utilizing a water block on a 4060. Having a brick really doesn't bother me. It's still portable and looks minimal on the table. But... At this point why do a case might as well router into my butcher block and just make a table PC lmao. *Continues to cry*

 

[NinoPecorino]

the shortest 3070 pcb seems to be from the palit jetstream. sadly, it has the rectangular hole spacing like the fe card.

 

[mikefize]

If you want more power than the 3060ti the only real option seems to be the RTX A4000 even though it's not much. You might be able to overclock it if you can bypass the voltage lock. As it uses the 3070Ti GPU and has 16GB Vram there should be more than enough headroom.

 

[Runamok81]

If you want more power than the 3060ti the only real option seems to be the RTX A4000 even though it's not much. You might be able to overclock it if you can bypass the voltage lock. As it uses the 3070Ti GPU and has 16GB Vram there should be more than enough headroom.

Stay tuned!