I watched @Josh | NFC video about the new 400w HDPLEX AC-DC and heard him talk about how this form factor is better because you can split it up and stick into unused spaces you couldn't put a normal PSU. That got me thinking, why don't we split up the DC-DC unit?
Have 1 part be the Pico-PSU style HDPLEX 160 that plugs directly into the motherboard, then have a 2nd DC-DC part that plugs directly into a GPU PCI-E power connector. I'm thinking some sort of U shaped rigid PCI-E power connectors so that the PCB lays flat on the backside of the GPU where you would normally mount a 2.5" SSD in the S4M. Or super short pci-e power cables with low profile connectors. This way, if you don't have a GPU, don't buy the GPU DC-DC, and you're only paying for what you need, but if you want to upgrade later, you don't have to replace your current DC-DC PSU. Also the GPU power connectors are build into the PSU, and are low profile so you can fit taller GPU's without buying a specialty cable. You could have some sort of plastic backplate to prevent shorts, and it could mount to the SSD crossbar taking up one of the two 2.5" locations. While it does require quite a bit of power for GPU's, its a single 12v out from a single 19v in, which should simplify the design. You could even have cable extensions so that you could use this in a different case with the DC/DC unit mounted in any 2.5" bay.
This would free up the space in front of the S4M for the AC/DC adapter. I've heard there isn't currently enough room for the 400w AC/DC in this spot, but perhaps on an S4M revision, or something people could mod with a custom faceplate made by Josh. I know Josh has worked closely with the guys at HDPLEX before, perhaps this could be something they could collaborate on as well? What does everyone else think?
Have 1 part be the Pico-PSU style HDPLEX 160 that plugs directly into the motherboard, then have a 2nd DC-DC part that plugs directly into a GPU PCI-E power connector. I'm thinking some sort of U shaped rigid PCI-E power connectors so that the PCB lays flat on the backside of the GPU where you would normally mount a 2.5" SSD in the S4M. Or super short pci-e power cables with low profile connectors. This way, if you don't have a GPU, don't buy the GPU DC-DC, and you're only paying for what you need, but if you want to upgrade later, you don't have to replace your current DC-DC PSU. Also the GPU power connectors are build into the PSU, and are low profile so you can fit taller GPU's without buying a specialty cable. You could have some sort of plastic backplate to prevent shorts, and it could mount to the SSD crossbar taking up one of the two 2.5" locations. While it does require quite a bit of power for GPU's, its a single 12v out from a single 19v in, which should simplify the design. You could even have cable extensions so that you could use this in a different case with the DC/DC unit mounted in any 2.5" bay.
This would free up the space in front of the S4M for the AC/DC adapter. I've heard there isn't currently enough room for the 400w AC/DC in this spot, but perhaps on an S4M revision, or something people could mod with a custom faceplate made by Josh. I know Josh has worked closely with the guys at HDPLEX before, perhaps this could be something they could collaborate on as well? What does everyone else think?
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