A few weeks ago, ASUS revealed their concept graphics card based on the NVIDIA RTX 4060 series. This card features a customized DUAL design with a unique addition not typically found on gaming GPUs – an M.2 SSD slot.
It’s worth mentioning that the inclusion of SSDs in graphics cards isn’t an entirely new idea. AMD had already used storage as a large buffer in a workstation GPU (RadeonPro SSG), but this concept never reached the consumer market. ASUS has a slightly different approach; the SSD on their card doesn’t directly benefit the GPU’s performance but rather serves as an adapter for an additional M.2 slot on the motherboard.
ASUS’s solution addresses two main issues. Firstly, it resolves the problem of the NVIDIA RTX 4060 series not fully utilizing the PCIe interface. All cards based on AD106 and AD107 GPUs are physically designed to use full slots, but they can only use 8 out of the 16 available lanes, with the remaining lanes remaining electrically disconnected. In the case of the ASUS RTX 4060 Ti DUAL SSD series, these additional lanes are put to use.
RTX 4060 Ti DUAL OC SSD (DUAL-RTX4060TI-O8G-SSD), Source: ASUS
Compared to the initial prototype, the card has undergone some minor changes. Notably, a simple plastic cover for the M.2 drive now attaches to the backplate. However, the PCB design remains unchanged, and the fundamental idea is still the same – attaching the SSD to the GPU’s heatsink for improved thermal performance. This setup also provides convenient access to the M.2 slot, which isn’t tucked away on the motherboard. This card also utilizes the ASUS Q-Latch system, eliminating the need for screws.
RTX 4060 Ti DUAL OC SSD (DUAL-RTX4060TI-O8G-SSD), Source: ASUS
The card is already available for purchase in Finland at a price of €559, which is €90 more expensive than the non-SSD design of the RTX 4060 Ti 8GB and only €10 cheaper than the 16GB version of the RTX 4060 Ti. There should also be a non-OC variant soon, however for now there is no sign of any other SKU being considered.
This concept is undoubtedly intriguing, and it would be even more promising if other manufacturers explored similar ideas. GPUs that can only use 8 lanes still leave 8 lanes available for potential storage upgrades.
Source: Multitronic via @momomo_us
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