What's the deal?

[Eskimo]

OK... we all know that if you build a tower-based PC, that the AGP video card is installed witht he ehatsink and fan pointing down.

If you build a desktop case, it's facing sideways...

So why, oh WHY? can the vid card manufacturers not just flip all the chips to the other side of the card??

It wouldn't affect it one way or the other in a desktop case, but in a tower, the heat generated by the GPU would be able to rise, AWAY from the video card!

Oh goodness.. what a concept! Heat rises!

Seriously, just wondering why it's done this way, as i sit here pondering opening up the 80mm hole in the side of the case for a 120mm Zalman fan... to help relieve the heat on the video card... Wish I had a thermal imager to see all the hot air trapped on the underside of the card...

[RotorHead]

I think it probably has something to do with the clearance around the agp slot, motherboard, and video card. I remember some issues with capacitors interfering with video card installation a while back.

This link might help answer your question

Linky (http://www.formfactors.org/developer/specs/atx/atxspecs.htm)

RH

[GorillaMan]

Your just mad because you can only see the ugly side of your vid card through your transparent side panel of your desktop PC.

Am I right?

Nothing really to do with heat does it?

Your into "glamour PC's". Nothing wrong with that.
I have a solution for you.

Get an XPC. You know like a shuttle mini computer?
The AGP slot is the closest to the side panel and the "goodness"
of the vid card faces out. All you need to do is cut a hole in the panel and fit is with plexiglass. Wallah!! you have an nice looking window and you can see all of your AGP glamour.

Hope this helps.

GM

[Eskimo]

Originally posted by GorillaMan
Your just mad because you can only see the ugly side of your vid card through your transparent side panel of your desktop PC.

Am I right?

Nothing really to do with heat does it?

Your into "glamour PC's". Nothing wrong with that.
GM

:rotflmao: Yeah, you got me.

I have an Antec 1080 case.. no windows.
I have no LED fans, no cold cathode lights, no UV sensitive anything, and prefer my cabling to be black.

I like a little style in my PC.. but I think my case lends a "classy" look all by itself...

I do have 2 cheesy Antec LED lights that came free from Newegg, and they are just stuck to my monitor.. That's about it.

Form follows function.

[ThugsRook]

run some tests~

turn your case on its side like a desktop and see if there are any temp/OCing differences with your system/vid card.

if there is no difference ~ you have your answer ;)

:wave:

[NeoShowtime]

Get yourself a 80mm blower that goes in the PCI slot. Thatll take any heat away

[eva2000]

Originally posted by NeoShowtime
Get yourself a 80mm blower that goes in the PCI slot. Thatll take any heat away that what i use in the past until i tested it without and realised it made no difference

http://www.fileshosts.com/chieftecAX01-SLD-web/web/IMGP0103.jpg