ASUS Innovative M.2 SSD Integrated With Graphic Card

ASUS has introduced an innovative concept where they integrated an actual Gen 4 M.2 SSD onto a graphics card’s PCB. This was achieved by attaching a Samsung 980 PRO 2TB SSD to the backside of the GPU through a cut-out, with the GPU’s backplate acting as a heatsink for the storage device.

The reason behind installing an SSD inside a GPU is to utilize the unused PCIe lanes. Graphics cards like NVIDIA’s RTX 4060 series have PCIe x8 lanes, leaving AIBs with a spare x8 lane when using a full x16 slot. Since M.2 SSDs utilize the PCIe x4 interface, it makes sense to incorporate up to two SSD slots on the graphics card’s PCB.

ASUS emphasizes the convenience of having an M.2 slot on the graphics card, as it simplifies the process of changing an SSD in a computer. Mounting an SSD usually involves several complicated steps, which can be bothersome for users who frequently swap out their SSDs. With the GPU’s M.2 slot, this task becomes much easier.

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While mounting an SSD on a GPU may raise concerns about temperature, ASUS has addressed this issue by modifying the GPU’s PCB. The cooling solution designed for the GPU also extends to the SSD. Since GPUs have larger heatsinks compared to SSDs, initial testing showed a 10°C drop in SSD temperature. Power consumption is also manageable, as Gen 4 SSDs don’t draw excessive power, and the RTX 4060s come with an 8-pin power connector, providing sufficient power for the setup. This custom design by ASUS ensures good thermal performance.

During testing, the SSD performed similarly to when connected to a Gen 4 motherboard. The temperatures remained under 50°C, even under full stress load.

While having additional M.2 slots on graphics cards may seem appealing, integrating PCIe cards and GPUs on a single motherboard can compromise the aesthetics of a build. Graphics cards with M.2 slots slightly affect power draw and offer cost savings compared to buying separate extension cards.

AMD has also explored a similar concept with its Radeon SSG graphics cards, utilizing additional SSDs to enhance GPU bandwidth and transfer rates. However, ASUS has not yet announced plans to release the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti with this integrated SSD design in the consumer market. The pricing of such GPUs will be a deciding factor in attracting consumer interest. This innovative concept from ASUS showcases their ongoing efforts in developing prototype and concept cards, including GPU models without physical power connectors, as demonstrated at Computex 2023.