Is it possible to buy a PCIe extension cable?

[DAVIDMCDIARMID]

Here's the deal. I'm in the process of designing a really unique air-cooled case based around isolation of each component in its own box (one for mobo, one for each hard drive, one for PSU, etc.) What I'd really like to do is place the video card(s) in a separate wind tunnel with 250mm intake and exhaust fans. This means I would need a PCIe extension cable, if such a thing exists. PCI-sig seems to have designed one, but I can't find very many details or a site where it is sold. Does anyone know if PCIe cables really are a possibility and, if so, where I can find one? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[nukemaster]

Do you mean an extention for the power cable or for the PCI-E slot it self? For the slot they call it a riser card, but they cost allot.....a quick Google shows this one...
http://www.plinkusa.net/webR1PCI-E1-1R.htm

You may be better off to box in the cards in a slightly different way....

Fan in video chamber....the card or cards will expel air on there own....a side fan or slot blower sideways(there is always room beside the cards anyway) can remove the rest....Hard drive can also be in this chamber if you have room....they are not too hot

Top chamber has drives and the cpu. If its sealed tight you do not even need a rear fan as the air will have nowhere to go. A tower style heatsink is a must for tunneling air... The psu can be compartmentalized with any optical drives. Side vents or slots to let cool air in are a good idea....

You may also have good luck just modding an Antec 900 to do this....

Since the case front is all vents air will pass under the cd drive and out the psu...
You can have either a fan in the black holder or in the front of the case for bigger cards....Block off the side fan vent and the air pressure from the front(provided the seal is good) will go out the rear vents.....Hard drives and the cpu are in the top chamber.....with the 250mm fan up top the 120 front and rear....its gonna be cool....

As you see the back of the expansion card area is well ventilated....

What ever you do....post lots of pictures....

 

[DAVIDMCDIARMID]

Thanks Nukemaster for your detailed reply. Your diagram is definitely making me think. However, I sort of had something more elaborate in mind... I suppose I could connect a few riser ribbons, but that seems expensive and sketchy at best.

Is there a reason why PCI-sig cables wouldn't work? They seem to be designed so that an external box with a video card can hook up to a laptop's PCIe connection. They have a PCIe 2.0 version, so I don't see why they wouldn't be effective for a desktop. Here's a link:

http://www.linuxelectrons.com/news/hardware/pci-express-external-cabling-specification-completed-pci-sig

 

[nukemaster]

There have been many attempts at external video in the manner you appear to be speaking of. but currently its for the most part just on the drawing board(the PCI-sig thing. Its a specification not a system quite yet from what i see).....think of a serial type cable from your pci-e to a video card......

Here are some links to other similar systems.....just to give you an idea what may happen in the coming years....
Asus
http://www.notebookcheck.net/Newsentry.153+M50d8977f52c.0.html
http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/laptops/asus-xg-station-cracked-open-easily-upgradeable-250402.php
THG had something once...
http://www.tomshardware.com/2006/07/21/the_graphics_state_of_the_union/page4.html

With some time your idea will be doable....for now there is just too much degradation of quality to do it well....

If you do make something....patent that sucker....

 

[Zorg]

Just a quick question, Why?

 

[DAVIDMCDIARMID]

As I said above, I am planning a really special case mod that I want to be unique. Also consider how cold (yet silent) a video card in a tunnel with 250mm fans at either end would be. An overclockers dream...

 

[Zorg]

OK, have fun.