Question Just ordered a 4080 and HOLY CRAP it's big. Anti-sag bracket question.

[Brogan]

OK, so the incoming card is a Gigabyte RTX 4080 Gaming OC. I'm going from a 2080 so it's a significant step up. My problem seems to be the included anti-sag bracket requires a mobo screw point location that my Z390 GAMING X board does not currently possess forcing me to slightly adjust the positioning, and the shape of the bracket will very likely not fit because of proximity to my RAM.

The bracket is set up like this:

Graphics Cards Anti-sag Bracket Compatibility Notice - GIGABYTE Global

GIGABYTE Graphics Cards Anti-sag Bracket Compatibility Notice service, ensuring you have the best experience when using GIGABYTE products and services.

www.gigabyte.com

And requires 2 screw points for it's 2 risers along the lower right (in this orientation) edge of my motherboard. As you can see, the only 2 screw points that would work for this bracket are about 1-2 inches in from the edge. Which at first I thought might still be do-able as long as the card/bracket/cords all fit under the behemoth card. But after watching a short video, the main issue is the topmost screw point required on my mobo is directly adjacent to the leftmost RAM module bracket. And from the images (and video) I've seen of the size/shape of the bracket, I can assume an obvious compatibility problem.

So, short story long, (heh) what in your opinion is my best option for anti-sag?

My case is a Phanteks Eclipse G500A D. I have an AIO ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II 280 CPU cooler installed, but it is top-mounted, so no problems. More than enough headroom (and shoulder? room). Thanks, guys.

 

[sitehostplus]

If the backplate (that you attach to the chassis) is mounted tightly to the GPU and the construction of the chassis and the GPU is rigid, then the 4090 wont sack.

Do you know how much metal that would take? I'd be worried about keeping the card cool at that point, because all that metal would negatively impact airflow.

No, seriously. You would need HD metal plates on the front and back of the video card. Now how do you ensure adequate airflow when your GPU/memory chips have that kind of insulation surrounding it?

See the problem now?

 

[sitehostplus]

On the GPU is a bracket that you attach to the chassis. It's not something you buy in addition to the GPU. On almost all of the 2000-series GPU's it was a lose piece of junk. On a few of the new 4000 GPU's it's still lose, but it has gotten much better. How lose it is, depends on how crappy the manufacturer designed their GPU.

It got a somewhat better with the 3000 series and even better with the 4000 series. How good it is depends on the model/brand that you buy. And it's not necessarily dependent on the price of the GPU.

This is the bracket I am talking about, and as you can see it's a piece of <Mod Edit> on the Gigabyte 2080 Ti Gaming:

Ok, and if you put a more substantial piece of metal there, you now have cooling issues to deal with. It's that thin and has holes for a reason.

It's a balancing act. How do you support a card adequately, and in a manner that allows for proper airflow?

It would be way easier to stop using tower cases instead, but we know that is never going to happen.

 

[Colif]

Do you know how much metal that would take? I'd be worried about keeping the card cool at that point, because all that metal would negatively impact airflow.

No, seriously. You would need HD metal plates on the front and back of the video card. Now how do you ensure adequate airflow when your GPU/memory chips have that kind of insulation surrounding it?

See the problem now?

what do you mean by HD Plates?

Strengthening the bracket attached to back of the GPU (where it screws into back of case) would be all you need. EVGA used to screw back onto cards with 2 rows of screws, whereas on many GPU its not solidly attached. If it was actually linked it might not sag
My GPU has a metal bracket that is attached to backplate of case and runs along the back of the GPU until it reaches the PCIe slots. That strengthens it and stops sag

 

[GarrettL]

The one I previously linked is $13.

https://imgur.com/Fbvm1TO

View: https://i.imgur.com/Fbvm1TO.jpg

 

[klavs]

Ok, and if you put a more substantial piece of metal there, you now have cooling issues to deal with. It's that thin and has holes for a reason.

It's a balancing act. How do you support a card adequately, and in a manner that allows for proper airflow?

It would be way easier to stop using tower cases instead, but we know that is never going to happen.

I don't think it's airflow that's the problem. The problem is that the plate isn't attached firmly to the graphic card. On most of the 4080/4090 GPUs I've seen, the plate is attached much more tightly than on previous gens.

 

[geofelt]

As a temporary measure, simply lay the pc on it's side so that the motherboard is horizontal.

Probably an aftermarket bracket of some kind is the better solution.

 

[sitehostplus]

what do you mean by HD Plates?

Strengthening the bracket attached to back of the GPU (where it screws into back of case) would be all you need. EVGA used to screw back onto cards with 2 rows of screws, whereas on many GPU its not solidly attached. If it was actually linked it might not sag
My GPU has a metal bracket that is attached to backplate of case and runs along the back of the GPU until it reaches the PCIe slots. That strengthens it and stops sag

Ok, and how big is that compared to a RTX 4080? Size and weight?

 

[Colif]

RTX™ 4080 16GB GAMING OC ​

GeForce RTX™ 4080 16GB GAMING OC Key Features | Graphics Card - GIGABYTE Global

Discover AORUS premium graphics cards, ft. WINDFORCE cooling, RGB lighting, PCB protection, and VR friendly features for the best gaming and VR experience!

www.gigabyte.com

Dimensions - L=342 W=150 H=75 mm
weight? 6.44 pounds - it isn't listed on website

vs

Powercolor Red Devil RX 7900XT
l = 338 W = 135 H = 73mm
Weight 4.44 pounds


Sounds to me like the Nvidia GPU needs a diet

 

[KyaraM]

The one I previously linked is $13.

https://imgur.com/Fbvm1TO

View: https://i.imgur.com/Fbvm1TO.jpg

I use one of those for my 4070Ti, too. A bit prettier and in black, though... well, at least prettier in my eyes, that's purely taste of course. There are many cheap braces on Amazon ass you pointed out, even with RBG, TC really doesn't need to buy anything expensive. That's a really weird brace delivered with their card, though, and I somewhat doubt their efficiency...

 

[BFG-9000]

There are standards for supporting the end of a long card and it's a pity that only enterprise-grade cards follow them.

342mm is the total length spec of a "full-length" card (you know, the ones with a "handle" which slots into a traditional full-sized 4U server case to support the end). So if nVidia had only put little nubs on the end to slide into those slots, then even a vintage PC case would've worked, since this system has been standardized since the early days of PCI 30 years ago all the way through 64-bit PCI and PCI-X and is still used for PCIe today:

Although technically the card part is only supposed to go up to 314mm with the rest being the bracket.

Even common prebuilt systems like Compaq and Dell used to include a plastic bracket in the case (usually built-into a fan guard so it would actually blow air across the cards) for these handles, ready to accept a full-length Voodoo 5 6000 AGP:

Notice that back then it was designed to have an external laptop type power brick so you could continue to use whatever crappy PSU your prebuilt came with

 

[Brogan]

Lot of good info guys. Will post more when the card and psu come in next week.

 

[Deleted member 2838871]

mine only came with this which I question its usefulness

I have it in for some reason. I doubt its actually helping

Well I shattered the tempered glass on my Meshify S2 case the other day... thankfully it stayed in the frame and didn't make a mess. Unfortunately I couldn't find a replacement panel anywhere on the planet and I decided against making one myself out of polycarbonate... so I switched cases.

Old case with included anti-sag bracket...

After I moved the build to the new case I had a problem... it's a much tighter space and the bracket wasn't a good fit... so I improvised.

The card was sagging close to 1/8 of an inch... but not anymore.

 

[DRagor]

After I moved the build to the new case I had a problem... it's a much tighter space and the bracket wasn't a good fit... so I improvised.

Lol ... absolutely lovely

 

[Deleted member 2838871]

Lol ... absolutely lovely

Hahah... thanks! So if anyone reading this wants a custom anti-sag bracket 3D printed... lemme know!

 

[Brogan]

After I moved the build to the new case I had a problem... it's a much tighter space and the bracket wasn't a good fit... so I improvised.

So the Gigabyte bracket fit on your motherboard in the larger case but not in the current one? I'm guessing it stuck out too far in the smaller area?

 

[Brogan]

So both the card and the PSU came in this week (Amazon is fast). However I'm still waiting on this from CableMod:

CableMod 12VHPWR 180 Degree Angled Adapter v1.1 – Variant B – CableMod Global Store

store.cablemod.com

Decided to not mess around with the power cable and have a straight run back along the top of the card.

As for card sag, I purchased the Lian Li Graphic Card Anti-SAG Bracket, which I am pretty sure will fit on my board and give a nice lift at about the mid-point of it.

And if not I may ask you about a 3D printed custom job.

 

[Deleted member 2838871]

So the Gigabyte bracket fit on your motherboard in the larger case but not in the current one? I'm guessing it stuck out too far in the smaller area?

Pretty much.

I could have made it work but I had much less room between the end of the GPU and the front fans compared to the Meshify S2 case... so I decided that printing a baby Yoda to use as a support was a better option. That and it's also a much cleaner look.

As for card sag, I purchased the Lian Li Graphic Card Anti-SAG Bracket, which I am pretty sure will fit on my board and give a nice lift at about the mid-point of it.

And if not I may ask you about a 3D printed custom job.

No problem at all!

 

[Brogan]

Just to update, the Lian Li bracket fit and worked great, as did the 180 Adapter for the power cable. All installed and seems to be running well. *knocks on wood*

I'll post some pics in a bit so you can see the adapter as well as the (lack of) sag.

 

[Brogan]

Pic is a bit on an angle, but it's level:

and the bracket:

180 12VHPWR adapter:

 

[Brogan]

Another slightly tilted shot, but you get the idea.

Now to test on something other than Warzone.