PCB Color on Video Cards

[Palit_Guy]

I've noticed several people say they would like to have a different color PCB or cooler on their video card in several different forums. I have brought the idea up with Palit but there are several valid concerns with doing this.

• Is there enough interest in this i.e. will people buy them?
• If we make a blue or yellow or whatever PCB are there other products that could be used to continue the theme throughout the case?
• What other color(s) should be offered?

So I would like to have as many people as possible post their thoughts on this subject. It doesn't matter to me if you want different colors or if you don't- I really am trying to figure out what everyone would like. Please address all three of the above concerns in your post.

Just to make things interesting (w1zzard said this was ok) I'll offer an 8800GT 1GB as a prize. As soon as we have 200 unique responses we'll draw a winner randomly. There is one caveat though; I only cover the US and Canada. So if you live outside of those areas I won't be able to send you a card. If the winner is outside the US or Canada we will have to pick another one. I know that sucks but I just can't run a contest outside of my territory.

Wherever you are from I still welcome your input. This thread will be referenced in my presentation to the big dogs at Palit and all of this input will have a direct and important impact on what we choose to do. It is ok to post that you like something someone else has already posted. Think of this as a vote. If 50 people want yellow, that tells us something.

 

[mrw1986]

I'd like either Orange or Black. Palit_Guy, maybe you remember me. I argued that I liked EVGA and always support them. If you can make Orange or Black happen at a competitive price you have a new customer! Also quick question, if I have to RMA one of your cards, is it within the US or int'l?

 

[Psychoholic]

I am probably in the minority here, but i've always liked ati's red pcb

 

[DanishDevil]

I want a 3870 with black PCB. Or anything in the ATi flavor with white PCB would be especially unique, like the few and far between Sapphire Pure Innovation boards:

Then slap a nice ATi logo on the back of the card, too.

And put some UV reactive stuff on it! Like the cooler and the HIS IceQ3 seires!

 

[Hawk1]

I think people would have an interest in keeping the theme with their Motherboard color. If they have a lower end ASUS and maybe with the Ballistix Yellow heatspreaders, they would would probably have interest in a yellow PCB for the video to match. However, I think this may fragment the market to the point where it may not be cost effective. Not everyone has a case window and/or will care what color the PCB is, as long as the card performs. Also, some of your mid-high end cards have covers over them where you can barely see the PCB color anyway.

Its a good idea, and I'd personally go for a Black PCB, but you should definitely look at your current sales and estimate what additional sales would result vs the cost of offering different colors (but I guess this thread is the first step to determining that).

 

[DaedalusHelios]

I believe Palit can do whatever it wants with the color of the PCB. No matter what color they choose its fine with me. I don't care if my computer is "pretty". I am for performance. Pick a neutral color like Black that matches everything and the color enthusiasts will be pleased.

The way I pick out a graphics card is by:

1.GPU
2.Cost relative to other cards that are the same. For example: 8800gt 512mb w/reference cooler versus another 8800gt 512mb w/reference cooler etc.
*The heatsink is factored into the price I am willing to pay. If the heatsink is good and I know that makes it so I don't have to buy one myself as aftermarket. I factor that into the price.*

PS. Its nice to see a graphics card company care about what their customers think and feel.
It shows you and your company care about us. Thank you.

 

[will]

IMO black PCBs always look the best, other colours always look cheap in comparison. Although, red PCBs can also look good on graphics cards.

 

[Palit_Guy]

I'd like either Orange or Black. Palit_Guy, maybe you remember me. I argued that I liked EVGA and always support them. If you can make Orange or Black happen at a competitive price you have a new customer! Also quick question, if I have to RMA one of your cards, is it within the US or int'l?

RMAs originating in the US and Canada all go to our RMA lab in Indiana. We're working on a Canadian facility for the folks in Canada.

 

[overclocker]

I would like a black PCB

 

[Hawk1]

RMAs originating in the US and Canada all go to our RMA lab in Indiana. We're working on a Canadian facility for the folks in Canada.

Yay, that would help

 

[Darknova]

Electric Blue or Black make good PCB colours, as well as Red.

 

[KainXS]

I am really glad you asked this

the Palit 8800GT is yellow right, then the pcb should be a yellowish orange, that might look pretty nice seeing as the cooler is would be the same color as well, It would make it stand out

I would say to pick a color that would just make the card stand out and look cool at the same time, like a blackish blue color or yellow

black is also a nice color, but I remember I bought my old 5900 because it had a really nice red pcb that other nvida cards didn't have at the time, it was a point of view I think.

I bought my old XFX 7950GT because it had a really nice black PCB and black and chromed cooler to match, it was a beautiful card.
remember this

mine had the LED on the bar though
and that bar also makes the card look alot cooler, and makes it harder to break

 

[DaMulta]

I have never seen a white PCB on a video card. I would love to see that.

 

[Palit_Guy]

Its a good idea, and I'd personally go for a Black PCB, but you should definitely look at your current sales and estimate what additional sales would result vs the cost of offering different colors (but I guess this thread is the first step to determining that).

That is exactly right. What I'm trying to gain from this thread is a demonstration of available market. The second objective is to find out what colors to use. I have to say I'm surprised at the number of people who would like to see a yellow PCB. I totally didn't see that coming.

From there we go into deciding how many to make and where to place them.

That's a very good point about fragmentation. I don't see us ever producing large quantities of these and I think the largest percentage of people don't really care one way or the other. Any special color cards would carry a small price premium of a few dollars because they would cost more to make.

There isn't any additional cost in the board really, but you have to change the box, change the UPC, change the SKU and a bunch of other behind the scenes crap. Net profit on the board stays the same so this isn't specifically a way to make extra money.

 

[DaedalusHelios]

But it is a way to gain marketshare. I think you would help your company become more dominant that way. The game server idea was genius too. Who thought up that?

 

[PVTCaboose1337]

I would love to see black PCBs... I have seen some, but not enough.

 

[Black Light]

Black PCB FTW

 

[Palit_Guy]

But it is a way to gain marketshare. I think you would help your company become more dominant that way. The game server idea was genius too. Who thought up that?

There is a difference between marketshare and mindshare. People may love it that I post in here and it's definitely helping to get the word out about Palit. That's mindshare. People actually BUYING a video card is marketshare.

So whether someone buys a purple card or a green card doesn't matter. They were going to buy a card either way. If they buy a Palit purple card instead of an XXXXX green card and it was the color that changed their mind, that's market share.

Any cards like this we produce would always be in small quantities compared to the rest of the cards because the TAM (total available market) for colored cards is small. At least for now. But who knows, right? We launched a 1GB 8800GT and five months later everyone is building them.


Oh ya, I'm not sure who came up with that originally. I think it was one of the guys from www.teampalit.com

 

[Gam'ster]

Red, black, purple anything apart from green, its the reason i bought the palit 7900gs it has a red pcb, god i hate green.

Cheers
Gam

 

[nflesher87]

Personally here's how I decide on what VGA to buy:

1) Price/Performance Ratio
2) Appearance
a) HSF first
b) PCB second

that said, I'm a fan of black PCB since it's versatile and looks sweet, but I also like a contemporary silver look so black PCB+silver accented HSF would look awesome

I'm personally not too impressed by palit's current PCB or HSF colors

 

[oli_ramsay]

TBH I'm not too bothered about the card's appearance, I buy a graphics card depending on it's price/performance, how quiet it's cooler is, overclockability and power consumption.

But if there were two cards exactly the same apart from colour, I would probably go for a black one. I also think it would be awesome if the PCB could be UV reactive, maybe a palit logo in UV green It's probably not possible though.

 

[OnionMan]

TBH I'm not too bothered about the card's appearance, I buy a graphics card depending on it's price/performance, how quiet it's cooler is, overclockability and power consumption.

But if there were two cards exactly the same apart from colour, I would probably go for a black one. I also think it would be awesome if the PCB could be UV reactive, maybe a palit logo in UV green It's probably not possible though.

Beat me to it.. Yes UV boards or UV traces would be cool..

I like the black and red pcb's.. I think some colors 'like the white sapphire' look a little dirty.. Like the color is lost or washed a little in the process..

I've always wanted to see some Orange PCB's.. but like the sapphire white, i'd bet bright colors would lose a little luster on a pcb..

Another thought would be Thermal Sensitive Paint of some kind.. It would be neat to have a gfx card that changes colors with its own temps..

 

[Silverel]

Voting for black. However, if you're going to have multiple colors anyways, it probably wouldn't be hard on the manufacturing side of things to have a blended color scheme. I work at a shop that does plastic parts, its amazing how easily the wrong blend of colors can create some really interesting designs. Not sellable, but if it's marketed as such, it'd be a good way to use up the last small amounts, or scrap material that is recycled.

Ultimately, my idea would be a black board with UV reactive blue mixed in it. I know these things can be done, it's just not a conventional idea to pursue.

 

[The Haunted]

A dark pcb either black or blue always look good.

 

[W1zzard]

pink pcb for the girls!