GeForce GTX 480 PCB and Cooling Assembly Pictured

[btarunr]

Sources wanting anonymity sent these pictures of PCB and cooling assembly to sections of the media. The PCB is that of the GeForce GTX 480, and is NVIDIA's reference design. It gives away a fair amount of information about the card that has created quite some hype over the months, which is slated for release on March 26. To begin with, the GF100 GPU on which GTX 480 is based, uses essentially the same type of package as the GT200 and G80. To help cool the large die (with a 3 billion-strong transistor count), an integrated heatspreader (IHS) is used. However, unlike with the G80 and GT200 (past two generations of extreme performance GPUs from NVIDIA), the display logic is integrated into the GPU package, instead of being spun off into NVIO processors.

With 12 memory chips on board, the GPU connects to them over a 384-bit wide memory interface. The reference design board is expected to have 1536 MB (1.5 GB) of memory on it. There's also an unusual amount of simplicity to the board design and choice of components. The GPU is powered by a 6-phase vGPU circuit using more standard DPAK MOSFETs. There is a 2-phase vMem circuit. With wide open spaces in the PCB, NVIDIA actually made two cutouts to help the blower's air intake.



Power is drawn from an 8-pin and a 6-pin power connector. Fan connects over a standard 4-pin PWM controlled line, while the white 2-pin connector in the picture powers an illuminated GeForce logo on the top of the card (next to the power inputs). Connectivity includes two DVI-D, and a mini HDMI connector. The PCB itself seems to be about as long as reference GeForce GTX 280 boards. The cooling assembly doesn't show off lavish use of copper, but looks equally complex as older cooling assemblies by the company for such GPUs.



View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[Lionheart]

I so wanna see sum benchies

 

[phanbuey]

Good idea for the blower holes...its a good looking card.

 

[Bo$$]

why no copper? all those complaints about insane levels of heat and still a crappy cooler on the bright side it has heat pipes

reminds me of that 9800GX2

 

[btarunr]

why no copper? all those complaints about insane levels of heat and still a crappy cooler?

reminds me of that 9800GX2

It could be nickel-plated copper for all we know. It's not 'looking' rich in copper is all that was said.

 

[freaksavior]

it actually looks like a decent cooler from what I can tell. now word on pricing yet?

 

[fatguy1992]

Fail on the blacking out, we can still tell from those pics what power plugs it has, also why black out the PCI-E slot connector?

On a side note its looking good.

 

[gvblake22]

The VRM area looks very clean but there's no evenly spaced or centered mounting holes around. It will be interesting to see what aftermarket cooling companies come up with for that (besides the obvious thermal tape solution).

 

[freaksavior]

Fail on the blacking out, we can still tell from those pics what power plugs it has, also why black out the PCI-E slot connector?

On a side note its looking good.

Because thats nVidias secret weapon, it lies all in those plugs

 

[H82LUZ73]

The VRM area looks very clean but there's no evenly spaced or centered mounting holes around. It will be interesting to see what aftermarket cooling companies come up with for that (besides the obvious thermal tape solution).

I worry that dust will effect them after time with them blow hole for the fan to cool them.Interesting pcb design though.

 

[arroyo]

I think it's fake, but far better than nVidia showed at GTC. I don't believe that high end card would have 2 pin fan connector and 4 pin at the same time. Solder joints looks like elements were glued to pcb, not soldered.

 

[Bo$$]

It could be nickel-plated copper for all we know. It's not 'looking' rich in copper is all that was said.

yeah, but as we all know copper is still the best all i mean is that, it's ironic that they have stated that it produces too much heat and no copper in the heatsink

 

[btarunr]

I don't believe that high end card would have 2 pin fan connector and 4 pin at the same time. Solder joints looks like elements were glued to pcb, not soldered.

Did you even bother to read the text?

yeah, but as we all know copper is still the best all i mean is that, it's ironic that they have stated that it produces too much heat and no copper in the heatsink

Nickel-plated copper is copper minus the oxidisation over time.

 

[KainXS]

I had an XFX card like that, same connector for the light to except it was one that you could see via the side

 

[Roph]

Fail on the blacking out, we can still tell from those pics what power plugs it has, also why black out the PCI-E slot connector?

On a side note its looking good.

Likely there is a serial number or some other way that Nvidia for to identify exactly which card these pictures are from, and the leaker doesn't want to get in trouble

 

[JATownes]

Fail on the blacking out, we can still tell from those pics what power plugs it has, also why black out the PCI-E slot connector?

On a side note its looking good.

If I am not mistaken the "anonymous" individuals blacked out those areas that contain identifying information, i.e. model numbers/labels. This way they cannot be identified and crucified by Nvidia. Just my thoughts...

Edit: Damn Roph beat me to it.

 

[Benetanegia]

Fail on the blacking out, we can still tell from those pics what power plugs it has, also why black out the PCI-E slot connector?

On a side note its looking good.

LOL. It's not the power connectors they wanted to hide. It's the codes printed on them what they want to hide. Nvidia could trace them and find out who leaked the shots. And it would have consequences, that's for sure: prablably a partner loosing any advantages they could have obtained over the time and the person who did it would be fired inmediately.

 

[Phxprovost]

lol fake, everything blacked out, so this is about as useless as the woodscrew fermi. sorry but i could take any gtx series card in photo shop and make this......and i hardly know how to use photo shop, and for all you know this is a gtx 200 series card with a new pcb design for the next batch of renaming

Lol look guz its fermi

 

[Bo$$]

Nickel-plated copper is copper minus the oxidisation over time.

althought they can do that with aluminium, more like a paint coating rather that a plating really

 

[Benetanegia]

lol fake, everything blacked out, so this is about as useless as the woodscrew fermi. sorry but i could take any gtx series card in photo shop and make this......and i hardly know how to use photo shop, and for all you know this is a gtx 200 series card with a new pcb design for the next batch of renaming

12 memory modules = 384 bit memory interface = GTX480 or = 8800 GTX/Ultra

 

[DrPepper]

Why bother blacking out the power connectors and pci-e ?

 

[newtekie1]

Why bother blacking out the power connectors and pci-e ?

Why can't people read?

It is because there are identifying marks that were blacked out so that the person releasing the pictures doesn't get in trouble with nVidia.

There is probably a PCB number and serial number silk screened on the PCB near the PCI-E connector, a sticker on the power connectors, and obviously a serial number on the GPU itself. All number that could be tracked back to the original person that released the photos.

Whoever it is, they are in good enough with nVidia to get a sample, so I highly doubt they want to loose that privilage.

 

[my_name_is_earl]

How long is that bad boy? Might have to upgrade because my HD5870 does not support Photoshop CS4 and it keep jittering when moving object around

 

[theonedub]

How long is that bad boy? Might have to upgrade because my HD5870 does not support Photoshop CS4 and it keep jittering when moving object around

illuminated GeForce logo on the top of the card (next to the power inputs). Connectivity includes two DVI-D, and a mini HDMI connector. The PCB itself seems to be about as long as reference GeForce GTX 280 boards. The cooling assembly doesn't show off lavish use of copper, but looks equally complex as older cooling assemblies by the company for such GPUs.

Another person who failed to read?

 

[DrPepper]

Why can't people read?

It is because there are identifying marks that were blacked out so that the person releasing the pictures doesn't get in trouble with nVidia.

There is probably a PCB number and serial number silk screened on the PCB near the PCI-E connector, a sticker on the power connectors, and obviously a serial number on the GPU itself. All number that could be tracked back to the original person that released the photos.

Whoever it is, they are in good enough with nVidia to get a sample, so I highly doubt they want to loose that privilage.

I was in a rush to get to football that's why I didn't read it. I'd glanced over the picture.