Gigabyte has undergone a significant overhaul of its RTX 4090 WindForce design. The card, which was initially 3.5 slots thick and had a large heatsink extending beyond the board, now boasts a slimmer profile and showcases a distinctive backside design that incorporates a concealed power connector.
In the new cooler design, the 12VHPWR connector remains connected to the board but has been relocated to the opposite side. This allows for improved cable management and reduces concerns about the necessary clearance for cable bending. However, it’s worth noting that the cable will be exposed without a cover to conceal it, similar to what we observed in the recent AXGaming design.
Instead of making an official announcement to the general public, the company quietly added this model to the Gigabyte website, alongside the existing RTX 4090 models. Surprisingly, the card is already available for purchase, and gamers in China wasted no time in acquiring it for their new builds.
Both the original RTX 4090 Windforce and the updated Windforce V2 design do not come factory-overclocked. These cards are shipped with NVIDIA’s reference specifications and power requirements. The new model maintains the same length as its predecessor (33.1 cm), but it features a narrower width (13.6 cm compared to 15.0 cm) and a thinner profile (5.5 cm compared to 7.0 cm).
There have been reports of Gigabyte graphics cards experiencing PCB cracking, possibly due to an unconventional PCB design choice. It remains uncertain whether this particular card has any modifications implemented to prevent or mitigate such occurrences. However, apart from the power connector, the PCB layout of this card seems to resemble that of other RTX 40 models.
Via Gigabyte, NAG Forums