What's with the PCB cutout on some video cards? \ VOGONS

What's with the PCB cutout on some video cards?

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First post, by xjas

Posted on 2017-11-07, 07:27

xjas Offline

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Like this one, the little piece in the lower left:

Why do some video cards have either a cutout or a "breakaway" tab there? Was there some weird POS or industrial form factor that needed that space free? I've never seen any reason for it, but it seems like it was a pretty common thing to do.

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Reply 1 of 3, by gdjacobs

Posted on 2017-11-07, 09:36

gdjacobs Offline

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Some Compaq machines used elevated back plates. Not sure this is what's going on here, though.

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Reply 2 of 3, by derSammler

Posted on 2017-11-07, 10:01

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A couple of workstation cases required that back then. A different slot bracket is installed on the card for such cases.

The Matrox G100 card is probably the most common card made with that in mind.

Reply 3 of 3, by cskamacska

Posted on 2017-11-09, 15:43

cskamacska Offline

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It was for the NLX form factor, where the backplate connectors got in the way. Possibly some other proprietary brand name stuff as well.

Standard NLX cards looked kinda like this

And a nice form factor guide copypasted from Upgrading and Repairing PCs by Scott Mueller

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