ASUS Launches GeForce RTX 4060 Ti Graphics Cards With M.2 SSD Expansion Slot

ASUS has launched a brand new GeForce RTX 4060 Ti graphics card which comes with an M.2 slot for increased SSD storage options.

The ASUS GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 16 GB & 8 GB Dual graphics cards have been available on the market for a while now but the company has launched two brand new revisions which have a unique feature.

The ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 4060 Ti SSD graphics card takes compact gaming power and combines it with an all-new feature: a PCIe 4.0 M.2 slot integrated into the backside of the card, offering massive bandwidth for high-performance NVMe storage.

Built-in M.2 Slot The backside of this graphics card integrates an M.2 slot capable of PCIe 5.0 speeds, for high-performance NVMe storage devices up to 80 mm long—and the SSD transfers heat directly to the card’s own heatsink using a thermal pad, resulting in a highly compact and tidy solution.

M.2 Q-LATCH The innovative Q-Latch makes it easy to install or remove an M.2 SSD without the need for specific tools. The design employs a simple locking mechanism to secure the drive and neatly eliminate traditional screws.

Axial-tech Fan Design Two tried-and-true Axial-tech fans feature a smaller hub that facilitates longer blades and a barrier ring to increase downward air pressure. Dual ball bearings can last up to twice as long as sleeve-bearing designs.

We know that NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 4060 Ti graphics cards with AD106 GPUs only utilize 8 PCIe lanes which means that the rest of the 8 PCIe lanes on a standard x16 slot will be unutilized. But ASUS has come up with a unique solution to take advantage of at least four of those 8 remaining lanes and that is to attach an M.2 SSD expansion slot behind the graphics card. The M.2 slot which has been placed beneath a backplate cover is easy to access and is attached by two screws which can be easily removed. The cover also acts as a heatsink for the SSD.

ASUS also recommends using the "Performance" BIOS profile when running an M.2 SSD on the back of its GeForce RTX 4060 Ti Dual GPUs. This is because the "Performance" profile makes the fans run at a higher RPM mode and delivers better cooling compared to the "Quiet" profile. The modes can easily be toggled through a switch on the side of the PCB. The GeForce RTX 4060 Ti GPUs come with 160/165W TDPs so an 8-pin connector should be enough as it provides 150W & the rest of the power can be accessed via the PCIe slot (75W). ASUS also showcased this design a while back which you can read more about here.

This is definitely a good thing as mainstream gaming PCs where the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti class cards are used are mostly equipped with fewer M.2 slots so having an extra M.2 slot on the GPU itself definitely makes up for those users who might be concerned with storage options of their PCs.

We may even see cards in the future that utilize two x4 slots but whether we get to see high-end SSD supports such as Gen 5 drives which require more power and run really hot remains to be seen. The ASUS GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 8 GB model is currently listed over at Finish retailer, Multironic for 558.90 Euros which makes it 60 Euros more expensive than the standard Dual OC variant and about 10-20 Euros cheaper than the 16 GB variants depending on the OC and Non-OC variants.

News Source: Multitronic