In an era where the size of NVIDIA and AMD graphics cards seems to be expanding with each new generation, those who prefer compact or mini PCs find themselves at a crossroads. The larger dimensions of these powerful components pose a challenge for small form factor enthusiasts. But there’s a workaround that not only preserves space but also enhances performance, as demonstrated by tech YouTuber ETA Prime with the Sparkle Arc A380 graphics card.
The Dilemma of Expanding Graphics Cards
The trend of ever-larger graphics cards forces a reconsideration of PC case sizes, which contradicts the growing demand for smaller, more efficient computing units. This is particularly problematic for mini PC aficionados, for whom the latest AMD and NVIDIA offerings may seem like a mismatch due to their substantial sizes.
The Sparkle Solution
For those unwilling to compromise on power or size, the Sparkle Arc A380 emerges as a beacon of hope. Introduced as part of the Arc 3 series, which also includes the A310 model, these graphics cards are designed with compact builds in mind. Despite their small PCB size, the A380 originally comes with a dual-slot, dual-fan setup, making it unsuitable for the tightest of spaces.
A Creative Modification
ETA Prime’s ingenuity shines through in his modification of the Sparkle Arc A380. By swapping its dual-fan heatsink for the single-fan version from the A310, he managed to slim down the card to fit a mini PC without sacrificing its robust performance. This modification required an additional heatsink on the GPU to manage heat dissipation effectively.
Impressive Performance in a Small Package
Powered by the ACM-G11 GPU architecture and equipped with 8 cores and 6 GB of GDDR6 memory, the modified Intel Arc A380 operates on a surprisingly low power consumption of 43W, which can be overclocked to 54W for enhanced performance. When tested in a Minisforum mini PC, powered by an Intel Core i9-13900H and 32 GB of LPDDR5 RAM, the results were remarkable. Achieving 10,435 points in 3DMark Fire Strike and 4,044 in Time Spy, this compact setup delivers gaming experiences at 1080p with 60 FPS, and sometimes even surpassing 80 FPS, on medium settings.
This approach not only addresses the challenge of fitting high-performance graphics cards into small PCs but also opens new possibilities for gaming and high-intensity computing within compact spaces.