Sparkle Arc A380 GPU gets equipped with a single-slot heatsink
YouTuber ETA Prime, who focuses on gadgets and tech that can fit in your hand, recently uploaded a fascinating video featuring a somewhat rare graphics card modification.
If we go back a couple of months, Sparkle revealed its Arc desktop GPUs, a full range, actually. Following this, the company has later announced its lowest tier, the Arc A3 series, which includes models such as A310 or A380. The showcased graphics card is the Sparkle Arc A380.
Sparkle has developed several cards based on this SKU. Some feature a dual-fan and dual-slot configuration, while others adopt a single-fan and single-slot setup. However, they all share the same PCB design and low-profile design elements. This allowed ETA Prime to combine two models to create a new card altogether: the Arc A380 GPU featuring a single-slot and low-profile cooler design borrowed from the A310. Technically speaking, this would be the world’s first A380 of such design, actually.
Sparkle Arc A380 in single-slot and low-profile, Source: ETA Prime
The project aims to integrate the modded GPU into the Minisforum MS01 chassis, a compact computer equipped with a full-sized PCIe slot capable of supporting such graphics cards think NVIDIA T1000 based on Turing, or Sparkle Arc GPUs, however in the latter case there is no A380 model.
As a reminder, the A380 itself is based on the full ACM-G11 GPU architecture, boasting 8 Xe-Cores and a low-power limit of 43W. Additionally, it comes with 6GB of GDDR6 memory. As highlighted in the video, the performance of the GPU is notably good, delivering “playable” framerates at 1080p. However, its standout feature is its support for AV1 encoding.
Overall, the video demonstrates that the ARC A380 could serve as a viable option for small form factor PCs with some modifications. Despite this, the video also acknowledges certain limitations, such as the absence of readily available aftermarket coolers for existing GPUs. Certainly, some high-end cooling companies would be able to make something quieter and more efficient.
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