Expandable Graphics Cards

[Some1ne]

I was browsing these boards, and I saw a thread with the subtext "which GPU for upgradability?", and kind of laughed because there is no such thing as an "upgradable" graphics solution...the only way to upgrade is to get a whole new card. This got me to thinking though, a modern graphics card is really just a mini computer system inside of the larger computer system that's optimized for performing graphics computations...it has all the fundamental parts, a mainboard (with a BIOS that can be upgraded and configured), a CPU, and RAM. So, my question is that with the rising cost of GPU solutions, why is nobody designing a graphics card that's kind of like a miniature mainboard and allows for things like popping an an extra 128 MB of GDDR3 RAM as necessary, or even swapping out the GPU for a more powerful model. This would obviously require some fancy socket designs (I would think) and a bit more planning on the part of the card manufacturer, but it doesn't seem like it there's any reason why it wouldn't be possible from a technical standpoint, so am I really the only person who thinks a fully upgradable graphics card would be cool?

 

[SH3200]

1 reason waaaaaaaaay too many pins for both the GPU and Ram

 

[Cerb]

Socket = more money.
Pins = more money, and stuff to get broken.
RAM stick = slower.

And then imagine the HSF nightmares...

 

[gar3555]

well..for one...having to buy a whole new card costs more than buying just components...so I think it is for the money.

 

[imported_Kensai]

Too many pins.. GDDR3 uses a BGA type attachment too so..

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Its like building a computer in a computer.

A graphics card PCB will be like a new motherboard where you stick in graphics ram, a GPU, and a fan. Har.

Soon we'll ahve build your own CPU. Pick a socket format, insert the core via more pins and insert the L2 cache.. har.

 

[V00D00]

And along with every other very valid reason in this thread, I'm sure the graphics companies don't mind when you have to by a whole new board every time you want to upgrade. It's good for business.

The cards aren't that expensive to begin with, so it would be counterproductive to have a million different standards for all the different form factors of the gpu and memory. The graphics chips themselves along with memory are always the bleeding edge. Pinouts change very frequently. Anyone who spends $250+ on a video card is a moron anyway, unless they have the cash to spare.

 

[munchow2]

I think there was something like modular graphics design that some companies were developing. Probably too expensive and would take up too much space eventually.