Noticed recently is a novel Intel graphics card, found to be hosting two M.2 SSDs on the same printed circuit board as the GPU itself? As the gaming world welcomes the debut of the latest console, the phenomenon of companion playing cards is gaining momentum, with one notable example being a MaxSun-branded card featuring dual M.2 SSD slots that have garnered significant attention among enthusiasts.
While the Intel Arc B580 has gained traction, it’s notable that it offers a 12GB graphics card at a competitive price point of $249, differentiating itself from other GPUs in terms of value. While not the ideal choice for gamers seeking top-notch performance, this graphics card still offers considerable value for its price. While bang for buck is a notable benefit of this Intel GPU’s use of the 8x PCIe 5.0 interface, it isn’t the sole advantage; as Maxsun has also demonstrated another feature that can be obtained with one of these cards?
A viral teardown of a mysterious card emerged on BiliBili, courtesy of user “JustBuy”, originally shared on X, formerly known as Twitter. Two solid-state drives (SSDs) are prominently visible on the surface of the graphics card printed circuit board.
The solid-state drives (SSDs) leverage the Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe) lanes provided by the graphics processing unit’s (GPU’s) architecture. Since the Intel Arc B580 relies exclusively on eight PCIe 5.0 lanes, MaxSun could potentially allocate 16 lanes to the entire card by employing a full connector. Despite having several other lanes available, the board can accommodate two 4x PCIe SSDs. The ability to pack an abundance of hardware into a single unit undoubtedly proves valuable in crafting highly efficient mini gaming PCs, allowing for increased storage capacity and facilitating the seamless integration of two top-tier gaming SSD configurations without compromising motherboard space.
This won’t be the first time SSDs have been paired with a GPU. In 2017, AMD equipped its Radeon Pro SSG with a substantial 2TB of storage capacity, while in the following year, Asus unveiled an innovative Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 Ti graphics card featuring an M.2 slot. The latter design leveraged a similar concept: utilizing spare PCIe lanes to govern an SSD’s performance.
The MaxSun B580 does not currently have a release date scheduled, although the company is actively working on it and may provide further updates in the near future.
Intel scores a crucial victory with the B580, marking a significant turnaround after a spate of mishaps in the gaming CPU sector last year. While its latest processor offerings may not yet be ideal for gamers, as noted in our recent Core i7-1255K review, this innovative $249 graphics card has effectively revitalized the budget-friendly gaming landscape.
