3090 RTX 3090 PCB Board Types (Reference vs Founders vs Non-Reference)

[magic]

Hi Guys, 

 

Is anyone aware of a database of which 3090s will use what PCB type? i ask because I would like to grab a waterblock day 1. EKWB has a block but only for Reference PCBs. Now the question is, what is a reference PCB?

 

This card has a PCB that extends roughly 1-2cm above the PCIE bracket - is this non-reference? compatible with EKWB?

https://www.overclockers.co.uk/asus-geforce-rtx-3090-rog-strix-gaming-oc-24gb-gddr6x-pci-express-graphics-card-gx-44j-as.html 

 

 

 

This GPU has a PCB that aligns to the PCIE bracket. Is this Reference? compatible with EKWB?

https://www.overclockers.co.uk/msi-geforce-rtx-3090-ventus-3x-oc-24gb-gddr6x-pci-express-graphics-card-gx-36a-ms.html

 

 

And finally, we have the Founders 3090, which appears to have the 1-2cm extension

 

Curious what you guys are thinking! https://www.overclockers.co.uk/pc-components/graphics-cards/nvidia/geforce-rtx-3090 check out the variants here.

 

Also curious if the ASUS cards with their extra port will be compatible with majority of blocks. I'm thinking not... but then again, its just an upward extension. Maybe? I love new tech. 

 

[bellabichon]

Reference PCB refers to Founder's Edition cards only. There's a decent chance that an EKWB unit will be compatible with some third-party PCBs, but it's not guaranteed. If you're planning to buy a 3090 and a waterblock on day 1, the only way you can guarantee compatibility is by getting a FE card. 

[magic]

Just now, bellabichon said:

Reference PCB refers to Founder's Edition cards only. There's a decent chance that an EKWB unit will be compatible with some third-party PCBs, but it's not guaranteed. If you're planning to buy a 3090 and a waterblock on day 1, the only way you can guarantee compatibility is by getting a FE card. 

funny you say that, as the founders cards are not reference PCBs... 

 

[bellabichon]

Just now, magic said:

funny you say that, as the founders cards are not reference PCBs... 

That...is a first for me. Reference Graphics Cards typically refer to models produced by AMD and Nvidia themselves. In that case, you're going to have to wait until reviews, or you could start a support ticket with whatever GPU manufacturer you've got your eye on.

[BTGbullseye]

3 minutes ago, bellabichon said:

Reference PCB refers to Founder's Edition cards only. There's a decent chance that an EKWB unit will be compatible with some third-party PCBs, but it's not guaranteed. If you're planning to buy a 3090 and a waterblock on day 1, the only way you can guarantee compatibility is by getting a FE card. 

As of right now, no GPUs at launch will have a reference PCB. The Founders isn't a reference either.

[svmlegacy]

7 minutes ago, magic said:

Hi Guys, 

 

Is anyone aware of a database of which 3090s will use what PCB type? i ask because I would like to grab a waterblock day 1. EKWB has a block but only for Reference PCBs. Now the question is, what is a reference PCB?

Have you reached out to EKWB to ask the compatible models?

[DildorTheDecent]

The ASUS card is absolutely a custom PCB. The EK block is not compatible with it.

 

The MSI card is likely based off the reference PCB purely because of the 2x 8 pin power connectors. It could also be an extended reference board which might impact compatibility. Ventus is also pretty low tier. MSI wouldn't spend much on those cards. So I'd expect that card to be based of the reference PCB regardless.

 

RTX 3090 reference PCB looks just like you would think a reference PCB looks:

Spoiler

 

RTX 3080 FE PCB (just fill in the blank memory and VRM spaces and it's basically the same as the RTX 3090 PCB):

Spoiler

 

[LIGISTX]

30 minutes ago, bellabichon said:

That...is a first for me. Reference Graphics Cards typically refer to models produced by AMD and Nvidia themselves. In that case, you're going to have to wait until reviews, or you could start a support ticket with whatever GPU manufacturer you've got your eye on.

Reference just means the PCB design nvidia provides board partners to “copy” as a known working PCB layout. FE cards historically have been reference boards, but they are not by definition the same. This time around nvidia designed their own custom boards for their FE cards. 

[Jurrunio]

You'll have to wait for EK to update its compatibility list then...

 

but if you want something to target without knowing exact details, aim for EVGA's low end models like the XC3. 

[sgreenberg]

On 9/15/2020 at 6:04 PM, magic said:

Hi Guys, 

 

Is anyone aware of a database of which 3090s will use what PCB type? i ask because I would like to grab a waterblock day 1. EKWB has a block but only for Reference PCBs. Now the question is, what is a reference PCB?

 

This card has a PCB that extends roughly 1-2cm above the PCIE bracket - is this non-reference? compatible with EKWB?

https://www.overclockers.co.uk/asus-geforce-rtx-3090-rog-strix-gaming-oc-24gb-gddr6x-pci-express-graphics-card-gx-44j-as.html 

 

 

 

This GPU has a PCB that aligns to the PCIE bracket. Is this Reference? compatible with EKWB?

https://www.overclockers.co.uk/msi-geforce-rtx-3090-ventus-3x-oc-24gb-gddr6x-pci-express-graphics-card-gx-36a-ms.html

 

 

And finally, we have the Founders 3090, which appears to have the 1-2cm extension

 

Curious what you guys are thinking! https://www.overclockers.co.uk/pc-components/graphics-cards/nvidia/geforce-rtx-3090 check out the variants here.

 

Also curious if the ASUS cards with their extra port will be compatible with majority of blocks. I'm thinking not... but then again, its just an upward extension. Maybe? I love new tech. 

 

Corsair put out a custom cooling compatibility tool ( https://www.corsair.com/custom-cooling-configurator/gpu-search ) for its xg7 water block. For the 3090 it includes reference boards, FE boards, Strix boards, and Ventus 3x boards. By searching the tool for 3090 I was able to see those it lists as compatible and by eliminating the other boards (FE boards, Strix boards, and Ventus 3x boards) you can see their list of reference gpu’s (attached as screenshots)

 

sorry I didn’t want to go out and type it all.

 

edit: nvm here is a list (note “reg” means there is no special name for the type, and the last image includes 2 3080’s which I omitted) :

 

Afox : reg 

Arktek: Hyperion

ASL: D6x

Colorful: Tomahawk, 

 NB-V

Dell: reg

Elsa: Erazor x

EmTek: blower edition, 

 black edition

Gainward: Glare, 

 Glare OC, 

 Phoenix GS, 

 Phoenix

Galax: General, 

 General OC, 

 Metal Master, 

 Metal Master OC, 

 SG (1-click OC)

Hp: reg

Inno3d: gaming x3, 

 ichill x3, 

 ichill x4

Kfa2: SG (1-click OC)

Leadtek: WinFast Hurricane

Manli : Reg, 

 Gallardo

Palit: Gamingpro, 

 Gamingpro OC

Kuroutoshikou: galakuro

PNY:  OC XLR8 gaming epic-x rgb triple fan edition

Zotac: Trinity, 

 Trinity OC