- Mounting SSDs on a GPU limits your potential to improve graphics and storage independently
- Shared PCIe bandwidth creates extra issues than advantages for many desktop system builders
- Colourful iGame Extremely mid-range GPU is making an attempt to do an excessive amount of with too little justification
Colourful has revealed a curious hybrid product at Bilibili World 2025: a graphics card from its iGame Extremely sequence which options two M.2 SSD slots mounted instantly onto the PCB.
The mixing of storage and graphics processing might seem environment friendly for compact techniques, but it surely raises questions on practicality and long-term worth.
Colourful has not confirmed the GPU’s structure, though observers imagine it’s based mostly on Nvidia’s GB206 or GB207 silicon, probably aligning with the RTX 5050 or 5060.
An built-in method to graphics and storage
This configuration positions the cardboard firmly within the mid-range class, removed from what most would contemplate one of the best GPU tier.
The standout characteristic of this card is the presence of twin M.2 SSD slots on its bottom, close to the I/O bracket, permitting customers to put in drives with out separate cabling.
These slots are supported by mounting factors for heatsinks and are cooled by the identical dual-fan system that manages the GPU itself.
Through the use of PCIe bifurcation, the cardboard splits a single x16 slot into eight lanes for graphics and 4 lanes every for the SSDs.
This setup goals to protect bandwidth for each features whereas decreasing the necessity for added growth playing cards.
For builders working with restricted motherboard M.2 slots or compact ITX instances, this might look like a space-saving answer.
The cooling association additionally means that SSD thermals will likely be actively managed underneath load – nevertheless, the advantages of this format might not justify the compromises.
Attaching storage on to a GPU introduces further layers of complexity in system configuration, together with BIOS help, lane sharing, and improve constraints.
Storage and graphics are sometimes upgraded on separate timelines, and mixing them on a single board limits that flexibility.
Visually, the cardboard adopts a clear, matte-white aesthetic that stands aside from the extra frequent darker GPU designs.
Whereas this will attraction to customized PC builders who prioritize look, the core efficiency concerns stay unchanged.
The SSD slots are unlikely to help the biggest SSD capacities or ship one of the best SSD speeds available on the market, and the GPU itself, based mostly on its possible structure, will not be aimed toward top-tier efficiency.
This places the product in a slim use case, providing integration with out delivering management in both class.
As of now, the corporate has not offered detailed specs or pricing, and with out this info, the cardboard seems extra experimental than sensible.
This machine is technically attention-grabbing, however it’s not but clear why such a product must exist past novelty.
For customers who care about maximizing storage capability, pursuing one of the best GPU efficiency, or constructing for future flexibility, this design might provide extra limitations than benefits.
By way of Guru3d
