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ip2k t1_j180e12 wrote

“We finally made something with better fans than a FE” no idea how OEMs keep selling reference boards with garbage plastic shields and awful fans. I wish I could just buy the card and HS separately like with CPUs.

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sylfy t1_j19rtms wrote

Nvidia squeezes the AIBs on margins. They restrict the MSRP range that AIBs can sell at, which limits the quality and engineering work that AIBs can put into their cards. The AIBs get a pretty slim profit after accounting for the cost of the GPU dies to them, plus Nvidia’s profit margin on the die, which Nvidia doesn’t incur on their own FE cards.

This, as well as a whole bunch of other reasons, is a big factor in why AIBs have been unhappy with Nvidia, and why EVGA decided to quit its GPU business. Gamers Nexus did a bunch of comprehensive interviews, and it’s well worth a watch.

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garry4321 t1_j194f30 wrote

They sell them because there are no other options, and the companies want to make as much cash as possible.

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PhysicsMan12 t1_j1au50p wrote

AIBs have basically no margin and are absolutely taken advantage of by Nvidia. They are just trying to survive at this point. RE: EVGA saga

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schrodingers_cat314 t1_j1m4bi0 wrote

Is there any reason not to buy an FE?

I’m mad in Europe because they are notoriously hard to get with decent RMA.

I use an open case and I swear all the AIB cards look like dogshit. Sure if you just put it in a case where it’s not too visible it’s totally fine.

Most PC components today look fine in comparison but GPUs are still an eyesore. The better looking ones are usually the budget stuff. Even Noctua brown is at least consistent and can look good in the right environment.

Add to this the fact that FEs are a lot more compact and it’s not even a contest. They just have a much more efficient cooler design.

I know margins are crap but that’s no excuse for the aesthetics.

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