At last, a PCI 4.0 riser from Fractal!
I've been thinking about installing a riser to give my graphics card more space for a while now, so I'm taking advantage of the release of a PCI 4.0 model from Fractal to take the plunge.
The configuration: an EVGA 3080 Ti FTW3 Ultra in a Meshify 2 XL.
The problem: too close to the (large) fan and too much pressure on the PCI bracket, which was starting to bend, resulting in the graphics card flexing.
Assembling the riser and mounting the GPU: simple overall, don't get upset if the card doesn't fit immediately into the riser's PCI slot.
Installing the GPU in the case: also straightforward, but a bit of cabling to be reviewed as the GPU is offset towards the motherboard, and a few problems with the hand screws for tightening at the back.
Rendering: as the photo illustrates, the card is far enough away from the side panel to benefit from good airflow and my problems with the card flexing and cohabiting with the ventirad have been resolved.
Performance: I ran the 3DMark and UNIGINE Superposition benchmarks and recorded the temperatures with GPU-Z, and there was no loss or gain.
The verdict: as is often the case with Fractal, this is a quality, albeit expensive, accessory that does its job very well.
Namely: you're sacrificing the bulk of your PCI slots; you'll have less space at the bottom of the case for your cables; the overall length of your graphics card will probably increase.
