This video is a teardown and examination of a Maxson model of the Intel Arc Pro B60 Dual GPU video card, designed primarily for the AI and workstation market. The card features two Intel Arc Pro B60 GPUs, totaling 48GB of memory, utilizing a custom PCB with a PCIe Gen 5 x8 interface bifurcated into two x8 connections. The cooling system is a blower design, deemed suitable for multi-card server environments. The teardown reveals the board's internal layout, including VRM details (expected 6+2+2 per GPU), memory distribution on both sides, and the use of display output redrivers for UHBR20 support. The reviewed unit is a pre-production sample, evidenced by engineering "bodges" like a bypass wire for fan speed detection and missing screws. The final production version is expected to feature a vapor chamber cooler. The host discusses the return of dual-GPU designs for specific professional workloads and contrasts Intel's apparent openness to partner customization with competitors.
Exploring the Maxson Intel Arc Pro B60 Dual GPU Card:
0:41 Dual GPU Card: The video focuses on a Maxson model of the Intel Arc Pro B60, notable for being a dual GPU video card, a design rarely seen in recent years.
0:57 Model and Memory: The card is an Arc Pro B60 Dual, featuring 48 GB of total memory.
2:13 Blower Cooler Design: It uses a blower-style cooler, explained as necessary for multi-GPU configurations in dense server or workstation setups where axial fan cooling would be ineffective due to restricted airflow.
2:44 PCIe Bifurcation: The card utilizes a PCIe Gen 5 x8 interface, which is bifurcated to effectively run as two x8 connections, allowing access to both GPUs.
3:13 Display Output Configuration: The display outputs are split between the two GPUs; the top two connect to one GPU and the bottom two to the other. They support UHBR20 DisplayPort.
3:27 Custom PCB: The card features a custom PCB specifically designed to house the two discrete GPUs.
3:53 Price Point: The host mentions his understanding that the card is expected to be priced below $1,000 US.
4:37 Double-Sided Memory: Memory modules are present on both sides of the PCB, contributing to the 48GB total capacity.
5:00 Pre-Production Sample: The reviewed unit is a pre-production sample, indicated by missing screws and engineering modifications (like the thermal pad screw mentioned later).
6:01 PCIe Bracket Design: The PCIe bracket has large punched-out holes at the back, essential for expelling air effectively from the blower cooler.
6:45 Cooler Base Plate: The pre-production cooler base plate is copper, but the final version is expected to use a vapor chamber for improved cooling performance.
7:17 Internal Layout: The PCB layout effectively houses two complete GPU systems (VRM, memory) side-by-side.
7:42 Power Connector and Consumption: The card uses a single 12V connector (likely 2x6 or similar high-power) and is expected to have a total board power around 400 watts under full load.
11:43 Display Output Redrivers: The PCB includes redrivers for the DisplayPort outputs to support the UHBR20 standard.
12:01 Engineering Bypass Wire: A notable "bodge" is a copper wire soldered between components (MLCC capacitor to another point) identified as a bypass for fan speed detection on this engineering sample.
12:43 Dual GPU Market: The host reiterates that dual GPU designs like this are currently targeted at the AI and workstation market, not consumer gaming, largely due to driver complexity.
13:07 Intel's Approach: The existence of this customized board from a partner like Maxson suggests Intel is allowing more customization and freedom compared to competitors like Nvidia, which the host views positively.