My first build in 21 years. Extremely pleased with it! And I still have some cable management to finish, so please excuse the mess. And also please excuse the long post.
I need some advice on how to mitigate my GPU sag problem.
Specs
CPU : Ryzen 7 9850X3D
GPU : Gigabyte RTX 5080 Windforce OC SFF
Mobo : MSI B850 Tomahawk
RAM : Kingbank KRRB DDR5 6000 CL30
SSD : 1 TB Kioxia Experia Plus G4 Gen 5 SSD
PSU : NZXT C1000
Cooler : Arctic Liquid Freezer III Pro 360 A-RGB
Case : Okinos Aqua 9
The Aqua 9 is famous for its angled/tapered PSU shroud that is supposed to help with channeling cold air straight to the GPU.
But those that install beefy GPUs like mine, will have a problem addressing the GPU sag issue as the spot where we can normally prop a stand to push the GPU back to its neutral position, has no flat base for the stand to sit stably on. I've attached photos for reference.
This is the problem I'm facing. The spot usually used to prop up the GPU has no flat base to support the stand.
And as you can see from my photos, my GPU is already sagging badly even if it's a small form factor card. I have the Gigabyte Windforce RTX 5080 SFF OC. It comes with its own GPU support bracket that attach still the 3 silver screw holes you can see on the edge of the card but this card extends out and overlaps the side intake fans so there isn't any place to screw the bracket in.
I've tried to prop up the card further back closer to the back of the case, but I'd have to push this spot up further past it's neutral level to get the unsupported edge back to neutral. So I don't think this is a good solution.
I couldn't prop at the back edge of the card between the front two fans because of the hole in the case to thread cables. So I tried to prop at the further most edge but the stand could only touch the edge of the fan rim, and when the fan runs, it clashes with the stand.
So I'm at a loss here trying to figure out how to solve my GPU sag problem. I'd appreciate if any you have any advice on how I can solve this problem of mine.
I'll be grateful for any advice given.