Modern GPUs have gotten very heavy and chunky. Almost every RTX 30 series GPU come with massive heatsinks and weigh northward of a pound. The increased heat output of these cards has pushed card manufacturers to come up with effective thermal designs for these cards. These designs involve putting heatsinks longer than the PCB. Oftentimes, these massive heatsinks cause GPU sag. Over time, this sag can cause permanent damage to the motherboard PCIe slot as well as the PCIe x16 connector on the graphics card.
GPU Sag: More About the Issue
Some GPU manufacturers have started addressing this issue already. Some high-end cards like the MSI RTX 3080 Ventus 3x and many more come included with an anti-sag bracket inside the card to keep the PCB upright. Some manufacturers also include a GPU anti-sag bracket in the box, so that users can take care of the issue from day 1. But, these solutions are only seen in the highest-end cards, like the RTX 3080, the RTX 3090, and their Ti counterparts. Almost all RTX 3060, RTX 3070, their Ti revisions, RX 6700 XT, RX 6800, and the RX 6800 XT also face severe GPU binding issues. But, graphics card manufacturers do not include a GPU anti-sag bracket in the box. Most of the AIB designs of these cards weigh over 1 pound, thus, it is absolutely necessary to add some GPU reinforcement to prevent them from damaging your motherboard or the GPU itself.
GPU Anti-Sag Bracket: The Solution
GPU anti-sag brackets are a relatively inexpensive solution to this issue. Several companies have come up with some really fancy designs that add a cool factor to your build as well. Most of these fancy anti-sag brackets barely cost $10, so adding one for the well-being of your build makes perfect sense.