Editing PCI Express (section)

==== Non-standard video card form factors ====
Modern (since {{circa|2012}}<ref name="j6TTS" />) gaming [[video card]]s usually exceed the height as well as thickness specified in the PCI Express standard, due to the need for more capable and quieter [[Computer fan|cooling fans]], as gaming video cards often emit hundreds of watts of heat.<ref name="RAreG" /> Modern computer cases are often wider to accommodate these taller cards, but not always. Since full-length cards (312&nbsp;mm) are uncommon, modern cases sometimes cannot accommodate them. The thickness of these cards also typically occupies the space of 2 to 5<ref>{{Cite web |last=Discuss |first=btarunr |date=2023-01-06 |title=ASUS x Noctua RTX 4080 Graphics Card is 5 Slots Thick, We Go Hands-on |url=https://www.techpowerup.com/303148/asus-x-noctua-rtx-4080-graphics-card-is-5-slots-thick-we-go-hands-on |access-date=2024-09-19 |website=TechPowerUp |language=en}}</ref> PCIe slots. In fact, even the methodology of how to measure the cards varies between vendors, with some including the metal bracket size in dimensions and others not.

For instance, comparing three high-end video cards released in 2020: a [[Sapphire Technology|Sapphire]] [[Radeon RX 5000 series|Radeon RX 5700 XT]] card measures 135&nbsp;mm in height (excluding the metal bracket), which exceeds the PCIe standard height by 28&nbsp;mm,<ref name="E0Tsg" /> another Radeon RX 5700 XT card by [[XFX]] measures 55&nbsp;mm thick (i.e. 2.7 PCI slots at 20.32&nbsp;mm), taking up 3 PCIe slots,<ref name="mAt96" /> while an [[Asus]] [[GeForce 30 series|GeForce RTX 3080]] video card takes up two slots and measures 140.1{{nbsp}}mm × 318.5{{nbsp}}mm × 57.8{{nbsp}}mm, exceeding PCI Express's maximum height, length, and thickness respectively.<ref name="kk3xz" />