{"video_id":"fp_Jck3B3YQpr","title":"Rear Connector Motherboards Explained","channel":"Techquickie","show":"Techquickie","published_at":"2024-02-09T23:53:00.026Z","duration_s":371,"segments":[{"start_s":0.0,"end_s":6.12,"text":"Motherboard manufacturers are trying to solve possibly the most annoying thing about building a PC.","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":7.04,"end_s":11.76,"text":"Cable management. Three of the largest companies that crank out motherboards,","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":11.76,"end_s":15.24,"text":"ASUS, MSI, and Gigabyte all now offer boards","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":15.24,"end_s":20.28,"text":"that place most internal connectors on the back of the PCB with the idea being","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":20.28,"end_s":23.92,"text":"to let you build a PC with few to no cables showing.","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":23.92,"end_s":26.96,"text":"But hold on a sec, why exactly did it take so long","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":26.96,"end_s":31.92,"text":"for these companies to bring this to market? I mean the first American patent was filed back in 2011.","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":31.92,"end_s":37.16,"text":"The answer is not only that there wasn't yet broad support from hardware manufacturers,","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":37.16,"end_s":41.36,"text":"but also that the priorities of the PCI DIY community","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":41.36,"end_s":46.04,"text":"weren't quite the same as they are now. Let's start by talking about those priorities.","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":46.04,"end_s":52.44,"text":"It really wasn't all that long ago that building or just buying a PC was primarily a means to an end.","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":52.44,"end_s":57.48,"text":"You wanted to accomplish something specific on a PC, play a game, make a video call,","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":57.48,"end_s":62.88,"text":"re-derive calculus, whatever. So you built something in an opaque beige box","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":62.88,"end_s":66.24,"text":"that could accomplish that task, and there was a good chance you didn't care too much","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":66.24,"end_s":69.96,"text":"about how it looked. But as the years went on, laptops, tablets,","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":69.96,"end_s":73.32,"text":"and smartphones became able to handle more and more functions","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":73.32,"end_s":76.88,"text":"that used to be the sole domain of desktop PCs,","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":76.88,"end_s":83.0,"text":"meaning that a larger proportion of the remaining desktop PC community was made up of enthusiasts","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":83.0,"end_s":89.6,"text":"who cared more than the average person about not just how their PC performed, but how it looked.","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":89.6,"end_s":93.28,"text":"During that time, PC aesthetics evolved gradually.","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":93.28,"end_s":97.8,"text":"Cases with Windows didn't start becoming common until the early to mid-2000s.","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":97.8,"end_s":101.32,"text":"We didn't see cable management grommets until around 2010,","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":101.32,"end_s":105.12,"text":"and RGB didn't hit it big until the mid-2010s.","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":105.12,"end_s":110.52,"text":"And of course, modern social media platforms that allow hardware manufacturers to easily get the pulse","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":110.52,"end_s":115.24,"text":"of the community haven't been around for very long. But since they took off, it's been clear","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":115.24,"end_s":121.16,"text":"from social media feedback that aesthetics have only increased in importance for PC enthusiasts.","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":121.16,"end_s":124.96,"text":"We haven't proved that RGB makes things faster yet, but we'll get there.","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":124.96,"end_s":130.32,"text":"And there's an additional benefit aside from aesthetics. Connectors on the rear mean that you won't have to worry","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":130.32,"end_s":135.2,"text":"about negotiating your way into tight spaces created by other components once you're ready","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":135.2,"end_s":140.12,"text":"to connect your cables. The eight-pin EPS connector is notoriously tricky.","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":140.12,"end_s":143.04,"text":"Manufacturers are hoping that not only will rear connectors","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":143.24,"end_s":147.36,"text":"look better, but they'll also serve as a more builder-friendly option to those folks","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":147.36,"end_s":151.8,"text":"who are interested in PC DIY, but intimidated about taking the plunge.","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":151.8,"end_s":154.88,"text":"And there are more of those people out there than you might think.","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":154.88,"end_s":158.48,"text":"So that brings us to actually getting this idea to market.","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":158.48,"end_s":163.36,"text":"How did we get there? Although Manegear filed a patent for the rear connector concept in 2011,","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":163.36,"end_s":169.04,"text":"which other companies now license, it wasn't until 2019 that ASUS showed us a rear motherboard","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":169.04,"end_s":172.44,"text":"connector on their concept Prime Utopia board.","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":172.44,"end_s":178.32,"text":"Gigabyte then became the first major motherboard brand to bring a rear connector motherboard to market in 2022","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":178.32,"end_s":182.52,"text":"with Project Stealth, followed by MSI's Project Zero","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":182.52,"end_s":186.96,"text":"in 2023, and ASUS's BTF in 2024.","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":186.96,"end_s":191.8,"text":"And since the primary concern here is aesthetics, some boards also include shrouds","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":191.8,"end_s":196.16,"text":"that hide the unsightly solder marks that are now on the front of the board.","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":197.36,"end_s":203.4,"text":"But hold everything. How the heck does this work, considering that most cases don't have the correct holes","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":203.4,"end_s":208.64,"text":"in the motherboard tray to plug in cables at the back? Unsurprisingly, you're gonna need a new compatible case","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":208.64,"end_s":212.68,"text":"for these new motherboards to work. Gigabyte collaborated with Manegear","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":212.68,"end_s":218.68,"text":"to make a case for its Project Stealth products, while MSI and ASUS both make their own cases now,","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":218.68,"end_s":224.12,"text":"and also collaborate with outside case manufacturers in order to ensure you can actually hide all your cables","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":224.12,"end_s":227.88,"text":"without having to take a Dremel to your existing case. Unless you want to.","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":228.08,"end_s":232.52,"text":"I mean, it's fun. And in case you were wondering why these manufacturers","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":232.52,"end_s":236.88,"text":"can't just design the motherboard so the rear connectors poke out of the existing cutouts","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":236.88,"end_s":240.04,"text":"for CPU coolers, there are just too many electronics","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":240.04,"end_s":243.36,"text":"already in that area for such a solution to be practical.","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":243.36,"end_s":247.42,"text":"Although the current lack of an open standard for rear connectors means you'll have to ensure","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":247.42,"end_s":252.66,"text":"that the case you want is specifically compatible with the particular motherboard brand you want,","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":252.66,"end_s":257.36,"text":"this may not end up mattering too much in the long term. Lots of niceties that we're used to,","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":257.36,"end_s":262.8,"text":"such as right angled SATA connectors, top mounted radiators, and the various RGB ecosystems","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":262.8,"end_s":269.08,"text":"don't have official standards defining them, but they enjoy widespread support and interoperability.","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":269.08,"end_s":274.44,"text":"So if rear connectors end up being in high demand from consumers, you can bet that there will be plenty","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":274.44,"end_s":281.56,"text":"of compatible boards and cases to choose from. But a possible wrinkle is how to handle the pesky fact","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":281.56,"end_s":284.68,"text":"that most graphics cards require extra power cables","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":284.68,"end_s":288.68,"text":"that connect to the top of the card. Oh no.","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":288.68,"end_s":293.64,"text":"For now, limited solutions exist. Gigabyte sells special cards that feature a connector","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":293.64,"end_s":296.92,"text":"on the bottom closer to the PCI express contacts,","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":296.92,"end_s":300.08,"text":"while ASUS sells cards with an extra smaller set","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":300.08,"end_s":303.84,"text":"of contacts for power that work with compatible ASUS motherboards.","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":303.84,"end_s":309.8,"text":"While this limits which graphics cards you can use to get that totally clean look inside your case,","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":309.8,"end_s":314.4,"text":"the hope is that more cards will adopt solutions such as these as time goes on.","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":314.52,"end_s":319.96,"text":"And the fact that ASUS, Gigabyte, and MSI, also all manufactured graphics cards and cases","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":319.96,"end_s":324.2,"text":"means they also have the ability to push these rear connector ecosystems forward,","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":324.2,"end_s":327.52,"text":"even if a particular outside company isn't interested.","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":327.52,"end_s":332.16,"text":"But is any of this really a good idea? Well, other than a small amount of increased costs","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":332.16,"end_s":336.04,"text":"to begin with due to these companies having to tweak their manufacturing slightly,","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":336.04,"end_s":339.48,"text":"there aren't really any major drawbacks to rear mounting connectors.","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":339.48,"end_s":343.96,"text":"But even with these benefits, only time will tell if this new connector paradigm will emerge","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":344.0,"end_s":347.44,"text":"as a widespread alternative to traditional cable routing.","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":347.44,"end_s":352.6,"text":"And I know how much some of you like seeing that sweet RGB spaghetti every time you fire up your rig.","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":352.6,"end_s":357.04,"text":"So we'll have to see. And you know what I like to see is you coming to the end of this video.","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":357.04,"end_s":360.92,"text":"How'd you get here? Thanks for watching. Like the video if you liked it.","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":360.92,"end_s":364.64,"text":"Dislike it if you disliked it. Check out our other videos. Comment below with video suggestions.","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":364.64,"end_s":369.84,"text":"And don't forget to subscribe and follow what your favorite flavor of RGB spaghetti is.","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":370.72,"end_s":371.56,"text":"There's lots.","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0}],"full_text":"Motherboard manufacturers are trying to solve possibly the most annoying thing about building a PC. Cable management. Three of the largest companies that crank out motherboards, ASUS, MSI, and Gigabyte all now offer boards that place most internal connectors on the back of the PCB with the idea being to let you build a PC with few to no cables showing. But hold on a sec, why exactly did it take so long for these companies to bring this to market? I mean the first American patent was filed back in 2011. The answer is not only that there wasn't yet broad support from hardware manufacturers, but also that the priorities of the PCI DIY community weren't quite the same as they are now. Let's start by talking about those priorities. It really wasn't all that long ago that building or just buying a PC was primarily a means to an end. You wanted to accomplish something specific on a PC, play a game, make a video call, re-derive calculus, whatever. So you built something in an opaque beige box that could accomplish that task, and there was a good chance you didn't care too much about how it looked. But as the years went on, laptops, tablets, and smartphones became able to handle more and more functions that used to be the sole domain of desktop PCs, meaning that a larger proportion of the remaining desktop PC community was made up of enthusiasts who cared more than the average person about not just how their PC performed, but how it looked. During that time, PC aesthetics evolved gradually. Cases with Windows didn't start becoming common until the early to mid-2000s. We didn't see cable management grommets until around 2010, and RGB didn't hit it big until the mid-2010s. And of course, modern social media platforms that allow hardware manufacturers to easily get the pulse of the community haven't been around for very long. But since they took off, it's been clear from social media feedback that aesthetics have only increased in importance for PC enthusiasts. We haven't proved that RGB makes things faster yet, but we'll get there. And there's an additional benefit aside from aesthetics. Connectors on the rear mean that you won't have to worry about negotiating your way into tight spaces created by other components once you're ready to connect your cables. The eight-pin EPS connector is notoriously tricky. Manufacturers are hoping that not only will rear connectors look better, but they'll also serve as a more builder-friendly option to those folks who are interested in PC DIY, but intimidated about taking the plunge. And there are more of those people out there than you might think. So that brings us to actually getting this idea to market. How did we get there? Although Manegear filed a patent for the rear connector concept in 2011, which other companies now license, it wasn't until 2019 that ASUS showed us a rear motherboard connector on their concept Prime Utopia board. Gigabyte then became the first major motherboard brand to bring a rear connector motherboard to market in 2022 with Project Stealth, followed by MSI's Project Zero in 2023, and ASUS's BTF in 2024. And since the primary concern here is aesthetics, some boards also include shrouds that hide the unsightly solder marks that are now on the front of the board. But hold everything. How the heck does this work, considering that most cases don't have the correct holes in the motherboard tray to plug in cables at the back? Unsurprisingly, you're gonna need a new compatible case for these new motherboards to work. Gigabyte collaborated with Manegear to make a case for its Project Stealth products, while MSI and ASUS both make their own cases now, and also collaborate with outside case manufacturers in order to ensure you can actually hide all your cables without having to take a Dremel to your existing case. Unless you want to. I mean, it's fun. And in case you were wondering why these manufacturers can't just design the motherboard so the rear connectors poke out of the existing cutouts for CPU coolers, there are just too many electronics already in that area for such a solution to be practical. Although the current lack of an open standard for rear connectors means you'll have to ensure that the case you want is specifically compatible with the particular motherboard brand you want, this may not end up mattering too much in the long term. Lots of niceties that we're used to, such as right angled SATA connectors, top mounted radiators, and the various RGB ecosystems don't have official standards defining them, but they enjoy widespread support and interoperability. So if rear connectors end up being in high demand from consumers, you can bet that there will be plenty of compatible boards and cases to choose from. But a possible wrinkle is how to handle the pesky fact that most graphics cards require extra power cables that connect to the top of the card. Oh no. For now, limited solutions exist. Gigabyte sells special cards that feature a connector on the bottom closer to the PCI express contacts, while ASUS sells cards with an extra smaller set of contacts for power that work with compatible ASUS motherboards. While this limits which graphics cards you can use to get that totally clean look inside your case, the hope is that more cards will adopt solutions such as these as time goes on. And the fact that ASUS, Gigabyte, and MSI, also all manufactured graphics cards and cases means they also have the ability to push these rear connector ecosystems forward, even if a particular outside company isn't interested. But is any of this really a good idea? Well, other than a small amount of increased costs to begin with due to these companies having to tweak their manufacturing slightly, there aren't really any major drawbacks to rear mounting connectors. But even with these benefits, only time will tell if this new connector paradigm will emerge as a widespread alternative to traditional cable routing. And I know how much some of you like seeing that sweet RGB spaghetti every time you fire up your rig. So we'll have to see. And you know what I like to see is you coming to the end of this video. How'd you get here? Thanks for watching. Like the video if you liked it. Dislike it if you disliked it. Check out our other videos. Comment below with video suggestions. And don't forget to subscribe and follow what your favorite flavor of RGB spaghetti is. There's lots."}