What is the down side to the "mini" versions of gtx900?

[sheff2k1]

I'm looking into buying the small from factor version of GTX960 EVGA.

It seems abit "odd" to me that a certain model can be manufactured in a much smaller size, for the same price(even lower)- without having any drawbacks to it. If it's so simple, how come the standard cards come in such gigantic form factors?

Am i to expect any inconsistent performance or overheating of that mini card? That is the model: http://www.evga.com/Products/Product.aspx?pn=02G-P4-2962-KR

 

[clutchc]

The reason is that Nvidia has come up with a winner. A GTX 960 is only a 120W card. The AMD equivelant of that much power is 250W: http://www.hwcompare.com/18026/geforce-gtx-970-vs-radeon-r9-280/
The new Maxwell equipped GPU is a ground breaker.

 

[sheff2k1]

So before the gtx900 age, there were no "mini" versions of serious cards?

 

[clutchc]

So before the gtx900 age, there were no "mini" versions of serious cards?

There was, but only in the low/mid class. The GTX 750/750 Ti is based on the Maxwell GPU. That's why it has R7-265/HD 7850 performance and doesn't need a 6 pin connector.

 

[Vici0us]

So before the gtx900 age, there were no "mini" versions of serious cards?

There were minis before: GTX 550 Ti, GTX 650, etc.

 

[clutchc]

There's another reason some cards will always come in humongous sizes... ego. Some folks won't buy a card unless it looks like it is huge, mean, and powerful. Stubby cards don't have the right muscular persona for some folks.

 

[sheff2k1]

So buying the mini version, instead of the standard one is a "safe" choice?

 

[Vici0us]

So buying the mini version, instead of the standard one is a "safe" choice?

Yes it is a safe choice. Specially if you go with EVGA, you'll be safe without a doubt.

 

[sora]

There is nothing wrong with the mini versions at all.