Asustek Computer, a leading maker of computer components, recently announced an innovation that has been around for years, but was never implemented. The company installed graphics processor on the backside of the Extreme N6600TOP Silent graphics card, which is expected to provide better cooling.

All the typical graphics cards usually have their graphics processing unit (GPU) installed on the front-side, which means that when installed into a conventional tower computer case, the GPU does not dissipate heat in the most efficient way. Hot air typically tends to go up, which means that part of the heat conducted by the heat-sink usually returns to the GPU, which reduces overall cooling efficiency. ASUS installed graphics chip and memory on the backside of the print-circuit board to ensure that the heat goes away from the card.

Asus equips the Extreme N6600TOP Silent with passive cooling sub-system and calls the technology as ReverseCool to reflect GPU-on-the-back mounting mechanism.

“With Asus exclusive ReverseCool technology, EN6600TOP Silent can be more than 30 degrees cooler than generic GF6600 and provide the quietest 0DB environment,” the company claims.

The new product is based on the GeForce 6600 graphics chip operating at 400MHz as well as 256MB of GDDR2 functioning at 800MHz. The board is equipped with D-Sub, DVI-I and TV outputs. Performance of the part in 3D games should be slightly below that of the GeForce 6600 GT.

Asus Extreme N6600TOP Silent is currently listed on the company’s web-site, but the pricing and availability details are not available.