I've started manufacturing powered risers that utilize a USB 3.0 cable instead of bulky x16 cables, or even x1 cables. They're powered via 4 pin HDD Molex, and can work up to 18" (tested so far, waiting on longer cables)
There are varieties of these being sold on ebay and other sites for $25+, I can produce them for <=$20$, plus shipping. I've got enough boards right now to make another 40 or so by hand, but I wanted to find out if there was enough interest in them to sent them out to be assembled in a factory (because soldering 164 pins on a PCI-E connector 500 times is a PAIN)
Here is a final shot of the first 6 I've sold:
They feature NON-locking PCI-e x16 connectors, as I was not able to find locking connectors in QTY's less than 1000, and I have found the non-locking slots fit the cards tight enough that slipping or falling off is not an issue.
Please let me know if you would be interested in purchasing these. I'm currently working on a re-design that would use a sata->floppy adapter, along with any improvements i can make to board layout, so I don't have a final price but I can guarantee less than 20$/set (plus shipping)
Please post here if you are interested. If there is a small enough demand I can hand-make from the remaining 40 pieces I have remaining, if there is greater than 100 set interest, I will begin a fresh order using a fab that can assemble everything for me to speed up the process(it takes me 1-2 days to hand assemble everything on the weekend). I test all sets individually in one of my rigs using two XFX R9 290's and an X1 and x16 slot to confirm they work. I will be testing a 36" cable shortly. I have 12" and 18" cables in stock as well.
This thread is to gauge if there is enough interest in mass producing these for the community at a reduced price.