News Overview
- Renowned leaker kopite7kimi reveals potential specs for the RTX 5080 SUPER, suggesting a significant VRAM upgrade to 24GB.
- The leak indicates the 5080 SUPER will utilize a cut-down GB203 die, similar to the RTX 4090, and a 256-bit memory bus.
- This development positions the 5080 SUPER as a compelling high-end GPU, potentially rivaling or surpassing the RTX 4090 in certain scenarios.
🔗 Original article link: One of tech’s best leakers drops the GPU specs for the RTX 5080 Super, likely confirming that 24GB VRAM update
In-Depth Analysis
The article centers around leaked specifications for the upcoming NVIDIA RTX 5080 SUPER graphics card, courtesy of industry insider kopite7kimi. The key takeaway is the potential for a 24GB VRAM configuration, a substantial increase from the RTX 4080’s 16GB. This upgrade would address a common criticism of the 4080 - its VRAM limitations for demanding games at high resolutions.
The leaked specs suggest the 5080 SUPER will be based on a cut-down version of the GB203 die. The GB203 is presumably a larger die, and the “cut-down” version implies that NVIDIA is optimizing for yields and/or market segmentation. A 256-bit memory bus is also mentioned. This bus width, in conjunction with the 24GB of VRAM, suggests that NVIDIA is using 12GB memory modules on each side of the PCB, which is a common configuration.
The move to a cut-down GB203 die is intriguing, as it potentially puts the 5080 SUPER in direct competition with the RTX 4090 in terms of performance per watt, and even potentially overall performance depending on clock speeds and other architectural improvements in the Blackwell architecture. No benchmarks or direct comparisons are provided in the article, but the potential is discussed.
Commentary
The 24GB VRAM update for the RTX 5080 SUPER is a significant move that could dramatically improve its market position. The RTX 4080 has been criticized for its price relative to its performance and VRAM capacity. Increasing the VRAM to 24GB addresses the latter concern and makes the 5080 SUPER a much more appealing option for gamers and content creators working with high-resolution textures and complex scenes.
The choice of a cut-down GB203 die suggests NVIDIA is prioritizing efficiency and yield rates, which could help them manage costs and supply chain issues. However, it also implies that the RTX 5090 will likely use the full GB202 die (or even a larger die), solidifying its position as the absolute top-tier gaming GPU.
This move could also intensify competition with AMD’s high-end offerings. AMD is expected to release its own next-generation GPUs, and a VRAM advantage on the 5080 SUPER could give NVIDIA a competitive edge. Strategic considerations for AMD would now need to include comparable VRAM offerings, and potentially, improved price points.