After recently dropping hints about a higher memory variant of its new GeForce RTX 3080 graphics card, Nvidia has remained quiet on the topic. However, production partner Gigabyte has accidentally revealed that not only is a 20 GB variant of the RTX 3080 coming, expanded versions of the RTX 3070 and 3060 are on their way too.
The information was discovered on Gigabyte's redemption page for its Watch Dogs: Legion promotion by hardware site Videocardz, with the list of eligible Nvidia graphics cards including the unannounced variants: RTX 3080 20 GB, RTX 3070 Super/Ti 16 GB, and RTX 3060 Super/Ti 8 GB. The 3070 and 3060 were listed with an S, although it is expected these cards will use a Ti designation rather than the implied Super label.
While the higher memory variants have been rumored for several months, this is the first piece of information from an official source that explicitly states the memory and models due for release. Although the leak contains no information on when the higher memory models may be released, current rumors suggest that they will be timed for shortly after AMD launches its RX 6900 XT flagship. How these models will compare for pricing is also unknown at present.
Both Nvidia and AMD are focusing their high-end cards squarely at 4K performance, and with textures getting larger and larger, graphics memory is going to become a far more important part of card specifications than it has for some time. This is demonstrated with the giant 24 GB in the RTX 3090, and 16 GB expected in the RX 6900 XT, while the use of single sided memory in leaked images of the latter suggest AMD may consider a 32 GB model in the future. Of course, Nvidia's RTX 3090 and 3080 have an advantage in using faster GDDR6X memory, which is not expected to feature on any of AMDs upcoming cards.
The announcement of graphics cards with double the memory of those only just released, shows how seriously Nvidia is taking competition from AMD. Despite some gamers expecting the company to lag behind, AMD has expressed confidence in its upcoming RDNA 2 powered RX 6000 Series line-up, and Nvidia is working hard to minimize any advantages that its rival may have.
As with all new hardware, the key will be combining higher levels of performance with prices that justify the investment. Nvidia has achieved this with its new high-end cards, and gamers will be hoping AMD follows suit, maybe even pushing prices a bit lower. That is of course, if gamers can actually get hold of the new hardware.
Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 10 GB is on sale now.
Source: Videocardz