Nvidia is rumored to have cancelled the manufacturing of the RTX 3080 12GB GPU. It’s not a giant shock as we get nearer to the launch of subsequent technology Lovelace playing cards, although it’s a disgrace that Nvidia selected to cancel the superior mannequin over the 3080 10GB.
The information comes from @Zed_Wang (opens in new tab) (by way of elchapuzasinformatico.com (opens in new tab)). On high of the pending launch of its RTX 40 sequence successor, there’s little doubt that falling GPU costs would have influenced the choice. As the value hole between the RTX 3080 10GB (opens in new tab) and the RTX 3080 Ti (opens in new tab) closes, there’s much less room for the RTX 3080 12GB (opens in new tab), particularly because the way more ubiquitous 10GB card must be bought off earlier than its substitute arrives.
A take a look at 3080 pricing at Newegg reveals that costs are persevering with to drop. On the time of writing (and never counting refurbished or open field playing cards), there are five models listed at under $800 (opens in new tab), and two of them are 12GB variants. Shifting as much as the 3080 Ti, the most cost effective playing cards are underneath RRP at $1,100 and falling. The 3080 12GB would appear to be messing up Nvidia’s must filter 3080 10GB shares. Nobody should purchase the 10GB model if the 12GB one is similar worth.
Until you’re a GPU fanatic, it may not be obvious that 3080 12GB playing cards use a superior GPU with extra shaders and a wider reminiscence bus. The 3080 10GB accommodates 8704 cores, whereas the 12GB has 8960. However by far the larger distinction is the reminiscence bus, at 320-bit for the 10GB and 384-bit for the 12GB. This implies efficient bandwidth is 760GB/s and 912GB/s respectively. So, in the event you purchase a 3080 12GB, you get extra shaders and an additional 2GB of reminiscence with extra bandwidth. It’s a no brainer if each carry the identical worth.
RTX 3080 10GB | RTX 3080 12GB | RTX 3080 Ti | |
---|---|---|---|
GPU | GA102-200 | GA102-220 | GA102-225 |
CUDA cores | 8704 | 8960 | 10240 |
Reminiscence | 10GB GDDR6X | 12GB GDDR6X | 12GB GDDR6X |
Reminiscence Bus | 320-bit | 384-bit | 384-bit |
Efficient Bandwidth | 760.3 GB/s | 912.4 GB/s | 912.4 GB/s |
What’s Nvidia to do if it needs to promote stockpiles of 3080 10GB playing cards that nobody should purchase forward of the 12GB model on the identical worth? That’s simple, cancel the 12GB. Meaning patrons must purchase the 3080 10GB (which continues to be a superb card) or cough up the cash for the 3080 Ti, which is actually a 3080 12GB with extra shaders.
3080 10GB patrons have little or no to fret about although. The true world efficiency variations between the 10GB and 12GB playing cards aren’t giant in any respect. Until you’re taking part in video games at 4K with giant texture packs, 10GB continues to be ample, although to what diploma that can stay the case in 2023 and past is unsure.
The 3080 has been in manufacturing for for much longer than the 12GB model and if there’s a SKU that distributors will need to filter earlier than the following gen launch, it’s that one. Distributors received’t need to be holding them for any longer than they need to. Particularly if the excessive finish subsequent gen playing cards are as fast as they’re rumored to be. (opens in new tab) A quick RTX 4070 would kill gross sales of 3080’s in a single day.
Should you needed to pay a few hundred further for the 12GB card, we’d purchase the 10GB one, however when each are the identical worth, undoubtedly seize the 12GB card. That further 2GB may come in useful sooner or later. However you’ll need to be fast. As soon as they’re gone, they will be gone ceaselessly.