The Buzz Around Nvidia’s Next-Gen GPUs: What’s New?
Recap: If you’ve been tracking Nvidia’s next-gen graphics card saga, you know the rumor mill’s been working overtime. Nvidia’s plans seem as fluid as ever, with performance estimates staying pretty steady but everything else? Well, that’s been as predictable as weather in spring. The latest whispers? They’re all about the memory interface on Nvidia’s flagship cards, and let me tell you, it’s stirring up quite the conversation.
Insider Intel: A Sneak Peek into the RTX 50 Series
So here’s the scoop from @kopite7kimi, a name that’s almost synonymous with Nvidia leaks these days. This guru hinted that the cream-of-the-crop RTX 50 series GPU might be sporting a beefy 512-bit memory interface. That’s a significant bump up from earlier models, but don’t hold your breath for this upgrade to trickle down the lineup. It seems the other Blackwell beauties might stick closer to their Ada Lovelace roots in terms of memory config.
A Closer Look at What’s Under the Hood
“Change” seems to be the keyword for Nvidia’s flagship, presumably the GeForce RTX 5090. Migrating from the GDDR6X to the snappier GDDR7 for its VRAM? That’s on the table. Outdoing the RTX 4090’s 24 GB 384-bit memory interface, though? That was just speculation until recent leaks hinted at a 512-bit bus. Pair this with other rumors, and it’s like infusing this GPU with a can of energy drink, making it potentially leave its predecessor in the dust.
Unfortunately, not every card in the Blackwell series is invited to this speed party. According to Kopite, the lesser gods of this realm, the GB203 and GB205 GPUs, are likely sticking to 256-bit and 192-bit interfaces, respectively. It’s a bit like the RTX 4080 Super and 4070 Super all over again.
Thanks as always. GB203 is 256-bit and GB205 is 192-bit.
– kopite7kimi (@kopite7kimi) March 12, 2024
VRAM: The Achilles Heel?
There’s been some side-eyeing at Nvidia for not packing enough VRAM in its mid-range and entry-level offerings. I mean, RTX 3070 and 4060 with just 8 GB? And the 3060 gets 12 GB? Now, with whispers of a new Blackwell entrant possibly being another 128-bit, VRAM-starved unit, you can almost hear the collective groans.
And here’s another tidbit to chew on: the memory type itself. With the RTX 4070 Super, 4080 Super, and 4090 flaunting GDDR6X VRAM, the door’s left ajar for other Blackwell cards to maybe, just maybe, embrace GDDR7 like the rumored 5090.
When it comes to sheer performance firepower, the 5090 is purported to leapfrog over its predecessor by 60 – 70%. Fancy, right? This is all thanks to a concoction of more cores, a beefier cache, and a nifty frequency lift, all baked on TSMC’s 3nm tech. Oh, and let’s not forget about support for DisplayPort 2.1 and PCIe 5.0.
Mark Your Calendars… Maybe
As for when we can expect Nvidia to pull the curtain back on Blackwell, it’s looking like late 2024 or early 2025, though the tea leaves are a bit murky there. And with Intel and AMD also set to toss their hats into the next-gen GPU ring this year, it’s shaping up to be quite the showdown. Grab your popcorn, folks!
