Friday, October 14th 2022
NVIDIA Cancels GeForce RTX 4080 12GB, To Relaunch it With a Different Name
NVIDIA has decided to cancel the November 2022 launch of the GeForce RTX 4080 12 GB. The company will relaunch the card under a different name, though it didn't announce the replacement name just yet. The naming of the RTX 4080 12 GB was cause for much controversy. With the RTX 40-series "Ada," NVIDIA debuted three SKUs—the already launched RTX 4090 which is in stores right now; the RTX 4080 16 GB, and the RTX 4080 12 GB. Memory size notwithstanding, the RTX 4080 12 GB is a vastly different graphics card from the RTX 4080 16 GB.
The RTX 4080 12 GB and RTX 4080 16 GB didn't even share the same silicon. While the 16 GB model is based on the larger "AD103" silicon, has 9,728 CUDA cores, and a 256-bit wide GDDR6X memory bus; the RTX 4080 12 GB is based on the smaller "AD104" silicon, has just 7,680 CUDA cores (21% fewer CUDA cores); and a meager 192-bit wide GDDR6X memory bus. This had the potential to confuse buyers, especially given the $900 price. With criticism spanning not just social media but also bad press, NVIDIA decided to pull the plug on the RTX 4080 12 GB. The company will likely re-brand it as a successor to the RTX 3070 Ti, although then it will have a hard time justifying its $900 price-tag. The RTX 4080 16 GB, however, is on track for a November 16 availability date, with a baseline price of $1,200.
Source:
NVIDIA
The RTX 4080 12 GB and RTX 4080 16 GB didn't even share the same silicon. While the 16 GB model is based on the larger "AD103" silicon, has 9,728 CUDA cores, and a 256-bit wide GDDR6X memory bus; the RTX 4080 12 GB is based on the smaller "AD104" silicon, has just 7,680 CUDA cores (21% fewer CUDA cores); and a meager 192-bit wide GDDR6X memory bus. This had the potential to confuse buyers, especially given the $900 price. With criticism spanning not just social media but also bad press, NVIDIA decided to pull the plug on the RTX 4080 12 GB. The company will likely re-brand it as a successor to the RTX 3070 Ti, although then it will have a hard time justifying its $900 price-tag. The RTX 4080 16 GB, however, is on track for a November 16 availability date, with a baseline price of $1,200.
423 Comments on NVIDIA Cancels GeForce RTX 4080 12GB, To Relaunch it With a Different Name
RTX 4080 Almost ?
RTX 4080 But Not Quite ?
RTX 4080 But Actually 4070 ?
RTX 4080 Ark ?
I guess we can expect a price drop of 4090 and 4080 16GB prices in a few months and 4080 12GB coming out with it's original naming, as RTX 4070 and at $100 less.
So, speculating in 6 months from now
4090 Ti at $1600
4090 at $1200
4080 16GB at $1000
4080 12GB as 4070 at $800.
NVIDIA: The Way It's Meant To Be "Played" . . .
This announcement pounds that concept home with brutal clarity.
Prospective customers simply need to assess the various models in the product generation and decide whether or not each SKU's features are worthy of the price being asked while disregarding the model number printed on the card and the retail packaging.
NVIDIA changes their idea of what each model number represents. Essentially, a --70 card is simply a product between a --60 model and an --80 model from the same generation's product stack. Comparing the 1070, 2070, 3070, and 4070 lacks relevancy because of NVIDIA's constant reinterpretation of their model numbers.
I'm not debating, just asking.
Potentially it could mean bad news regarding Navi31 based parts pricing since Nvidia this year will start at $1200 instead of $900 for the new gen.(unless they rename it 4070Ti for example and still launch this year since the chips are ready at $899 or even lower since its 70s series hencefort, making it good news)
www.proshop.dk/Grafikkort/MSI-GeForce-RTX-4080-SUPRIM-X-12GB-GDDR6X-RAM-Grafikkort/3113958
appleinsider.com/articles/22/10/13/if-you-kept-an-original-iphone-in-the-box-it-might-be-worth-30000
since the RTX 4080 12GB isn't a groundbreaking invention like the original iPhone.
Plus, if NVIDIA releases the exact card under a different model number, the retail packaging mostly becomes an oddity.
You could buy one in hopes that it becomes a collectors item, the problem is you have to find that collector who will buy it at top dollar before they buy it from someone else at a lower price. And if there aren't that many collectors, the price will stagnate.
It's the same free market concept as brand new cards intended to be operated. If demand outpaces supply, prices will go up. We're seeing that with the 4090 models as we type this.
I don't know if they improved drastically with time, tbh I am looking seriously at RDNA3 too in addition to the 4080 for my next upgrade...but if picking a GPU with the most stable drivers is gullible, then I am gullible. Nothing instinctive with picking up Nvidia...had 2 AMD GPU a ATI 4870 and an RX 580, both were drivers hell, at one point you get tired of DDU, troubleshooting, etc.
Bonus #1: More time to dump the 3xxx GPUs to the market.
Bonus #2: "Hi, we hear you consumers and media and react buy your will immediately" (this is what you supposed to believe in at least)
Bonus #3: A free "upgrade" to the X7xx tier price that will probably take 4080-12GB name but for the very same cost.
Bonus #4: Confuse AMD a bit.
(Big) Bonus #5: Hail of free PR from media and forums, cus` there no such thing as bad publicity.
Next up, conspiracy theories.
Stay tuned and order much more of that popcorn.
What a great lunch we have!
I bet its not just the criticism which is forcing the name pull but the performance and price which just doesn't stack up. Now that people are better aware (like me) that DLS-3 is just a marketing gimmick (for many), its about time nV gets back to the drawing room to justify smaller performance gains opposed to the over hyped collosal leaps. A reality check... and hopefully more to come!
Shame on you Nvidia... dirty illusions like these will only push me towards AMD regardless of the compromise... thats coming from a to-date all-time and every-time NVIDIA buyer (only foolish business practices push away a healthy retained customer base)