NVIDIA GTX 1080 Ti Confirmed; 980 Ti Owners to Enjoy "Step-up" Program

[Raevenlord]

In a lInkedIn job post for Senior Marketing Manager, NVIDIA has seemingly confirmed the launch of a Ti version of their GTX 1080 graphics card. The relevant line is a simple one: "980 Ti users get first spot in line for 1080 Ti pre-orders, or Step Up offer".

If true, this is an interesting way for NVIDIA to go on about with their newest generation graphics card releases, and would be a good way to essentially "corner" their current user base into future hardware upgrade paths by increasing the value of staying within the GeForce family. Considering NVIDIA's current product stack, we wouldn't be surprised to see GTX 1080 Ti retail at about $999, so a value of $200 for your used 980 Ti seems reasonable in such a trade-in program (from a purely corporate perspective, naturally).





However, a move such as this also has the potential to open the proverbial can of worms: what about current owners of GTX 1070 or GTX 1080 graphics cards? Should they have the same right to participate in such an upgrade program? Or maybe even more, since this is a program designed to reward loyalty, and they've already acquired the company's latest and greatest (at the time)? Only time will tell, but I wager rivers of digital ink will run under this particular bridge, it NVIDIA does indeed decide to build upon it.

Yet another point of contention may be the fact that NVIDIA's add-in board partners, such as EVGA, ASUS or MSI, just to name a few, will see this upgrade program as a way for NVIDIA to keep sales of their products in-house (admitting that this offer will only be available towards an eventual acquisition of their Founder's Edition 1080 Ti graphics cards). This is definitely not a slight issue either, since any unbalancing acts towards the status quo are sure to have repercussions in the AIBs' relations with the company.

Nvidia is expected to unveil the new GeForce GTX 1080 Ti graphics card at the CES 2017, scheduled to kick off in January in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[BiggieShady]

200$ difference for a 980 Ti ... quickly sell it on ebay for 300$

 

[Mistral]

This will not piss off AIBs at all...

 

[Raevenlord]

This will not piss off AIBs at all...

Interesting point, mentioned it in the story =) Thanks a lot, Mistral.

 

[Camm]

AIB's were pissed enough being left out with the Titan X-P, this is going to bring in a new level of hatred.

I'm not sure if Nvidia has really thought this thru, considering its market position may be under threat with a resurgent AMD, giving AIB's reason to preference selling AMD cards is going to destroy any returns they think they might get.

 

[Ruru]

Just wondering that what will Nvidia do with those 980Ti's..?

 

[64K]

Just wondering that what will Nvidia do with those 980Ti's..?

Sell them to some company that would in turn sell them I imagine. The GTX 980 Ti is still a hell of a nice GPU and worth a good bit of money. I just checked and on Ebay they are going for around $350 (sold listings).

 

[Ruru]

Sell them to some company that would in turn sell them I imagine. The GTX 980 Ti is still a hell of a nice GPU and worth a good bit of money. I just checked and on Ebay they are going for around $350 (sold listings).

Yup, since I have no problems with 780Ti.

 

[RealNeil]

980Ti cards ~are~ a good card. I may just buy more of them instead of being soaked for 1080s and 1080Tis.

 

[Darksword]

So I can pay $999.99 for a Founder's Edition and get a $200 credit directly from Nvidia, OR I can sell my 980 Ti for $300 and buy an AIB 1080 Ti for under $999.99?

I'll go with option #2.

 

[Chaitanya]

Already Titan(pascal) is a crippled chip, wondering how much more crippling nVidia is going to do on their Crippled Titan GPU.

 

[the54thvoid]

Already Titan(pascal) is a crippled chip, wondering how much more crippling nVidia is going to do on their Crippled Titan GPU.

Less cores isn't crippled. And that 'crippled' card is so far ahead of anything right now, maybe it's a good move not to be fully enabled. That said, GP102 (Titan X) is not the same as the HPC part which is GP100.

 

[Dethroy]

The current generation of graphics cards bore me to death. I'd love to magically fast-forward to the release of Volta and Navi...

 

[ZoneDymo]

Less cores isn't crippled. And that 'crippled' card is so far ahead of anything right now, maybe it's a good move not to be fully enabled. That said, GP102 (Titan X) is not the same as the HPC part which is GP100.

yeah a good move from a company perspective of MOAR MONEY,
But we, the consumer, dont really care much for baby step improvements.

 

[Liviu Cojocaru]

I think 1000$ price tag on the 1080 Ti is too much and with this trade off thing I think Nvidia is a bit concerned with upcoming Vega...it's just my opinion and I hope it is true for the sake of the customers that means us

 

[Fluffmeister]

Already Titan(pascal) is a crippled chip, wondering how much more crippling nVidia is going to do on their Crippled Titan GPU.

I wish my crippled chip was that fast, that just means they have even more performance to come if they want too.

 

[buggalugs]

Doesnt sound like a good deal to me, people could get 50-100% more for their old card selling on Ebay.

 

[dwade]

At this rate we will never see a fully enabled GP102 card for mainstream since the Titan X is already a chopped card. And GP102 isn't even nVidia's best card.

 

[peche]

$300 for a se4cond handed 980ti ? dammit i just purchased a $300 GTX 980 f*ck my life...

 

[Fx]

Instead of enticing me, this step-up program instead screams at me to hold onto my 980 Ti a little longer. I'll see what AMD's Vega will do vs EVGA 1080 Ti and then decide.

 

[peche]

I'll see what AMD's Vega will do vs EVGA 980 Ti and then decide.

knowledge is strong with you

 

[efikkan]

The current generation of graphics cards bore me to death. I'd love to magically fast-forward to the release of Volta and Navi...

Exactly how is Pascal boring? Polaris on the other hand, now that's boring.

At this rate we will never see a fully enabled GP102 card for mainstream since the Titan X is already a chopped card. And GP102 isn't even nVidia's best card.

GTX 1080 Ti will be the lowest binning of GP102, and you'll never see a fully enabled GP102 as a GeForce unless there is multiple GeForce cards based on GP102.

And what is better (for rendering) than GP102?

 

[Camm]

At this rate we will never see a fully enabled GP102 card for mainstream since the Titan X is already a chopped card. And GP102 isn't even nVidia's best card.

GP100 is wholly unsuited to rendering if thats what you mean.

 

[ratirt]

Hmm NVidia must be really scared of AMD's Vega. Offering 1080 Ti for exchange of older 980 ti plus cash to keep people buying Nvidia overpriced gear. Nice.

 

[DLAROC]

Why should Pascal owners be mad Nvidia is trying to get last gen owners to update? Everyone knew the 1080ti was coming. Just because they rushed out and bought a new card, doesnt mean they are more loyal. Lmfao. Thats some funny BS if ive ever heard any. Why would someone with a 980ti upgrade to a 1070 or 1080 when theres barely any difference? So that makes them less loyal? MmmKay...