While the Nvidia GeForce RTX 50-series playing cards that have been introduced this week at CES 2025 have initially wooed us with considerably affordable pricing and body technology magic, they have not been showstoppers on the reminiscence entrance. That’s particularly the case given it seems to be like AMD’s RX 9070 graphics playing cards can have 16 GB of VRAM and presumably be cheaper than Nvidia’s 16 GB playing cards.
However, if a latest MSI packaging mistake (by way of Videocardz) and Gigabyte itemizing mistake (by way of Videocardz) are something to go by, the milquetoast reminiscence configs of a lot of the 50-series playing cards—not horrible by any stretch, however nothing to jot down house about—might need solely been a latest change. And, furthermore, these “errors” would possibly signify future RTX 5080 GDDR7 configs.
Nvidia says: “Blackwell is supplied with the world’s quickest reminiscence – GDDR7 with speeds as much as 30Gbps.” The RTX 5090, 5070 Ti, and 5070 have 28 Gbps reminiscence, whereas the RTX 5080 has 16 GB of 30 Gbps reminiscence.
In a video which now appears to have been modified or shortened, MSI reportedly confirmed RTX 4080 Vanguard Launch Edition packaging that claimed 24 GB of GDDR7 RAM for the cardboard—8 GB greater than it truly has. Judging by the product web page for this graphics card, MSI appears to have corrected this packaging to say 16 GB of GDDR7 reminiscence.
Gigabyte, however, is itemizing its RTX 4080 playing cards with specs that present a 32 Gbps reminiscence clock. This is 2 Gbps increased than Nvidia’s claimed reminiscence pace for the cardboard.
So, what’s up with the confusion? Well, in line with Videocardz, Nvidia delivered a remaining BIOS to board companions late, which led to them suspending the launch till January 30. This would possibly imply that AIB companions have been working with outdated data, and Nvidia initially deliberate totally different reminiscence configs.
It’s vital to notice that 24 GB capability, 32 Gbps pace GDDR7 reminiscence must be obtainable from Micron in some unspecified time in the future, so this particular configuration—combining each MSI and Gigabyte “errors”—is sensible. This reminiscence will use 3 GB modules to make up the 24 GB whole, with a presumed 256-bit bus width (8x 3 GB modules, every 32 bits vast).
If this reminiscence capability and pace was initially deliberate however then scrapped—maybe to maintain costs decrease or as a result of the reminiscence won’t be in mass manufacturing but—it could possibly be on the desk for a 50-series Super refresh down the road.
And if 3 GB GDDR7 reminiscence does find yourself getting used, it won’t solely imply an RTX 5080 Super with 24 GB of VRAM, however probably even a lower-end refreshed card with 18 GB of VRAM. Perhaps an 18 GB RTX 5070 Super. All hypothesis, in fact, however nothing past the realms of risk.
