We are days away from NVIDIA's big next-gen GeForce RTX reveal on September 1, and with some specs of the new cards being detailed by VideoCardz on the GeForce RTX 3090 -- it's time for the RTX 3080 and RTX 3070.
NVIDIA will be cramming 4352 CUDA cores into the GeForce RTX 3090, with 24GB of GDDR6X memory -- but the GeForce RTX 3080 will instead pack 4352 CUDA cores and 10GB of GDDR6X memory @ 19Gbps on a 320-bit memory bus, giving it 760GB/sec of memory bandwidth.
The GeForce RTX 3080 will require dual 8-pin PCIe power connectors and have TGP of 320W, while the GeForce RTX 3070 has 8GB of GDDR6 (non-X) memory at 16Gbps with a TGP of 220W, reports VideoCardz.
NVIDIA did recently detail some of the engineering that has gone into previous-gen, and engineering that is going into the next-gen GeForce graphics cards. You can see the 45-degree angle placement of the 12-pin PCIe power connector in all its glory, too.
For reference, this is the first photo we had of the 12-pin PCIe power connector.
NVIDIA's new Ampere-based GeForce RTX 3080 is said to be around 15-25% better than the RTX 2080 Ti, which will be a big deal if the GeForce RTX 3080 is priced at $799. The slightly lower-end GeForce RTX 3070 will reportedly offer RTX 2080 Ti level performance for $599 -- which is going to really shake things up.
We should see NVIDIA's new GeForce RTX 3090 feature a huge 24GB of next-gen GDDR6X memory at 21Gbps, while the GeForce RTX 3080 will have 10GB of GDDR6X at 19Gbps.
Here's an easier break down for you:
- GeForce RTX 3090: $1399
- GeForce RTX 3080: $799
- GeForce RTX 3070: $599
- GeForce RTX 3060: $399
The very latest: RTX 3090 PCB + GDDR6X @ 21Gbps
- The PCB of the RTX 3090: A juicy leak of the purported PCB of a custom variant of the GeForce RTX 3090 leaked out a few days ago. It is reportedly the COLORFUL iGame GeForce RTX 3090 Vulcan-X. You can see this model has 3 x 8-pin PCIe power connectors, unlike the RTX 3090 Founders Edition that should pack just a single 12-pin PCIe power connector.
- Micron reveals RTX 3090 name, 24GB GDDR6X memory @ 21Gbps: I'm sure this is part of the marketing or else all of us tech media websites would be receiving calls from lawyers, but Micron revealed its next-gen GDDR6X memory that the GeForce RTX 3090 (it admits the card by name) will be clocked at a bonkers-high 21Gbps.
Wait, a 12-pin PCIe power connector?
- 12-pin PCIe power connector on Founders Edition ONLY: NVIDIA will be using a special new 12-pin PCIe power connector on its GeForce RTX 3090 Founders Edition graphics cards, something that I've confirmed with a few industry sources of mine now (to confirm the rumors floating around online).
- Many, many 8-pin PCIe power connectors on custom AIB: But, custom GeForce RTX 3000 series graphics cards from AIBs like ASUS, COLORFUL, EVGA, MSI, etc will not be using the 12-pin PCIe power connector and rather multiple (2 and even up to 3 x 8-pin PCIe power connectors).
More reading:
- Traversal coprocessor: We have had more leaks on NVIDIA's next-gen GeForce RTX 3000 series than any family of graphics cards before it, with an interesting "traversal coprocessor" on the new GeForce RTX 3080 and GeForce RTX 3090 graphics cards. You can read more on that here.
- NVCache: Ampere is meant to have something called NVCache, which would be NVIDIA's own form of AMD's HBCC (High Bandwidth Cache Controller, more on that here). NVCache would use your system RAM and SSD to super-speed game load times, as well as optimizing VRAM usage. You can read more on NVCache here.
- Tensor Memory Compression: NVCache is interesting, but Tensor Memory Compression will be on Ampere, and will reportedly use Tensor Cores to both compress and decompress items that are stored in VRAM. This could see a 20-40% reduction in VRAM usage, or more VRAM usage with higher textures in next-gen games and Tensor Memory Compression decreasing that VRAM footprint by 20-40%.
- How fast is the GeForce RTX 3090? Freaking fast according to rumors, with 60-90% more performance than the current Turing-based flagship GeForce RTX 2080 Ti. We could see this huge performance leap in ray tracing titles, but we'll have to wait a little while longer to see how much graphical power NVIDIA crams into these new cards. You can read more on those rumors here.
- Power hungry: As for power consumption, GA102 reportedly uses 230W -- while 24GB of GDDR6X (which we should see on the new Ampere-based TITAN RTX) consumes 60W of power. You can read more on that here.
- Production begins soon: NVIDIA is reportedly in the DVT (or Design Validation Test) range of its new GeForce RTX 3000 series graphics cards. Mass production reportedly kicks off in August 2020, with a media event, benchmarks, and more in September 2020 as I predicted many months ago. More on that here.
I've already written about rumors that NVIDIA's next-gen Ampere GPU architecture would be up to 75% faster than current-gen GPUs such as the Turing architecture, right after rumors that Ampere would offer 50% more performance at half the power of Turing. This is pretty crazy stuff right there.
Not only that, but we've got some rumored specs on the purported GeForce RTX 3080 and GeForce RTX 3070 graphics cards, which will both be powered by NVIDIA's new Ampere GPU architecture.
We've already heard that Ampere would offer 50% more performance at half the power of Turing, which sent the hairs on my neck standing up. Better yet, you can read about the leaked specs on the purported Ampere-based GeForce RTX 3080 and GeForce RTX 3070 right here.
Even more reading:
- NVIDIA's new 12-pin connector is SUPER small on GeForce RTX 30 series
- NVIDIA's new GeForce RTX 3090 will require a huge 850W power supply
- Seasonic teases NVIDIA's new 12-pin PCIe cable for GeForce RTX 30
- GeForce RTX 3090 $1399, RTX 3080: $799, RTX 3070: $599, RTX 3060: $399
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080: 10GB GDDR6X on Founders, 10/20GB for custom
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090, RTX 3080 'PG133A' board spotted again
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090: 40-50% faster than RTX 2080 Ti for $1399?!
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 specs: 10GB GDDR6X, 2.1GHz max GPU clock
- NVIDIA's new GeForce RTX 3090 could cost $1999, with 24GB GDDR6X
- GeForce RTX 3090: 12-pin PCIe on Founders Edition, not on custom cards
- Micron confirms: GeForce RTX 3090 has 12GB of GDDR6X memory at 21Gbps
- This could be our first PCB photo of NVIDIA's new GeForce RTX 3090
- NVIDIA's next-gen Ampere GA102 GPU: 'over 20 chokes' on PCB design
- NVIDIA hosting 'special event' for next-gen GeForce on September 1
- NVIDIA mega rumor: GeForce RTX 2190, GeForce RTX 2180 Ti naming scheme
- NVIDIA is 'not worried' about AMD's next-gen Big Navi GPU
- NVIDIA crazy rumor: RTX 3080 software locked VRAM until RDNA 2 is out
- NVIDIA's flagship GeForce RTX 30 series card could have 24GB VRAM
- Exclusive: AIB custom Ampere cards launch alongside Founders Edition
- NVIDIA should reveal next-gen GeForce RTX 30 series cards on August 31
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3000 series announcement rumored for September 9
- NVIDIA reportedly discontinues GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER graphics card
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti: rumored launch of September 17
- AMD Big Navi: 5120 stream processors teased for RDNA 2 flagship again
- AMD Radeon Instinct MI100 Acturus teased, NVIDIA Ampere destroyer?!
- GeForce RTX 3090: 50% faster than RTX 2080 Ti in early benchmarks
- NVIDIA A100 Ampere benchmarked, is now the 'fastest GPU ever recorded'
- Yeah, NVIDIA should unleash GeForce RTX 3000 series in September
- AMD Big Navi 'NVIDIA Killer' flagship card has 16GB of memory
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 rumor: 20% faster than GeForce RTX 2080 Ti
- NVIDIA's next-gen Ampere DLSS 3.0 could work on ANY game that uses TAA
- AMD aims Big Navi launch for November as 'show of strength' for RDNA 2
- NVIDIA's next-gen Ampere GeForce RTX 30 series: new 12-pin PCIe power
- AMD's next-gen RDNA 2 rumor: 40-50% faster than GeForce RTX 2080 Ti
- NVIDIA stops making RTX 20 series, ramps to GeForce RTX 30 series
- GeForce RTX 3060 should cost $300-$400, here's some leaked specs
- NVIDIA bundles Death Stranding with GeForce RTX graphics cards
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti, RTX 3070 rumored specs: two sub $500 cards
- Want NVIDIA's next-gen Ampere GPU now? You can have it... for $12,500
- NVIDIA's Ampere GeForce RTX rumor: built on Samsung 8nm, not TSMC 7nm
- Say hello to the ASUS GeForce RTX 3080 Ti ROG STRIX, maybe
- NVIDIA's new A100 PCIe accelerator: 40GB HBM2e memory, PCIe 4.0 tech
- This new GeForce RTX 3090 leak has it at 26% faster than RTX 2080 Ti
- New GeForce RTX 3090 leaks: 12GB GDDR6X at insane 21Gbps
- GeForce RTX 3080 and RTX 3090 rumored to pack 'traversal coprocessor'
- NVIDIA's next-gen GeForce RTX 3080, RTX 3090 to enter production soon
- GeForce RTX 3090: GA102 consumes 230W, 24GB GDDR6 consumes 60W power
- NVIDIA rumored to use HUGE cooling block on GeForce RTX 3080
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 cooler: rumored to cost $150 on its own
- GeForce RTX 3090 rumor: 24GB GDDR6X, would annihilate RTX 2080 Ti
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 rumors: up to 60-90% faster than RTX 2080 Ti
- Check out these awesome renders of NVIDIA's next-gen GeForce RTX 3080
- This could be our first picture of the GeForce RTX 3080 graphics card
- AMD and NVIDIA to both launch next-gen GPUs in September 2020
- NVIDIA reportedly drops Tesla brand, too close to Elon Musk's Tesla
- NVIDIA amps up fight against COVID-19 with Ampere-based supercomputer
- NVIDIA DGX A100: 8 x A100 Ampere GPUs, AMD CPU, 15TB NVMe SSD
- NVIDIA Ampere A100 specs: 54 billion transistors, 40GB HBM2, 7nm TSMC