Were you confused when NVIDIA launched two GeForce RTX 4080 fashions with considerably totally different capabilities? You’re not alone. NVIDIA is “unlaunching” the 12GB RTX 4080 over considerations they’re complicated. While the corporate nonetheless believes the 12GB model is a stable video card, it mentioned the lower-spec mannequin is “not named right.” The firm did not say if or the way it would possibly relaunch the cardboard, and did not elaborate additional when reached for remark.

The 16GB RTX 4080 remains to be on observe to launch November sixteenth at a value of $1,199 for NVIDIA’s Founders Edition. This successfully raises the bottom value for RTX 40-level {hardware}. This won’t be as dangerous because it sounds, thoughts you. The 12GB version was supposed to begin at $899, though its dependence on third-party producers was more likely to elevate real-world pricing larger.

The muddled messaging largely stems from variations past RAM portions. Where the 12GB mannequin contains 7,680 CUDA (general-purpose processing) cores and a 192-bit reminiscence bus, its higher-end counterpart gives 9,728 cores and a 256-bit bus. You’re getting a significantly slower GPU with the 12GB unit regardless of the RTX 4080 branding, and the gaps are someday big. NVIDIA’s own benchmarks confirmed the 12GB board trailing its 16GB sibling by as much as 30 % in well-known video games. That might be greater than slightly disappointing in case you purchased the 12GB card anticipating related efficiency outdoors of RAM-dependent conditions.

The cancellation will not essentially create a lot of a headache for NVIDIA. The RTX 4090 launch reportedly created traces at shops, and the 4080 might simply be the go-to GPU for avid gamers who cannot fairly justify the $1,599 flagship. Still, it is uncommon to see a misstep like this — NVIDIA misjudged the market to the purpose the place it needed to axe a graphics card earlier than it reached clients.