A Chinese reviewer on Bilibili by the name of 杰某 (Jie Mou) got his hands on a special RTX 4080 graphics card that uses a mobile core instead of a desktop one. These GPUs emerged after the Trump admin banned the sale of RTX 4090s in the region, which forced local sellers to resort to strange alternatives, one of which is the supposed "RTX 4080M." It's a custom, modded GPU that doesn't come with a warranty or official drivers, and the benchmarks show it doesn't offer world-beating value either.

The reviewer paid 2,000 RMB (~$300) for the tested card but remarks that it now costs close to 2,700-2,800 RMB (~$400) due to the ongoing component crisis caused by the AI rush. At that price, it's almost as expensive as AMD's RX 9070 GRE or Nvidia's RTX 5060 Ti in China, both of which will be brand new, warrantied cards. However, a similarly-modded RTX 4090M in China would cost an absurd 10,000 RMB (~$1,470).

Before we go over the benchmarks, the test bench used here was comprised of an Intel Core Ultra 270K Plus mounted on a Maxsun Z890-A motherboard alongside 32GB of DDR5-8200 RAM. In 3DMark TimeSpy, the 4080M scored 18,600 points, which is a respectable result in and of itself, but underwhelming when you take its price into account. Someone in the comments showed the same card netting 19,500 points as well.

During the benchmark, the card only pulled around 100W, which is significantly lower than even the mobile RTX 4080's TGP. The mobile core can be pushed up to 175W as per Nvidia's own spec and you'd expect that in a discrete GPU form factor, but it's likely that the custom BIOS or the drivers are holding it back. Speaking of which, the drivers can be easily configured with one-click installers developed by the community.

Moving toward gaming, the reviewer compared the 4080M against the aforementioned RX 9070 GRE because of their similar price brackets in China, and both come packing 12GB of VRAM. PUBG was the only game where the 4080M was clearly superior, achieving a 100 FPS lead over the AMD option at 1440p resolution with Ultra settings. In Delta Force at 1440p Ultra, both cards performed the same, but the 4080M did manage to net 10 more FPS at 4K.

The reviewer then tested AAA titles where the RX 9070 GRE basically smoked the 4080M as the resolution scaled upward. We'll add a table below so you can see the exact numbers, but the closest the 4080M came to dethroning the Red Team was in Shadow of the Tomb Raider. Running at 1440p with Low settings, the 4080M pushed 286 FPS on average, while the RX 9070 GRE still won with 274 FPS.

At the end, the verdict ultimately turns out to be boring: the RTX 4080M is not a sensible purchase at the current Chinese market prices because similarly-priced new GPUs outpace it with ease. However, since it only drew 100W in games, there's an argument to be made for SFF builds. There's limited thermal headroom in an ITX system and that's where the RTX 4080M could thrive.

Nvidia's rich driver suite and superior upscaling tech also add value to the proposition. At roughly $400 converted, perhaps the 4080M can power a DIY Steam Machine that truly undercuts Valve's pricing while delivering much better performance. After all, it's made from salvaged laptop GPUs and qualification samples that are cheaper to acquire, so a MacGyver-ed, console-busting rig is where it can meet its natural match.

It's no secret that we're a fan of eccentric repair stories here at Tom's Hardware; we've already had classics like a dead RTX 5090 with a cracked PCB being revived, and an RX 7800 XT that was saved after a spoiled reflow attempt. Today's tale is no different — in fact, if anything, this is perhaps the most we've seen one of our persistent GPU repair wizards struggle with a job. Spoiler alert, it works out at the end, but this RTX 4080 Super almost never posted, despite everything being thrown at it.

Tony from Northwest Repair got his hands on an RTX 4080 Super that he couldn't repair — not for lack of trying though (as you'll see), it was simply broken beyond saving. Our intrepid repairer, therefore, salvaged the working core and VRAM from the 4080 Super and brought in a donor PCB... which is actually a core and memory-less RTX 4080 non-Super. The discrepancy doesn't matter for a master like Tony. "Board looks identical, so should work," he says, and continues with the repair that will involve taking a 4080 Super core and mounting it on a standard 4080 board. A new VBIOS will be needed for the GPU to accept its identity, so the BIOS chip will need to be swapped as well.

The repair starts with flattening the donor PCB since it came from China, where it became severely warped in the process of stripping it off its core — something very common in the region. It was put on a custom heating plate with weights on top that should help straighten it some degree (no pun intended). After that, the soldering job begins. Tony casually solders the 4080 Super core onto the 4080 board in a beautiful montage, along with the memory modules and the BIOS chip, all while the PCB is sitting onto the heat plate, slowly leveling itself.

One sponsored thermal camera segment later, the GPU fails to post despite showing positive signs of life when its data lines were checked prior. Tony ran a memory test, and it pinged two chips as the point of failure, but just to be sure he took off the core again to check whether it's sitting flat first. Sure enough, one of the solder balls on the core was much larger than the others surrounding it. Our repair guru wasn't interested in the why-s or how-s, so he just went ahead and reballed it. Unfortunately, it still didn't work, though the culprit identified itself right away: two data lines weren't connected to the core.

Upon closer inspection, the solder balls under the core appeared as if they weren't soldered, which would explain the missing data lines. Taking off the core once again confirmed this notion, as the bottom left and right corners of the solder pads were not in contact with the core. These corners were at a lower elevation compared to the middle of the core, which is sitting higher due to the PCB being warped from the start; the weights didn't work. In comes new weights directly on the core itself, but they change nothing. Still, no post — even after thoroughly cleaning the interconnect to rule out the riser cable.

Tony goes back to the flagged memory chips from earlier, which are known to be fully functional, and now wonders whether that area of the board is also uneven. The weights make a return and after some tedious back and forth — and a Ron Swanson throwing his TV in the dumpster clip classic later — the card finally comes back to life. Usually the repeated heat cycles can warp a PCB but since this was one was already warped to begin with, it perhaps had the opposite effect.

Almost a desktop replacement rather than a portable gaming laptop, the large 18-inch Acer Predator Helios 18 not only comes with a massive 18-inch screen but also packs some very powerful gaming components in a laptop configuration that includes an Intel Core i9-14900HX 24-core processor and RTX 4080 mobile graphics card, more than enough to play any of the latest games titles and perform many other CPU and GPU intensive tasks.

At a heavily discounted sales price at Best Buy, you can pick up the Acer Predator Helios 18 gaming laptop for just $1,999 - a massive $500 saving from its original MSRP price of $2,499. This is not a cheap laptop even with the discount, but you are getting a very powerful machine with top-spec hardware and a rather large screen to play your games on without the need for a separate monitor. With WiFi 7, you can easily connect to fast wireless networks for high-speed lag-free gaming.

The Acer Predator Helios' screen measures 18 inches and embraces a 16:10 ratio popular among some of the larger laptops. The resolution is a 2560x1600 WQXGA+ panel with a fluid 240Hz refresh rate for smooth gaming visuals and a fast 3ms response time, just the ticket for a good gaming experience. Acer also advertises 500-nits peak brightness on this panel for a bright screen that can display a colorful picture in any environment.

Built for gaming, the Predator Helios comes with below key RGB lighting and Magkey 3.0 Keycaps for swappable keys with tactile feedback so that you can customize the main WASD gaming keys, etc. The Helios 18 also comes with an ample amount of RAM (32GB) and a 1TB SSD for storage. With this amount of memory, the Predator Helios is future-proofed for the moment for the ever-expanding memory requirements of applications and games.

Don't forget to look at our Best Buy coupon codes for January 2025 and see if you can save on today's deal or other products at Best Buy.

Zotac will not charge extra for custom versions of its GeForce RTX 40-series Super graphics cards that come with enhanced coolers and will sell them at Nvidia's recommended retail prices, the company announced on its website (as noticed by @momomo_us). Meanwhile, the company's factory-overclocked graphics cards will be sold at a premium given their higher performance. 

Zotac will offer Trinity Black Edition and Twin Edge versions of its GeForce RTX 4070 Super, GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Super, and GeForce RTX 4080 Super graphics cards at Nvidia-set MSRPs: $599, $799, and $999, respectively. Meanwhile, factory-overclocked Trinity Black Edition OC, Trinity White Edition OC, Twin Edge OC, and AMP-badged graphics boards will be sold at a premium, the company announced. All of these boards — pre-overclocked or not — are contenders to join the ranks of the best graphics cards available today. 

Although AMD and Nvidia offer reference designs for almost all of their graphics cards to speed up time-to-market, add-in-boards (AIBs) manufacturers, such as Zotac, tend to develop custom cards for two reasons: to differentiate themselves from their rivals with better looks and higher performance as well as to cut down costs. 

Given the fact that factory-overclocked versions of Trinity Black Edition and Twin Edge will use the same printed circuit boards and cooling systems as their counterparts that function at Nvidia-recommended frequencies, it does not look like regular versions were designed with the sole purpose of cutting down costs. As a result, regular Trinity Black Edition and Twin Edge models will likely feature decent overclocking potential (courtesy of a refined PCB and an enhanced cooling system), which makes them a good deal, assuming that they will be available at MSRP. 

Meanwhile, those who want to have enhanced performance right out of box and some further overclocking potential will be able to buy Zotac's GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Super AMP Holo 16GB GDDR6X or GeForce RTX 4080 Super AMP Extreme Airo 16GB GDDR6X that promise to feature significantly improved clocks and a refined coolers.

Gigabyte is prepping four GeForce RTX 4070 graphics card designs, with only the WindForce and Eagle models shipping with standard 8-pin auxiliary PCIe power connectors, while the Gaming and Aero models will have 12VHPWR 16-pin connectors. All four designs will have three fans, based on the leaked images. 

One of the things that strikes the eye with the pictures of the upcoming GeForce RTX 4070 graphics cards from Gigabyte, Palit, MSI, and Zotac is that most of them are triple-wide with a massive cooling system, just as my colleague Mark reported yesterday about the hoard of MSI's GeForce RTX 4070 AIBs.

While it is not particularly surprising that many of GeForce RTX 4070-based graphics cards will be huge, considering the overclocking potential of the GPU that powers them, it is reasonable to expect more compact AIBs too. This is perhaps where MSI's GeForce RTX 4070 Ventus 2X comes into play. The board features a dual-fan two-wide cooling system and will likely fit into most of PCs used by gamers. Of course, different GeForce RTX boards feature different power connections, some keep using well-proven eight-pin plugs, while others employ the all-new 12VHPWR.

Apparently, budget-friendly options from Zotac and Palit will also have dual-fan designs and 12GB of GDDR6X memory, yet take the information with a grain of salt as this comes from unofficial sources.

HandBrake Team this week released HandBrake 1.7.0 which adds support for hardware-accelerated AV1 transcoding on the latest graphics processors from AMD and Nvidia. As a result, HandBrake 1.7.0 now supports hardware-accelerated AV1 transcoding on all popular modern GPUs, including those from AMD, Nvidia, and Intel. In addition, the new version of HandBrake also quadruples the performance of SVT-AV1 encoding on Apple Silicon-based Macs thanks to CPU optimizations. 

Starting from version 1.7.0, HandBrake supports the AMD VCN AV1 encoder that is used by AMD's Radeon 7000-series graphics processors (RDNA 3), as well as the Nvidia 8th Gen NVENC encoder built into GeForce 40-series (Ada Lovelace) graphics chips. Both these GPU families are used in some of the best graphics cards. Previously HandBrake 1.6.0 gained support for Intel's Xe AV1 encoder supported by Xe and Arc-branded GPUs. Therefore, HandBrake can take advantage of hardware-accelerated AV1 encoding on all popular contemporary GPUs, except those integrated into Apple Silicon processors. 

HandBrake is one of the world's most popular transcoding programs. Its main advantage is that it supports virtually all widespread codecs on all hardware and software platforms. HandBrake's software-based SVT-AV1 is a very efficient encoder that supports all kinds of CPUs, which means that HandBrake can run on virtually everything. Meanwhile, hardware-accelerated processing is both faster and more power efficient, which brings loads of advantages, particularly on laptops running on battery power. 

Since version 1.7.0 is a major release for HandBrake, it brings loads of important improvements and a full list can be found over at GitHub. While improved support for HDR or added support for Apple VideoToolbox are significant enhancements in the newest version of the software, perhaps the most important tweak is the added support for drag and drop of multiple files at once on Apple macOS and Microsoft Windows-based systems. 

When we first heard rumors about Nvidia's plan to add the GeForce RTX 4080 Super graphics card to its fleet, we considered it unlikely. The company feels pretty comfortable from a competition point of view and has not used the 'Super' brand for quite a while. But evidence mounts that the green company is prepping its GeForce RTX 4080 Super graphics board. 

The PCI ID for Nvidia's GeForce RTX 4080 Super graphics card was listed yesterday in a PCI ID repository. Realix, the developer of the popular diagnostic suite HWiNFO, declared the addition of GeForce RTX 4080 Super as an upcoming change for the next version of the program. Typically, diagnostic software developers receive information about forthcoming hardware well in advance, so we can consider this 'listing' as further proof that the RTX 4080 Super is incoming. This is not rock-solid proof, though, so take it with a grain of salt.

Nvidia's GeForce RTX 4080 Super is allegedly built on Nvidia's AD103 graphics processor, just like the regular version. However, the exact configuration of the GPU remains uncertain. It could operate with all of its 10,240 CUDA cores enabled, maintain the GeForce RTX 4080's 9,728 CUDA cores with increased clock speeds, or possess a different setup. In any case, it promises to be one of the best graphics cards around when it arrives. When it will be released is another question, though it would be logical for Nvidia to release it in time for the holiday season.

Speculating about the specifications of Nvidia's GeForce RTX 4080 Super is challenging at this stage. It is anticipated to be positioned above the standard GeForce RTX 4080 but below the top-tier GeForce RTX 4090. So, a minor performance uplift compared to its predecessor would suffice to sell it at a higher price since the gap between RTX 4080 and RTX 4090 is huge. Nvidia might also choose to release the GeForce RTX 4080 Super exclusively to OEMs, catering to PC manufacturers who prefer having new product versions annually to highlight improvements over previous models. 

In any case, Nvidia appears to be in the preparation phase for the product, which might end up a retail model or exclusively available as an add-in-board from selected PC manufacturers. Semi-official sources, while somewhat reliable, should not be considered conclusive as they are unofficial, and companies' plans, including product launches, are subject to change or cancellation.

Nvidia may be prepping mysterious GeForce RTX 4080 graphics card as a well-known PCI ID repository now lists such a product, which suggests that the device has been listed in a driver, Linux patch, GPU-Z validation, or BIOS. The product may end up as an OEM-only add-in-board available from select PC makers, but at least Nvidia seems to be prepping it, which somewhat corroborates the ongoing rumors that GeForce RTX 4080 Super is incoming. This is still a rumor and as such we must take the news with a pinch of salt.

Nvidia recently added 10de:2703 (NVIDIA_DEV.2703), an entry described as GeForce RTX 4080 Super to its R515 test driver, as noticed by StefanG3D from LaptopVideo2Go. The product is said to be based on Nvidia's AD103 graphics processor, though it is unclear whether the GPU comes with all of its 10,240 CUDA cores enabled, retains GeForce RTX 4080's 9,728 CUDA cores yet adopts higher clocks, or has another configuration. 

Now, while semi-official repositories are reliable sources of information, they are not the ultimate truth, not only because they are not official, but because plans can change and companies may cancel certain products because of their launches. The particular listing of the 10de:2703 device designated as GeForce RTX 4080 Super was added by T4CFantacy, who is a TechPowerUp GPU database with access to early GPU BIOS and GPU-Z validations, as noted by VideoCardz. Therefore, it is likely, but not definite that Nvidia and/or its partners are working on products called GeForce RTX 4080 Super. 

At this point it is hard to make guesses about specifications of Nvidia's GeForce RTX 4080 Super, though we would imagine that this one would sit above the regular GeForce RTX 4080 but below the GeForce RTX 4090, the best graphics card money can buy. If the unit offers a slight performance upgrade versus its predecessor, it will be good enough to further solidify its position on the market of desktop discrete graphics boards. Meanwhile, the company could make its GeForce RTX 4080 Super an OEM-only product aimed at PC makers who tend to want 'new' SKUs every year to show the difference between contemporary and last year's offerings. Anyhow, for now take the information about Nvidia's GeForce RTX 4080 with a grain of salt. 

In addition to the alleged GeForce RTX 4080 Super, the R515 test driver also lists H100 SXM5 96GB AI and HPC GPU for compute. This part will likely use high-density HBM3 or HBM3E memory and let applications access 96 GB of it, up from 80 GB accessible today.

MSI has quietly introduced its new Ventus Essential series of graphics cards that will complement the company's regular Ventus family of boards (as noticed by @momomo_us). The new Ventus Essential cards will offer almost exactly the same specifications as normal Ventus add-in-boards, but will likely have a different bill-of-materials (BOM), which will make MSI's costs slightly lower.

MSI's Ventus Essential lineup currently consists of the GeForce RTX 4070, GeForce RTX 4070 Ti, and GeForce RTX 4090, which rank among the best graphics cards. All boards have the same clocks and cooling systems as standard Ventus cards, but Ventus Essential features two DisplayPort and two HDMI outputs, whereas regular Ventus boards have three DisplayPort and one HDMI output. Essential obviously points to something basic, but this may not be the case.

"It has slight structural improvements over Ventus but mostly the same design/specs," wrote Hassan Mujtaba of WccfTech. Note that MSI does not officially disclose any differences between its Ventus and Ventus Essential graphics boards, so let us try to speculate a little.

The display outputs are an interesting change. Right now, DisplayPort on RTX 40-series cards remains on the DP1.4a spec, which has a maximum data rate of 25.92 Gbps using 8b/10b encoding. HDMI 2.1 meanwhile offers up to 42 Gbps data rates using 16b/18b encoding. That's 62% more bandwidth, which means HDMI 2.1 can output up to 8K 120 Hz using DSC (Display Stream Compression), while DP1.4a tops out at around 8K 72 Hz using DSC. But HDMI typically costs more for licensing than DisplayPort, which makes this particular change a bit odd.

Besides the video ports, modern graphics cards are highly complex devices that use hundreds of components. Custom graphics cards, such as MSI's Ventus series, tend to slightly change the bill-of-materials over their lifetimes because some components may get cheaper and others may disappear from the market. But it looks like MSI wants to concurrently offer Ventus and Ventus Essential parts, possibly with slightly different bundles and slightly different BOMs.

Such an approach allows MSI to be flexible with its costs and offer its GeForce RTX 40-series products at more competitive prices. Of course, it remains to be seen whether these Ventus Essential boards will be significantly cheaper than non-Essential Ventus cardsbut the key point is that with more SKUs the company will be able to pick the right series and produce it if it finds it more suitable.

Asus has finally officially introduced its flagship graphics card: the ROG Matrix GeForce RTX 4090. The board comes with the highest out-of-box AD102 GPU clocks, ultimate tweaking ability, a sophisticated voltage regulating module (VRM), an advanced cooling system, and extreme overclockability. Asus has plenty of reasons to suggest this is the world's best graphics card — and it's got a price to match. The ROG Matrix RTX 4090 carries a recommended price tag of $3,199, which is twice Nvidia's GeForce RTX 4090 MSRP of $1,599.

The Asus ROG Matrix GeForce RTX 4090 is based on the AD102 GPU with 16,384 CUDA cores that come with a 2700 MHz maximum frequency out-of-box (up from 2520 MHz, recommended by Nvidia). These CUDA cores are mated with 24GB of 21 GT/s GDDR6X memory. The graphics card relies on a custom printed circuit board (PCB) with a 24-phase VRM with high-current power stages and one 12VHPWR connector that can deliver up to 600W of very clean power to the GPU. The PCB has numerous sensors, which allow it to monitor the temperature of the GPU, memory chips, VRM, coils, and even PCB itself. 

The graphics card features an all-in-one cooling system with a custom-engineered cold plate that cools the GPU, memory, and VRM, as well as an embedded pump, 700mm of tubing, and a 360mm radiator. To maximize heat transfer from the graphics processor to the cooler, Asus uses liquid metal thermal interface material (TIM) — an industry first for a GPU. The cooling system also has magnetic, daisy-chainable fans with RGB lighting, which allow for minimal cable clutter.

Premium hardware isn't the only strength of the Asus ROG Matrix RTX 4090. The manufacturer also amplified its GPU Tweak III software with more monitoring and overclocking features that take advantage of the card's extra capabilities and sensors. The program allows the user to set a power target, increase GPU voltage, set the GPU boost clock, adjust the voltage/frequency curve, modify the memory clock, and change the fan speed. Meanwhile, the Thermal Map capability provides real-time temperature readouts across the card, while the new mileage feature tracks the card's usage at different power levels.

An interesting feature is that the card supports Power Detector+, which reads the 12VHPWR connector and measures currents across all power wires to detect any anomalies (advising the user to reseat the cable, if necessary).

"The ROG Matrix GeForce RTX 4090 is an overclocker's dream," says a statement by Asus. "In fact, since this card was unveiled at Computex, it has claimed three World Records and five Global First Place records for a total of seven overclocking records in 3DMark11 Performance, 3DMark Fire Strike Extreme, Unigine Superposition 1080p Xtreme, 3DMark Time Spy Extreme, 3DMark Port Royal, GPUPI v3.3 1B, GPUPI v3.3 32B, and Unigine Superposition 8K Optimized."

Indeed, without any modifications, Asus' ROG Matrix GeForce RTX 4090 broke the 4 GHz GPU clock barrier earlier this year, so the company isn't wrong — this board does appear to be an overclocker's dream. But while it's certainly faster than any other RTX 4090 currently on the market, the ROG Matrix GeForce RTX 4090 also costs twice as much as a regular RTX 4090. It'll probably be hard for many to justify spending an extra $1,600 on the extra performance, even if they're into overclocking.

The Asus ROG Matrix RTX 4090 is, obviously, not for everyone. It's a limited-edition product aimed at die-hard overclockers who are looking to squeeze every last drop of performance out of their hardware. It's for people who actually enjoy tweaking their systems to gain a couple of points on a benchmarking test. Naturally, that also makes it perfect for bragging rights.

Asus is set to launch its flagship ROG Matrix GeForce RTX 4090 graphics card next week on September 19, 2023. The graphics board was announced at Computex, but the company only shared that it uses an innovative closed-loop cooling system with a liquid metal thermal interface. Meanwhile, the product has already become a legend as it nearly conquered a 4 GHz GPU frequency, an industry's first.

"The wait is almost over," an Asus tweet reads. "Count down to the official launch of our flagship graphics card – the ROG Matrix GeForce RTX 4090."

The Asus ROG Matrix GeForce RTX 4090 is one of the most mysterious products introduced recently. We know it carries Nvidia's AD102 graphics processor and 24 GB of GDDR6X memory. However, Asus has been tight-lipped about out-of-box clocks of both the GPU and SGRAM, instead focusing on its custom printed circuit board with a sophisticated voltage regulating module and its cooling system with Liquid Metal thermal interface.

Plenty of clean power and a powerful cooling system are indeed required for successful overclocking. So, all makers of graphics cards tend to use custom PCBs with powerful VRMs and an all-in-one 360-mm liquid cooling system. What sets the ROG Matrix RTX 4090 graphics card apart is its use of a special ingredient: liquid metal thermal interface material (TIM), which enhances heat transfer from the hot components to the cooling system. While Asus doesn't disclose the specific type of liquid metal TIM employed, such materials are typically composed of gallium or gallium alloys known for their exceptional heat conductivity.

However, utilizing liquid metal thermal interfaces presents certain risks and challenges. These TIMs are electrically conductive, potentially leading to short circuits if not handled with care and precision. Moreover, they can be corrosive to specific metals like aluminum. Despite these challenges, Asus asserts its experience with using liquid metal TIMs in laptops for several years, indicating confidence in their application for graphics cards.

In any case, we already know that the Asus ROG Matrix GeForce RTX 4090 can hit nearly 4 GHz GPU with liquid nitrogen, so we'll learn next week what it is capable of when equipped with its stock cooling system and Liquid Metal TIM. Asus clearly wanted to build the best graphics card possible, so we will find out soon enough whether it has succeeded.

AMD's Radeon RX 7800 XT may not be radically better than its predecessor in terms of performance, but it is enough to challenge Nvidia's GeForce RTX 4070, which is perhaps why some graphics card manufacturers and retailers are cutting prices of custom GeForce RTX 4070 models by $50 in the U.S.

Currently, Amazon.com, BestBuy, B&H Photo Video, and Newegg have GeForce RTX 4070 graphics cards available for $549 from Asus, Gigabyte, and Zotac. The list includes several models:

• Asus GeForce RTX 4070 Dual at B&H Photo Video.
• Gigabyte GeForce RTX 4070 WindForce OC at Amazon, Best Buy, B&H Photo Video, and Newegg.
• Zotac Gaming GeForce RTX 4070 Twin Edge OC Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse at Amazon, and Newegg.

Nvidia's GeForce RTX 4070 carries an MSRP of $599, but AMD's Radeon RX 7800 XT is priced at $499. Despite being priced lower, AMD's offering sometimes outperforms its more expensive rival in many games that depend on rasterization, with performance that's close to the competitor in some ray tracing-supporting games as well. This certainly increases the value of AMD's product, earning it a spot on our list of the best graphics cards.

We suspect that's why at least three GPU manufacturers are partnering with select retailers to offer certain GeForce RTX 4070 models with a $50 discount. However, it's unknown whether this is a short-term campaign or if other manufacturers and retailers will join it and keep the base price at $549 for the long-term.

Regardless, it doesn't look like Nvidia is quietly reducing the recommended price of its GeForce RTX 4070 graphics cards. The official MSRP remains at $599, just as the RTX 4060 Ti sits at $399 with the 4060 Ti 16GB model at $499. Now that AMD's Navi 32 GPUs have arrived, you can now find all three of those RTX cards for less than their respective MSRPs.

MSI announced its Gaming Slim RTX 40 graphics cards at the end of last month. We have noticed that it has fleshed out the series to include Nvidia’s top-end Ada Lovelace graphics cards, specifically the GeForce RTX 4080 and RTX 4090 models, two of the best graphics cards. If anything, these typically bulkier, powerful cards should benefit more from the slimming exercise.

The MSI Gaming Slim series began with lower-end GeForce RTX 4060 Ti, RTX 4070, and RTX 4070 Ti graphics cards. MSI has decided product proliferation is its friend and produced the above four models with variants in black and white and in both Gaming and Gaming X (overclocked) variants – for 12 new models in total.

Today, if you head on over to the official MSI product pages, you will find that there are a further five new entrants at the high-end of the Gaming Slim series as follows:

• MSI GeForce RTX 4090 24G Gaming Slim
• MSI GeForce RTX 4090 24G Gaming X Slim
• MSI GeForce RTX 4080 16G Gaming Slim
• MSI GeForce RTX 4080 16G Gaming Slim White
• MSI GeForce RTX 4080 16G Gaming X Slim

Like us, you might wonder how slim these new graphics cards are compared to previously available examples. This query was answered nicely by MSI’s official product comparison engine (see image below).

The MSI Gaming Slim RTX 4080 and 4090 are a little slimmer than the previous corresponding Gaming Trio models. In the case of the RTX 4080, the Slim model is just 5mm thinner (but also a bit smaller in the other two dimensions) and 203g lighter. As for the RTX 4090 Gaming Slim, it seems to be a more worthwhile 15mm slimmer. In terms of weight, the RTX 4090 Gaming Slim also gets a much more significant reduction, being 393g lighter. However, the size isn’t an issue if the GPU is adequately supported in the case - and these models come with a support bracket as a standard issue. A weighty cooler sometimes indicates quality, with a large/heavy heatsink used so the active cooling (fans) doesn’t have to be so active.

MSI also slightly revamped the display outputs. For example, the regular GeForce RTX 4090 Gaming X Trio 24G has three DisplayPort 1.4a outputs and only one HDMI 2.1a port. On the contrary, the GeForce RTX 4090 Gaming X Slim 24G features two of each.

Other specifications appear unchanged besides the slimmed-down coolers and, thus, these cards’ overall size and weight reductions. It would probably be wise to wait until several third-party reviews of these Gaming Slim cards, with their trimmed-down cooling solutions, before rushing out to buy one. The cooler is the chief differentiator among graphics card models, and scaling it back in size and weight might lead to undesirable comparisons vs. rival series, like the earlier Gaming Trio models.

Nvidia's prototype quad-slot cooling system for never-released 40-series graphics card has made quite a splash among enthusiasts in the recent months partly because of an unusual PCB mounting and partly because of its size. But the cooler apparently has an interesting wrinkle: it has a third fan inside to boost its performance even further.

 @Harukaze5719 has found more pictures of the ultimate GeForce RTX 40-series cooling system published by Hayaka, the owner of the cooler who once wanted to sell it for $120,000. This time around, Hayaka disassembled the cooling system and discovered that in addition to two large fans, it has a small fan inside that is meant to generate additional airflow. It also turned out that the prototype cooling system has 22 heat pipes to effectively distribute heat dissipated by the AD102 graphics processor as well as its voltage regulating module.

PCB placement, 22 heat pipes, and three fans indicate that the prototype of the monstrous graphics card was meant to deliver maximum possible performance at maximum possible power. To that end, we are dealing with a prototype cooling system that is meant to deliver overkill performance for simply the best graphics card available.

Meanwhile, an interesting thing about the current prototype is that it only has one 12VHPWR auxiliary PCIe power connector that can deliver up to 600W of power, so a cooler this large might be an overkill for the board. Then again, if Nvidia's plan was to develop the world's highest-performing air cooler for an ultimate graphics card, then this monstrous unit was a way to go.

Yet, it would be interesting to literally hear a cooling system with three fans one of which is located inside the cooler. While Nvidia's cooling systems for Founders Edition graphics cards tend to be rather quiet, it is unlikely that this particular device aimed at the graphics cards sometimes referred to as 'The Beast' was ever meant to be quiet.

MSI has seemingly started to sell its own GeForce RTX 4090 graphics card with a two-wide blower-type cooling system. Since Nvidia does not produce its own high-end graphics cards with blowers since they may compete against its expensive workstation and server-oriented add-in-boards (AIBs), large makers of graphics cards tend to not offer them. According to a tweet by @harukaze5719, MSI has apparently produced one and it is being offered for sale

MSI's GeForce RTX 4090 Aero S 24G (which is not even listed at MSI.com) is now apparently available from 3DStor.com, an online store specializing on datacenter and workstation hardware. From a specifications point of view, the board follows Nvidia's recommendations when it comes to boost clocks (2520 MHz), so this graphics card is certainly not a factory-overclocked product. In fact, keeping in mind that the device is aimed not only at gamers with compact rigs, but mostly at professionals seeking to install two or more of such cards in one system, it is better to run at stock to avoid overheating. 

The board uses a 16-pin 12VHPWR connector, but for some reason 3DStor.com lists its TGP at 350W, which is 100W lower when compared to regular RTX 4090 AIBs. We must assume that this is a typo and that its TGP is the same as other RTX 4090 graphics cards, which are currently the best graphics cards for gaming. Meanwhile, when the board peaks at 450W, its blower-based cooling system likely gets extremely loud. 

Speaking of blower-style coolers in general, we must note that while not the most silent or efficient, these cooling systems are ideal for cooling high-heat graphics cards in compact PCs, especially when multiple cards are installed. They work well even with limited internal airflow and the only viable alternative in such cases is obviously liquid cooling. 

While 3DStor lists MSI's GeForce RTX 4090 Aero S 24G, it never reveals its price. In fact, it is likely that interested parties need to contact the company and tell the number of boards they want before getting exact quote. Meanwhile, the device can be purchased at Ebay for a whopping price of $3,065, which is comparable to the price of mid-range professional offerings.

Renowned overclocker Allen 'Splave' Golibersuch has succeeded in overclocking the Asus ROG Matrix GeForce RTX 4090 to a world record 4,005 MHz. This is the first time (although there will now be a flurry of attempts) for a GPU to hit 4 GHz. It comes on the back of a previous attempt which saw the card fall just short (3,945 MHz) of the magic number.

The new world record was set on an Asus ROG Matrix GeForce RTX 4090 graphics card (which may become the best graphics board money can buy when it is released), which features a cherry-picked GPU that is powered by a sophisticated voltage regulating module (VRM) that delivers up to 600W of very clean power (the maximum one can get from one 12VHPWR connector) to the processor. The GPU was cooled down using liquid nitrogen, which is common for extreme overclocking.

The Nvidia AD102 GPU on the graphics card managed to pass the GPUPi 32B 3.3 test at 4,005 MHz and then the GPUPi 1B 3.3 test a 4,020 MHz. GPUPi is certainly not a graphics program, it uses CUDA cores to calculate the value of Pi number to 32 billion and two 1 billion decimal places. Essentially, the workload does not need to overclock fixed function graphics hardware like texture units or render back ends. Nonetheless, 4 GHz on a GPU is quite an achievement.

Last week Splave managed to boost the AD102 graphics processor on the Asus ROG Matrix RTX 4090 to a record-breaking 3,945 MHz. Rather than modifying the card, he simply substituted the original all-in-one liquid cooling system with a Kingpin Cooling TEK-9 Icon Extreme GPU pot designed for LN2, and incorporated three heaters along with three ElmorLabs HOT300 heater controllers. All further adjustments and overclocking were carried out using BIOS configurations and overclocking software.

Nvidia's AD102 was architected to for high clocks. The GPU developer relaxed transistor density, which possibly points to usage of high-performance libraries, so the graphics processor was destined to be fast. Meanwhile, clocking 76.3 billion transistors at 4 GHz is something that is quite unexpected.

Renowned overclocker Allen 'Splave' Golibersuch has managed to overclock Nvidia's AD102 GPU on Asus's upcoming ROG Matrix GeForce RTX 4090 graphics card to nearly 4.0 GHz — 3,945 MHz to be more exact — without modifying the card. With liquid nitrogen cooling, the board could pass the GPUPi 32B 3.3 test and even set the world's record in this benchmark.  

By using liquid nitrogen cooler on the ROG Matrix GeForce RTX 4090 card (which has all chances to lead the best graphics cards list) that has been architected for overclocking, Splave managed to push the AD102 graphics processor to an unprecedented 3,945 MHz. He did not modify the card, just replaced the stock all-on-one liquid cooling system with the Kingpin Cooling TEK-9 Icon Extreme GPU pot for LN2 and attached three heaters and three ElmorLabs HOT300 heater controllers. All the tweaking and overclocking were then performed using BIOS settings and OC software. 

The GPU running at 3,945 MHz calculated Pi to 32,000,000,000 digits in 46.077 seconds, which is a world record, according to Splave. GPUPi is certainly not a graphics workload, so it remains to be seen how high the ROG Matrix GeForce RTX 4090 can push the GPU in actual games, but getting very close to the 4.0 GHz GPU clock milestone is important. To date, 3,825 MHz is AD102's record for 3D workloads. 

This is not the first time Nvidia's AD102 GPU has been overclocked significantly higher than its recommended 2,520 MHz boost clock, without voltmodding the card itself. Perhaps the Asus ROG Matrix GeForce RTX 4090 graphics card is a device that does not need voltmodding? It uses a highly-custom printed circuit board (PCB) with a meticulously designed voltage regulating module (VRM) that can deliver up to 600W of very clean power (the maximum one can get from one 12VHPWR connector) to the GPU and memory, which is vital for a successful overclock. 

Asus itself positions the ROG Matrix GeForce RTX 4090 as a crème-de-la-crème graphics card with the industry's highest GPU boost clock for those who want absolutely the best PC hardware and have pockets that are deep enough to afford it. Apparently, the graphics board can impress even before it hits the market.

PNY has quietly introduced its GeForce RTX 4070 Blower graphics card that, as the name suggests, uses a blower type cooling system. The board is currently available only in China, but it can be shipped to any part of the world and may eventually show up in the U.S. and/or Europe. 

PNY's GeForce RTX 4070 Blower, which was discovered by MEGAsizeGPU at JD.com, sports typical specifications for a GeForce RTX 4070 board: the AD104 graphics processor with 5,888 CUDA cores that operates at 1,920 MHz – 2,475 MHz and is connected to 12GB of GDDR6X memory using a 192-bit interface. The card has four display outputs (three DisplayPorts 1.4, one HDMI 2.0b) and one eight-pin auxiliary PCIe power connector.

The key selling point of the graphics card is not its enhanced performance, but its dimensions — it measures 278.4 mm x 119.4 mm  x 40 mm — that are compact enough to install more than one card into a motherboard thanks to the blower cooler.

Blower type coolers are not always the quietest or the most efficient cooling systems. However, when it comes to cooling down a graphics card that emits 200 ~ 300W of heat in a compact PC, these coolers are often as good as it gets. Blowers exhaust warm air from the case, efficiently operating even when internal air circulation is not ideal. Moreover, in cases where multiple graphics cards are combined in one system, these coolers are the only air solution that can ensure sufficient cooling in such confined spaces with limited air circulation. The only better option would be liquid cooling.

Nvidia doesn't often allow add-in-board partners to use blowers on consumer-oriented products. It's possible that this is because it allows multiple cards to be installed and more easily, and that that kind of horsepower that would rival that of professional graphics cards. Nvidia's RTX-branded professional cards are all equipped with blowers. 

But PNY's GeForce RTX 4070 blower is not cheap. The company officially calls the product 'artificial intelligence turbo graphics card' with a 'silent turbine fan suitable for multi-card environments' and positions it rather for AI developers than for gamers. To that end, the board is priced at ¥6,999 ($966 with taxes, $855 without taxes), which exceeds recommended price of a GeForce RTX 4070 in the U.S. ($599).

Nvidia has published official benchmark results of its upcoming GeForce RTX 4060 graphics card just a week ahead of its launch on June 29. The new $299 Ada Lovelace-based graphics card is shown to be across-the-board faster than its predecessor based on the Ampere architecture, but there is catch: the newcomer shows its most significant advantages with AI frame generation enabled. Without it, it is merely 20% faster, according to Nvidia.

Nvidia's GeForce RTX 4060 graphics card is based on the AD106 GPU with 3072 CUDA cores enabled that has peak FP32 compute throughput of 15 TFLOPS, which is just 15% higher compared to GeForce RTX 3060 with its 13 FP32 TFLOPS. But the AD106 has noticeable advantages over GA106 in the form of massively improved ray tracing performance (+40%) and Tensor compute throughput (+137%). The latter can be used for AI, advanced DLSS 3 upscaling, and AI image generation workloads. We'll see if that's enough to make it one of the best graphics cards.

We can make guesses why Nvidia decided to balance its Ada Lovelace microarchitecture the way it balanced it, but it is obvious that the company will use benefits — DLSS 3 and AI image generation — that is has to outshine predecessors and competitors in games.

That said, it is not particularly surprising that Nvidia demonstrated its GeForce RTX 4060 with DLSS 3 and image generation enabled in as many games as possible, showing rather dramatic performance gains compared to its GeForce RTX 3060. This is indeed a major improvement of the new GeForce RTX 4060 graphics card as it can enable high framerates with all the eye candy enabled in the latest games, something the GeForce RTX 3060 just cannot do.

The company admits that far not all games support AI frame generation and this is where its GeForce RTX 4060 is only 20% faster than its predecessor. A 20% improvement is still not bad, only it is just not something one would expect from a new generation product based on the all-new architecture. 

Nvidia considers lower power consumption of its GeForce RTX 4060 as another advantage of its new board as it will allow to save some money. Yet, this advantage is less obvious than performance gains.

Leading graphics cards manufacturers like Asus, Colorful, Gainward, Galax, Gigabyte, Inno3D, KFA2, MSI, Palit, PNY, and Zotac will be releasing the GeForce RTX 4060 graphics cards starting June 29. Nvidia's recommended price for GeForce RTX 4060 boards is $299, but expect products that will carry different price tags as well.

Microsoft has announced that it will bring PC games from its Game Pass library to Nvidia's GeForce Now service later this year. As a result, owners of a Game Pass subscription will be able to play their games on (presumably) superior hardware in the cloud without having to purchase titles on Steam or Epic Games' Store services.

"Game Pass members will soon be able to stream select PC games from the library through Nvidia GeForce Now," wrote Joe Skrebels, Xbox Wire Editor-in-Chief, in a blog post. "This will enable the PC Game Pass catalog to be played on any device that GeForce Now streams to, like low-spec PCs, Macs, Chromebooks, mobile devices, TVs, and more, and we will be rolling this out in the months ahead."

Nvidia's GeForce Now is a gaming service that offers the most advanced gaming hardware — such as the GeForce RTX 4080, one of the best graphics cards available today — in the cloud and therefore promises to provide the best experience. Of course, cloud game streaming has its peculiarities, like increased latencies and longer loading times. It does not provide the same experience as a local high-end gaming PC. Meanwhile, The Verge discovered that the GeForce RTX 4080 tier of GeForce Now significantly outperformed Microsoft's Xbox Cloud Gaming service in terms of performance and latency.

It should also be noted that for now, Microsoft only promises that select Game Pass PC titles will be playable on GeForce Now and it is unclear whether EA Play titles will be supported. Therefore, it remains to be seen how many games from Microsoft's subscription will actually and eventually be supported by the GeForce Now service.

Bringing Game Pass games to Nvidia's GeForce Now service certainly makes both services more attractive to gamers. Because if enough games are supported, it will be possible to enjoy high-end titles on high-end hardware for about $30 per month without making any additional purchases.  

This move could also more cynically be seen as a part of a wider initiative to placate regulators regarding Microsoft's proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard, to show that the company is open to offering its services and titles on platforms other than Windows and Xbox.

It appears that Nvidia plans to introduce its cheapest Ada Lovelace-based graphics cards — the GeForce RTX 4060 with 8 GB of GDDR6 memory onboard — on June 29, 2023, according to reputable leaker MEGAsizeGPU that tends to be accurate when it comes to Nvidia's launch plans. However, as this information is from a leak, consider it cautiously and with the required amount of salt.

Based on a document published by the leaker, Nvidia and its add-in-board (AIB) partners will ship GeForce RTX 4060 products to the channel on June 12, so the cards will be in stock shortly. Nvidia wants reviews of graphics cards carrying a $299 MSRP to be published in June 28 and reviews of boards with a non-MSRP price tag to be released on June 29. On the same day, the product, which has all chances to become one of the best graphics cards available this summer, will be on the shelves.

The GeForce RTX 4060 is expected to use the AD106 GPU, which comes with 3072 CUDA cores, and is paired with 8GB of 17 GT/s GDDR6 memory via a 128-bit interface. This new AIB comes with a GPU that features notably fewer active CUDA cores compared to the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti, which has 4352 CUDA cores, indicating a significant disparity in performance between the two. However, the power consumption of the RTX 4060 model is estimated to be up to 115W, which is considerably lower than that of the RTX 4060 Ti model.

The relatively low power consumption will enable makers of graphics cards to experiment designs for both the printed circuit board as well as cooling system. Therefore, expect both compact GeForce RTX 4060 boards with single-slot coolers or with low-profile PCB as well as cards featuring large cooling systems that will promise extended overclocking capability.

It is noteworthy that the document published by @Zed_Wang also notes the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 16 GB, which is potentially a very interesting graphics card for gamers, but only indicates that this will be available in July without clarifying the date.

Keep in mind that while the leaker is reputable and tends to have actual documents, plans can change and this is still an unofficial source. That said, take the information with a grain of salt.

Nvidia is giving gamers another chance to win one of the best graphics cards in the Ada Lovelace RTX 40-series lineup. This time, the green team is giving away two GeForce RTX 4080 Founders Edition graphics cards featuring a custom Diablo IV GPU backplate to commemorate the game's release. You can see how the game runs on a bunch of GPUs in our Diablo IV PC benchmarks.

To enter, you must follow at least one of Nvidia's social media channels, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or Tiktok, and follow any instructions Nvidia gives out. To physically enter, you need to like, comment, tag, and share any of Nvidia's social media posts it publishes according to Nvidia's prompts.

Both GPUs will feature a customized Diablo IV backplate that sits on top of the RTX 4080 Founders Edition's stock backplate/cover. The backplate shows off a large Diablo IV logo to the left with a graphic to the right.

Diablo IV is the latest installment in the Diablo series, released today, June 6th, for all gamers. The game comes with Nvidia's full suite of gaming features, including Nvidia's latency-enhancing Reflex technology, DLSS 2 upscaling, and DLSS 3 frame generation. (Ray tracing is planned for a future update.) The game will easily run on all RTX 30- and RTX 40-series GPU, and a lot of older GPUs as well.

For perspective, Nvidia also provided some benchmarks. Its lowest-end RTX 40-series mobile GPU, the RTX 4050, can run Diablo IV at 1080p maximum settings at nearly 70FPS without frame generation. As a result, basically any modern GPU can run this game, especially if you don't feel the need to run at maxed out settings.

Again, for more details, check out our full Diablo IV GPU performance analysis, featuring 36 Nvidia, Intel, and AMD cards. The main takeaway is that you'll need at least 3GB of VRAM to run the medium preset well, 4GB for the high preset, and 6GB for the ultra preset. Of course, all of that will change once ray tracing arrives, but right now there's plenty of spare frames to go around.

Key specification of Nvidia's GeForce RTX 4060 Ti graphics card have seemingly been leaked via a new entry in the Geekbench 5 database (via @BenchLeaks). While we cannot be 100% sure that the card tested in the benchmark featured is the final configuration of the GPU, the probability is quite high at this point. For now, take a healthy pinch of salt with the news.

*Rumored specs, not confirmed by Nvidia

Based on the database entry, Nvidia's alleged GeForce RTX 4060 Ti features 34 streaming multiprocessors, which in case of the Ada Lovelace architecture means 4352 CUDA cores. The maximum GPU clock is said to be 2.54 GHz, though keep in mind that there will be other cards with different processor speeds. Also, the card allegedly carries 8GB of GDDR6 memory with an 18 GT/s data transfer rate, which is in line with previous leaks. 

Speaking of performance in Geekbench 5, the alleged GeForce RTX 4060 Ti graphics card scored 146,170 points, which is higher compared to around 130,000 points scored by GeForce RTX 3060 Ti. The latter is among the best graphics cards currently available, so at least the newcomer is ahead of its predecessor albeit by a small margin. Meanwhile, performance in real games is substantially different from performance in compute applications, such as Geekbench 5 CUDA test.

If unofficial information is to be believed, Nvidia is set to introduce its GeForce RTX 4060 Ti graphics cards later this month. If this is the case, then Nvidia's partners among add-in-board makers already have GeForce RTX 4060 Ti products at hand, and retailers will soon have those AIBs in stock. To that end, it is inevitable that at least some of them will test these devices in popular benchmarks leaking their performance and revealing their specifications. 

While specifications of Nvidia's GeForce RTX 4060 have been most probably finalized, since we are dealing with unofficial information, use it with discretion as some last minute details can still change.

Nvidia is reportedly readying a yet another GeForce RTX 4060 model, the non-Ti RTX 4060 with 16GB of memory. The new GeForce RTX 4060 variant will reportedly feature a slightly higher power rating than the variant with 8GB of memory, reports VideoCardz.

Earlier this week it transpired (albeit from an unofficial source) that Nvidia was prepping three GeForce RTX 4060 models: the GeForce RTX 4060 8GB, GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 8GB, and GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 16GB. But it now looks like there will be the fourth model too: the GeForce RTX 4060 with 16GB of memory, if the information is accurate. All four potential SKUs are certain candidates to join the ranks of the best graphics cards 

The interesting part is that VideoCardz clams that the GeForce RTX 4060 16GB will feature the AD106-351 graphics processor. Meanwhile the GeForce RTX 4060 8GB is expected to use the AD106-350, so a slightly different variant. Both will likely feature 3072 CUDA cores and a 128-bit memory interface, so the difference between the two is unclear. 

Another interesting peculiarity of the GeForce RTX 4060 16GB noted by VideoCardz is the fact that the 16GB card will be rated for a 165W TGP, as opposed to 160W for the 8GB version.

While it is unclear why the GeForce RTX 4060 16GB has a higher TGP rating and carries a differently market GPU, the very fact that Nvidia is reportedly prepping a GeForce RTX 4060 (non-Ti) model with 16GB of memory is important and pretty much remarkable. 

*Rumored specs, not confirmed by Nvidia

What remains to be seen is how Nvidia positions its GeForce RTX 4060 16GB variant. It is reasonable to expect this model to sit above the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 8GB (which is projected to hit the market this month), but we can only wonder how this SKU will stack against the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 8GB. 

 If the two variants are close in terms of price, then gamers will have to make their choice based on whether their favorite games need 16GB of memory, or a higher-performing GPU with 4352 CUDA cores. Or perhaps go with more expensive GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 16GB or even GeForce RTX 4070 with 12GB.

Rumors about Nvidia's plans to formally introduce its GeForce RTX 4060-series graphics cards in May have been floating around for a while, but it was unclear when these add-in-boards (AIBs) are set to hit the market. A new leak contends that Nvidia wants its partners to start selling GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 8GB model on May 24, 2023, reports VideoCardz, citing a source with knowledge of the matter. As with all leaks, take this with a grain of salt. 

Nvidia purportedly intends to formally unveil three of its Ada Lovelace-based GeForce RTX 4060-series models — GeForce RTX 4060, GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 8GB, and GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 16GB, which are certainly candidates to join the ranks of the best graphics cards — sometime in mid-May, though it is unclear whether the company will let the press publish reviews of all for SKUs, or will limit the info to just the specifications. 

Meanwhile, only the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 8GB will hit the market on May 24, 2023, based on information from VideoCardz. The website contends that the product will emerge on store shelves just a day before AMD is expected to lift the embargo from Radeon RX 7600 reviews, which will certainly steal some thunder from Team Red's introduction.

Meanwhile, the vanilla GeForce RTX 4060 8GB will be available in the first half of July. In contrast, if the information is correct, the more expensive GeForce RTX 4060 16GB will hit the market in the second half of July, more than two months after the formal announcement.

*Rumored specs, not confirmed by Nvidia

This purported launch schedule will enable Nvidia and its partners to sell GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 8GB at a premium and avoid any kind of competition between the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 16GB and GeForce RTX 4070 12GB. As a result, those gamers who plan to buy an Nvidia performance mainstream graphics card in May – July but are unwilling to invest in a GeForce RTX 4070 will be left with only one choice if they want an Ada Lovelace AIB.

Nvidia still has not disclosed its GeForce RTX 4060 launch plans so far, so take the unofficial information with a grain of salt and remember that all plans tend to change.

It didn't take long for the GeForce RTX 4070 to position itself as one of the best graphics cards for gamers. However, according to new information from kopite7kimi, one of the more credible leakers in the hardware scene, a second variant of the GeForce RTX 4070 may already be in the pipeline.

Chipmakers have been salvaging silicon for ages, and rightfully so nowadays since wafer prices aren't getting any cheaper. Take the GeForce RTX 3070 Ti, initially launched with the GA104 silicon. Nvidia would later recycle defective GA102 silicon and slip them into the GeForce RTX 3070 Ti. However, the die-swap occurred a little over a year after the graphics card's launch. The GeForce RTX 4070 just came out last month, so it seems a bit early for Nvidia to put out a second variant.

Currently, there are two theories. The more obvious says Nvidia is just salvaging dies due to pricey wafers — what else can it do with AD103 chips where one of the memory controllers doesn't work? The other rumor claims that switching to the new die could pave the way for a GeForce RTX 4070 with 16GB of memory.

The GeForce RTX 4070 currently utilizes the AD104 silicon that houses 60 Streaming Multiprocessors (SMs), but only 46 are enabled on the graphics card. The current rumor is that Nvidia may repurpose the AD103 silicon for the GeForce RTX 4070. The AD103 silicon, which powers the GeForce RTX 4080, is bigger than the AD104 die, so it's a more than adequate substitute. The GeForce RTX 4070 only has 5,888 CUDA cores, meaning a GeForce RTX 4070 AD103 would have slightly more than half of the SMs disabled.

Nvidia has received much criticism, including from AMD, for only incorporating 12GB of memory on the GeForce RTX 4070. AMD gloated that its Radeon 16GB graphics cards start from $479 (now), while consumers don't get the same amount of memory on the latest GeForce RTX 40-series graphics card until they hit the GeForce RTX 4080 tier, which starts at $1,199. This could fuel Nvidia to release a GeForce RTX 4070 16GB. Gigabyte had previously listed a GeForce RTX 4070 16GB on its website, lending some credence to the theory.

Gamers would probably like to see a GeForce RTX 4070 16GB with the increasing VRAM requirements from modern triple-A games. However, at least at this point, it's unlikely that one will launch. Releasing a 16GB model this early would only anger early GeForce RTX 4070 adopters — and let's not forget the GeForce RTX 4070 Ti, which also has 12GB. The regular GeForce RTX 4070, at $599, is already hard to swallow, and adding more memory would only push the MSRP even higher. Although that wouldn't be a severe issue with the GeForce RTX 40-series product stack since every SKU so far carries a premium price tag.

According to a reliable source, Nvidia will allegedly announce the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti this month. We've only seen retailer listings for an 8GB model; however, a 16GB variant is reportedly launching too. The GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 16GB, seemingly hitting the retail market in July, will be the cheapest Ada Lovelace SKU with 16GB that gamers can purchase. Nvidia could use clamshell mode on the VRAM and just put memory on both sides of the PCB as well, which would allow for 16GB with only a 128-bit interface.

We'll have to wait to find out more about the RTX 4060 Ti and whether or not a 4070 16GB model is forthcoming. We fully expect to see an 8GB 4060 Ti, and the RTX 3060 also launched with a 12GB model even though the RTX 3060 Ti, RTX 3070, and RTX 3070 Ti were all limited to just 8GB. So it's not out of the question for a lower tier part to be available with more VRAM than higher tier parts.

Nvidia is rumored to announce three GeForce RTX 4060-series graphics cards this month, but only one of them is said to be available in May, whereas others will purportedly hit the market in July, according to renowned hardware leaker @MegaSizeGPU, who has been accurate in the past when it comes to Nvidia's launch plans. The leader says that Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 4060 lineup will include graphics cards with 8GB and 16GB of memory.

Later this month, Nvidia is rumored to introduce three Ada Lovelace-based GeForce RTX 4060-series graphics cards aimed at the mainstream and performance-mainstream market segments. The lineup will purportedly include the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti with 8GB of GDDR6 SGRAM, the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti with 16GB of memory, and the GeForce RTX 4060 with 8GB of GDDR6 memory. However, only the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 8GB is expected to hit the market this month. According to the leaker, the more expensive and cheaper models will be available only in July.

*Rumored specs, not confirmed by Nvidia

At this point, it is unclear whether Nvidia's GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 8GB and 16GB will rely on the AD104 graphics processor in the same configuration with 4352 CUDA cores, but this is certainly a likely scenario. Based on previous leaks, Nvidia wants its RTX 4060 Ti to consume no more than 160W, which will enable GPU makers to build compact yet rather powerful performance-mainstream boards and therefore address both standard and compact desktops.

As for the vanilla GeForce RTX 4060, it will feature AD106 with 3072 CUDA cores and will therefore consume even less power, so expect low-profile and perhaps even single-slot graphics cards based on this GPU.

As of now, it does not look like Nvidia has a firm launch date for its new products. The green company might formally introduce its GeForce RTX 4060 family later this month, and perhaps it will use the company's chief executive Jensen Huang's keynote at Computex 2023 trade show on May 29 to do so. Yet, in this case it means that the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 8GB will be on sale for just a couple of days this month. 

Anyhow, since the information comes from an unofficial (yet credible) source, take it with a grain of salt since even if it represents current plans, intentions tend to change. 

Nvidia this week introduced its new texture compression method that provides four times higher resolution than traditional Block Truncation Coding (BTC, BC) methods while having similar storage requirements. The core concept of the proposed approach is to compress multiple material textures and their mipmap chains collectively and then decompress them using a neural network that is trained for a particular pattern it decompresses. In theory, the method can even impact future GPU architectures. Yet, for now the method has limitations.

New Requirements

Recent advancements in real-time rendering for video games have approached the visual quality of movies due to usage of such techniques as physically-based shading for photorealistic modeling of materials, ray tracing, path tracing, and denoising for accurate global illumination. Meanwhile, texturing techniques have not really advanced at a similar pace mostly because texture compression methods essentially remained the same as in the late 1990s, which is why in some cases many objects look blurry in close proximity. 

The reason for this is because GPUs still rely on block-based texture compression methods. These techniques have very efficient hardware implementations (as fixed-function hardware to support them have evolved for over two decades), random access, data locality, and near-lossless quality. However, they are designed for moderate compression ratios between 4x and 8x and are limited to a maximum of 4 channels. Modern real-time renderers often require more material properties, necessitating multiple textures. 

Nvidia's Method

This is where Nvidia's Random-Access Neural Compression of Material Textures (NTC) comes into play. Nvidia's technology enables two additional levels of detail (16x more texels, so four times higher resolution) while maintaining similar storage requirements as traditional texture compression methods. This means that compressed textures with per-material optimization with resolutions up to 8192 x 8192 (8K) are now feasible. 

To do so, NTC exploits redundancies spatially, across mipmap levels, and across different material channels. This ensures that texture detail is preserved when viewers are in close proximity to an object, something that modern methods cannot enable.  

Nvidia claims that NTC textures are decompressed using matrix-multiplication hardware such as tensor cores operating in a SIMD-cooperative manner, which means that the new technology does not require any special purpose hardware and can be used on virtually all modern Nvidia GPUs. But perhaps the biggest concern is that every texture requires its own optimized neural network to decompress, which puts some additional load on game developers. 

Nvidia says that resulting texture quality at these aggressively low bitrates is said to be comparable to or better than recent image compression standards, such as AVIF and JPEG XL, which are not designed for real-time decompression with random access anyway.

Practical Advantages and Disadvantages

Indeed, images demonstrated by Nvidia clearly show that NTC is better than traditional Block Coding-based technologies. However, Nvidia admits that its method is slower than traditional methods (it took a GPU 1.15 ms to render a 4K image with NTC textures and 0.49 ms to render a 4K image with BC textures), but it provides 16x more texels albeit with stochastic filtering. 

While NTC is more resource-intensive than conventional hardware-accelerated texture filtering, the results show that it delivers high performance and is suitable for real-time rendering. Moreover, in complex scenes using a fully-featured renderer, the cost of NTC can be partially offset by the simultaneous execution of other tasks (e.g., ray tracing) due to the GPU's ability to hide latency. 

Meanwhile, rendering with NTC can be accelerated new hardware architectures, increased number of dedicated matrix-multiplication units that might used, increased cache sizes, and register usage. Actually, some of the optimizations can be made on the programmable level.  

Nvidia also admits that NTC is not a completely lossless method of texture compression and produce visual degradation at low bitrates and has some limitations, such as sensitivity to channel correlation, uniform resolution requirements, and limited benefits at larger camera distances. Furthermore, advantages are proportional to channel count and may not be as significant for lower channel counts. Also, since NTC is optimized for material textures and always decompresses all material channels, it makes it potentially unsuitable for use in different rendering contexts. 

While the advantage of NTC is that it does not use fixed-function texture filtering hardware to produce its superior results, this is also its key disadvantage. Texture filtering cost is computationally expensive, which is why for now anisotropic filtering with NTC is not feasible for real-time rendering. Meanwhile, stochastic filtering can introduce flickering.

But despite limitations, NTC's compression of multiple channels and mipmap levels together produces a result that exceeds industry standards. Nvidia researchers believe that its approach is paving the way for cinematic-quality visuals in real-time rendering and is practical for memory-constrained graphics applications. Yet, it introduces a modest timing overhead compared to simple BTC algorithms, which impacts performance.

One of the world's largest supplier of graphics cards, Colorful is no stranger to offering exclusive products. This week the company quietly rolled out the world's only GeForce RTX 4070 with a closed-loop cooling system. The graphics board promises to provide the ultimate overclocking experience, but its price may be too high for many to justify it..

Colorful's iGame GeForce RTX 4070 Neptune OC-V relies on Nvidia's AD104-250 graphics processor with 5,888 CUDA cores mated with 12GB of GDDR6X memory using a 192-bit interface, but uses a proprietary printed circuit board with a 14+3-phase power delivery to maximize GPU overclocking potential. The board comes with a one-key overclocking function enabling up to 2640 MHz boost clock, up from 2,475 MHz by default. The board uses a 12+4-pin 12VHPWR auxiliary PCIe 5.0 power connector and is rated for a TDP of up to 230W, which is 30W higher than that of Nvidia's reference design.

The key selling point of the iGame GeForce RTX 4070 Neptune OC-V is of course its closed-loop liquid cooling system that promises to provide superior cooling performance while allowing to make the board itself a bit more compact. While the card is still two slots wide, it's just 253.5 mm long, which is not too lengthy by today's standards. However, you'll have to fit a 277 mm radiator with two fans somewhere in the chassis too. With an enhanced VRM and LCS, overclocking potential of Colorful's GeForce RTX 4080 Neptune promises to be significant, something that will put it in the list of the best graphics cards.

As the only liquid-cooled GeForce RTX 4070, the iGame GeForce RTX 4070 Neptune OC-V is expensive. VideoCardz claims that Colorful will charge $829 for it, but it is unclear whether this will be the price for the U.S. (which does not include taxes) or for China or Europe. Either way, it is considerably more expensive than Nvidia's MSRP for GeForce RTX 4070 and approaches or exceeds recommended price of the GeForce RTX 4070 Ti, which means that the new product will have to deliver performance on par with the higher-end part.

Nvidia's GeForce RTX 4070 is powered by the AD104-250 GPU with 5.888 CUDA cores, offers a compute throughput of up to 29.15 FP32 TFLOPS, and has an MSRP of $599. By contrast, Nvidia's GeForce RTX 4070 Ti is based on the AD104-400 GPU with 7,680 CUDA cores offers up to 40 FP32 TFLOPS, but comes with an MSRP of $799. 

In a bid to compensate for the lack of 1,792 CUDA cores and offer similar compute throughput as its Ti sibling, the vanilla GeForce RTX 4070 will have to work at around 3.40 GHz, which is about 925 MHz higher than the Nvidia-recommended boost clock for the RTX 4070 model. While we are sure that at least some AD104-250 GPUs are great overclockers, we are not sure that all of them can hit 3.40 GHz at 230W and offer performance like the GeForce RTX 4070 Ti with the AD104-400.

Of course, a liquid cooling system may provide better cooling than an air cooler, which increases its value even if it cannot approach performance of GeForce RTX 4070 Ti to justify its high price. Whether or not a longer lifespan alone justifies higher price is something that remains to be seen though.

A Japanese retailer is running a promotion aimed at those who would like to get the highest performance in games and try out Intel's Arc 'Alchemist' discrete GPU at the same time. For a limited time, if you buy an Asus TUF GeForce RTX 4090 24GB Gaming graphics card (which is among the best graphics cards money can buy today) from NTT-X, the retailer will also give you a free Intel Arc A750 graphics board, reports PC Watch.

The retailer charges $2,310 (¥314,460 without VAT) for the TUF GeForce RTX 4090 24GB Gaming, which may not look like a great price for a graphics card that has an MSRP of $1,599. Yet, prices in Japan tend to be higher compared to prices in the USA, and when you make the purchase, NTT-X also bundles an Intel Arc A750 graphics board. That makes the whole package look at least somewhat more competitive. Furthermore, loyal customers can get a $122 (¥16,360) discount, sweetening the deal.

GeForce RTX 4090 buyers are usually performance-minded PC gaming enthusiasts with deep pockets that demand absolutely the best bleeding-edge performance possible. By contrast, Intel's Arc A750 is a midrange offering that attempts to deliver an attractive balance of price, performance, and overall experience. In other words, it definitely isn't fast. 

While most GeForce RTX 4090 owners would probably rather not get an Intel Arc graphics card at all, some of them are curious enthusiasts who might like to try one to get a taste of what Intel offers in the discrete GPU space. For them, NTT-X's offering makes a lot of sense. They could also use the free card to build an entry-level gaming PC for a family member. 

It is noteworthy that getting a similar package in the U.S. may actually be a bit cheaper. Newegg has MSI's GeForce RTX 4090 Gaming Trio 24GB for $1,599 and Intel's Arc A750 8GB for $249, so if you want to get the best graphics card and find out what Intel has to offer in the discrete GPU space, it may be easier and cheaper to make this purchase in the U.S.

Nvidia has started sales of its tiny RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation graphics card that promises GeForce RTX 3070-like performance at 70W of power and will fit into virtually all desktop PCs. The low-profile, dual-wide board is not cheap — it costs more than the RTX 4080, for example, as it's aimed at professional users — but nothing is stopping you from installing it on a regular gaming computer.

PNY's Nvidia RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation graphics card is available now for $1,444 from ShopBLT, a retailer known for landing hardware ahead of its rivals. This is why the board is being sold at a price that is higher compared to its official MSRP of $1,250. Keep in mind that the board is equipped with four Mini-DisplayPort connectors, so you'll also need to add the price of an mDP-DP or mDP-HDMI adapter to the cost of this miniature solution.

The Nvidia RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation board features the company's AD104 GPU with 6,144 active CUDA cores out of a total of 7,680, as well as 20GB of GDDR6 ECC memory connected to the GPU through a 160-bit interface. The GPU has a a capped boost frequency of approximately 1560 MHz to reduce overall board power consumption and is rated for just 70W of power, which means it can be installed into almost any desktop computer, even those without an auxiliary PCIe power connector.

From a performance point of view, Nvidia's GA104 graphics processor in this configuration chip delivers a peak FP32performance of 19.2 TFLOPS, making it theoretically similar to the GeForce RTX 3070. Yet, with 20GB of memory onboard, this card is a little more future-proofed than the RTX 3070, and also potentially more useful for professional and AI researchers. The memory configuration likely utilizes 2GB GDDR6 chips on both sides of the PCB, as otherwise the 160-bit interface would limit maximum memory to just 10GB.

The nearly 20 FP32 TFLOPS are overshadowed by the superior performance of the recently launched GeForce RTX 4070 (29 FP32 TFLOPS). The board also boasts a peak RT performance of 44.3 TFLOPS and a peak FP8/INT8 tensor performance of 153/306.8 TFLOPS/TOPS (without and with sparsity). FP8/INT8 performance of course has nothing to do with games, but it's an added bonus for the professional market. In fact, 153/306.8 TFLOPS/TOPS is comparable to the more expensive and power-hungry Nvidia GeForce RTX 3090 Ti (that's if you don't care about precision, as the 3090 Ti only has native FP16 support).

Other advantages of the RTX 4000 SFF Ada include Nvidia's professional drivers and support for professional software ISVs. Furthermore, it comes with a 3-pin mini-DIN connector for stereoscopic 3D output (e.g. Nvidia 3D Vision), and supports Frame Lock capability for multi-display applications.

We should see pricing and availability improve in the coming weeks as the card becomes more widely available. For now, this is a workstation part designed for compact systems, targeting low power rather than maximum performance.

Fanless graphics cards are not commonly seen these days as most GPUs tend to get quite hot and require active coolers with two or three fans. Even relatively energy-efficient mainstream. However, an enthusiast took matters into their own hands and built a passively cooled graphics board with a contemporary GPU powered by Nvidia’s Ampere architecture, but cooled by a 15-year old Arctic cooler. They shared the experience at SFF.Network.

In a bid to build his passively cooled graphics card, RevocCases took Nvidia's professional-grade RTX A2000 graphics card based on the GA106 GPU with 3,328 CUDA cores (at up to 1.20 GHz) and a 192-bit memory interface. The card comes with 6GB of memory and is rated for a 70W power consumption, meaning that it does not need an auxiliary PCIe power connector. 70W is of course not much, so the board can indeed be cooled passively with a proper cooler.

That 'proper' cooler is Arctic's Accelero S1 Rev. 2 that was designed for AMD's Radeon HD 3850/3870 and Nvidia's GeForce 8800 GT/8800 GTS from 2008 – 2009. The product can be bought from specialists like CoolerGuys or from Ebay and it is not that expensive. The passive cooler seems to be compatible with Nvidia's RTX A2000 graphics card, though the modder decided to attach a copper plate to the cooler to cool down GDDR6 memory too. 

Nvidia's GeForce RTX A2000 graphics card is designed for compact workstations, so this one is not exactly cheap at all. It can be obtained for $356 at Amazon, though it is possible to get it cheaper at Ebay. 

It should be noted that Nvidia's RTX A2000 board offers performance akin to that of the GeForce RTX 3060, which is not exactly what demanding gamers might want. Meanwhile, Nvidia recently launched its RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation board which offers GeForce RTX 3070 (one of the best graphics cards) level performance and carries 24GB of memory. the RTX 4000 SFF consumes only 70W of power and can also be cooled passively, but it has an MSRP of $1,250, which is not cheap. 

Unfortunately, to build a passively-cooled graphics card these days, one will need a professional board or to downclock a consumer one. But while it is technically possible to reduce GPU and memory clocks, compatibility with the Accelero S1 Rev. 2 cooling system is not guaranteed as graphics cards are architected for different coolers. That said, it looks like professional graphics cards for compact workstations may be viable options for building fanless graphics cards.

Nvidia's backend service providers are reportedly not seeing the increased orders for testing and packaging of its latest GeForce RTX 40-series GPUs based on the Ada Lovelace architecture, says DigiTimes. They believe that the company is taking its time and letting its partners sell off any remaining GeForce RTX 30-series inventory before supplying them the latest generation graphics chips.

Nvidia's OSAT providers, Siliconware Precision Industries (SPIL) and King Yuan Electronics (KYEC), have not received any indication from the company about scaling up production for the GeForce RTX 40-series despite the fact that Nvidia has introduced virtually all of its Ada Lovelace GPUs for client applications, including AD102, AD103, AD104, AD106, and AD107, the report says.

To aggressively ramp up output of new graphics processors, Nvidia has to produce them at TSMC and then test and assemble them at SPIL or KYEC. While the company pre-paid TSMC for its silicon manufacturing services in the 2021–2022 timeframe and probably has N4-based Ada Lovelace wafers in stock, it still needs to book OSAT capacity before ramping up orders to increase supply. However, it looks like Nvidia is satisfied with the current GeForce RTX 40-series output and has not shown any intention to increase it.

Normally, sales of GPUs from Nvidia to its partners trend up in the third quarter, so the company should be booking OSAT services now. If the report's information is correct, it looks like Nvidia prefers to wait a bit before further ramping up testing and packaging of its Ada Lovelace silicon.

The company's partners are already shipping GeForce RTX 4070, RTX 4070 Ti, RTX 4080, and RTX 4090 graphics cards for desktops. While these rank among the best graphics cards, demand apparently isn't as high as Nvidia would like. There are also dozens of laptops employing GeForce RTX 4050, RTX 4060, RTX 4070, RTX 4080 and RTX 4090 Laptop GPUs. Nvidia's Ada Lovelace graphics processors introduced so far cover virtually all market segments, and solutions like the recently launched GeForce RTX 4070 and the expected RTX 4060 should become rather popular. That means Nvidia will need more GPU volume and packaging services.

Perhaps Nvidia and its partners already have enough RTX 30- and 40-series GPUs to sell, so there's no need to further ramp up testing and assembly even ahead of alleged GeForce RTX 4050 and RTX 4060 GPU launch in May–June. Certainly it hasn't been trying to drop prices into the sub-$500 space yet. While testing and assembly procedures take time, they're not as lengthy as the production of wafers, so even if Nvidia is behind its normal schedule by several weeks with ordering OSAT services, given the globally slow demand for new PCs, this is probably not going to create any tangible problems for the market.

We've seen plenty of reports of the severe downturn in PC and laptop sales, and after a couple of incredible years (in terms of demand and prices), it looks like many people and businesses are happy to stick with what they have for a while as we deal with economic uncertainties. Still, as this information comes from an unofficial source and lacks many details, take it is rumor rather than fact.

A Vietnamese retailer has listed a slew of GeForce RTX 4070 graphics cards from various brands. The surplus of trademarks and models can obviously point to plenty of hardware at launch, which is allegedly several days away. However, pricing for these add-in-boards — which start at ~$800 — seems rather high.  

Bpstore.vn listed GeForce RTX 4070 graphics cards from Asus, Gigabyte, MSI, and Zotac, according to screenshots from I_Leak_VN. Prices of these AIBs start at 17.9 million Vietnamese dong ($637 without VAT) for Zotac's Gaming GeForce RTX 4070 Trinity OC (which is a premium product) and climb all the way to 25.9 million dong ($916) for a pre-overclocked Asus GeForce ROG Strix RTX 4070 OC Edition. 

These prices are not exactly close to the $599 recommended by Nvidia. Yet, one thing to keep in mind about the preliminary listing is that retailers tend to monetize on the demand for yet-to-be-announced hardware and price AIBs well above recommended prices.  

We already know that these boards feature pretty comprehensive cooling systems with three fans (and possibly more). They are aimed at enthusiasts, which is unsurprising given the price points we are discussing.  

Speaking of prices, we should, of course, wait to see what kind of performance these cards deliver before we make conclusions about whether or not the GeForce RTX 4070 will join the ranks of the best graphics cards available. 

Nvidia is expected to launch the GeForce RTX 4070 graphics card in mid-April. However, much of its technical details have been public knowledge for a while, despite not being officially disclosed by the company. The standard edition of Nvidia's GeForce RTX 4070 shares the AD104 graphics processor with the RTX 4070 Ti but offers only 5888 CUDA cores running at 1920 MHz to 2475 MHz, down from 7680 CUDA cores on the 'Ti' version. Like its 'Titanium' counterpart, the GeForce RTX 4070 boasts a 12GB GDDR6X memory subsystem and a 192-bit interface. 

Even though the GeForce RTX 4070 utilizes a scaled-down AD104 GPU, it is predicted to deliver around 29 FP32 TFLOPS of computational power, a figure that rivals the performance of the GeForce RTX 3080. Nevertheless, the RTX 3080 features a 320-bit memory bus and an impressive peak bandwidth of 760 GB/s, which is significantly higher than the 504 GB/s bandwidth offered by the AD104's 21 GT/s GDDR6X memory. Even the GeForce RTX 3070 Ti has a superior memory bandwidth (608 GB/s) compared to the upcoming card. On the other hand, the new graphics card is expected to have a sizable L2 cache, which will likely offset the limitations of its slower memory subsystem.

As the release date for Nvidia's GeForce RTX 4070 approaches, images of upcoming cards based on the GPU are emerging. This time around, we have leaked images of the RTX 4070 Founders Edition, which have been published by VideoCardz. The board looks compact and will probably fit into most PCs used for gaming. 

The graphics card depicted by our colleagues is dual-wide design with two fans. It reportedly has one 16-pin 12VHPWR power connector and is therefore outright drop in compatible with the latest PC chassis. For those that do not comply, the board will probably come with an appropriate adapter, though we are speculating here. 

Of particular note is the fact that Nvidia opted to equip their design with a 16-pin power connector, which sets it apart from many custom designs that utilize a standard 8-pin connector. 

Anyhow, the images published by VideoCardz clearly depict a graphics card featuring a V-shaped printed-circuit board. A small PCB size clearly points to a relatively low power consumption of the product, something that on itself implies with a dual fan FE design. 

The alleged GeForce RTX 4070 FE Nvidia could fit many systems. Users could attach up to four displays through one HDMI 2.1 or three DisplayPort 1.4 connectors. Meanwhile the board is expected to carry an MSRP of $599.

The official launch of Nvidia's GeForce RTX 4070 graphics card is allegedly a few days away, so we are not surprised by the surplus of images of yet-to-be-announced add-in-boards featuring the cut-down AD104 'Ada Lovelace' GPU shown by momomo_us, alexwifi42 and Italian vendor Drako.it  (and found by our colleagues at VideoCardz). 

On the specifications side of matters, images of GeForce RTX 4070 graphics cards by Gigabyte, Palit, MSI, and Zotac show us nothing new, as we already know from the leaks (which should be taken with a grain of salt, yet at this point they are more than likely to be accurate) that these AIBs carry a cut-down AD104 graphics processor with 5,888 CUDA cores and paired with 12GB of GDDR6X memory.

Gigabyte is prepping four GeForce RTX 4070 graphics card designs, with only the WindForce and Eagle models shipping with standard 8-pin auxiliary PCIe power connectors, while the Gaming and Aero models will have 12VHPWR 16-pin connectors. All four designs will have three fans, based on the leaked images. 

One of the things that strikes the eye with the pictures of the upcoming GeForce RTX 4070 graphics cards from Gigabyte, Palit, MSI, and Zotac is that most of them are triple-wide with a massive cooling system, just as my colleague Mark reported yesterday about the hoard of MSI's GeForce RTX 4070 AIBs.

While it is not particularly surprising that many of GeForce RTX 4070-based graphics cards will be huge, considering the overclocking potential of the GPU that powers them, it is reasonable to expect more compact AIBs too. This is perhaps where MSI's GeForce RTX 4070 Ventus 2X comes into play. The board features a dual-fan two-wide cooling system and will likely fit into most of PCs used by gamers. Of course, different GeForce RTX boards feature different power connections, some keep using well-proven eight-pin plugs, while others employ the all-new 12VHPWR.

Apparently, budget-friendly options from Zotac and Palit will also have dual-fan designs and 12GB of GDDR6X memory, yet take the information with a grain of salt as this comes from unofficial sources.

It isn't uncommon for hardware makers and retailers to list yet-to-be-announced products weeks before they should officially start selling. It looks like this trend is repeating with Nvidia's GeForce RTX 4070. At least four vendors are already listing their RTX 4070-badged products, perhaps as a way to generate buzz and interest among consumers ahead of their official release, as noticed by @momomo_us and @harukaze5719.

MSI briefly listed its GeForce RTX 4070 Ventus 2X 12G graphics board on its website. The listing indicated that the product would carry 12GB of memory onboard and would feature a cooling system with two fans suggesting that we are dealing with a fairly compact graphics card, one of the first for the Ada Lovelace microarchitecture. Obviously, this is a preliminary listing, but since it is an official website, we can be more or less sure that it accurately reflects what MSI plans to offer. That said, take the news with a pinch of salt until the official release date arrives. 

Based on listings from a retailer, it seems that MSI also intends to release GeForce RTX 4070 Ventus 3X (with a bigger cooler), two Suprim-branded models, and two Gaming-badged boards aimed at enthusiasts and which are more than likely to enter the ranks of some of the best graphics cards available. So far, MSI and its partners seem to be offering at least eight GeForce RTX 4070 boards, which is a rather broad line-up. Prices of Geforce RTX 4070 offerings from MSI are likely to be significantly higher than the $599 allegedly recommended by Nvidia, though preliminary listed products tend to be overpriced in general.

Meanwhile, Gainward, Palit, and PNY also appear to prep multiple GeForce RTX 4070 versions, though these companies (or rather their partners) have yet to reveal more details about their offerings.

Listings of multiple GeForce RTX 4070 graphics cards weeks before launch could suggest that the product will be widely available right after the formal launch. Nvidia's GeForce RTX 4070 reportedly uses a cut-down version of the AD103 graphics processing unit with 5888 active CUDA cores, a chip that has been in mass production since late summer 2022. By now, the GPU developer should have plenty of silicon qualified for GeForce RTX 4070, so makers of graphics cards will have plenty of graphics chips to build products on.

VideoCardz has published a leaked slide presumably from Nvidia's final presentation of its GeForce RTX 4070 graphics card. The slide reveals a final price of the add-in-board as well as some of its specifications. In particular, it says that the product will cost $599 and will have a total graphics power of 200W.

Nvidia is expected to release its GeForce RTX 4070 graphics card in mid-April, but most of its specifications have been known for some time, albeit not from the company itself. The upcoming vanilla version of Nvidia's GeForce RTX 4070 shares the AD104 graphics processor with the RTX 4070 Ti, but has only 5888 CUDA cores operating at 1920 MHz – 2475 MHz. Just like the 'Titanium' version, the GeForce RTX 4070 features a 12GB GDDR6X memory subsystem with a 192-bit interface.

The new graphics card is said to have a total graphics power of 200W, which is significantly lower than the TGP of Nvidia's GeForce RTX 4070 Ti (285W) and GeForce RTX 3070 Ti (290W). This would enable graphics cards makers to miniaturize cooling systems of the GeForce RTX 4070 and therefore maximize compatibility with more compact computer cases, which will be another reason why this board will likely enter the ranks of one of the best graphics cards available. Idle power and video playback power of the new board will also be lower compared to that of its predecessors, according to the slide.

Despite having a heavily cut-down AD104 GPU, the GeForce RTX 4070 is expected to produce approximately 29 FP32 TFLOPS of computational power, which is comparable to that of the GeForce RTX 3080. However, the RTX 3080 possesses a 320-bit memory bus and an impressive peak bandwidth of 760 GB/s, which is substantially greater than the 504 GB/s bandwidth provided by AD104's 21 GT/s GDDR6X memory. In fact, even a GeForce RTX 3070 Ti has higher memory bandwidth (608 GB/s) than the newcomer. Meanwhile, the new graphics card is supposed to have a large L2 cache, which will likely compensate for a slower memory subsystem.

Perhaps an interesting wrinkle of the slide is that Nvidia compares its GeForce RTX 4070 graphics card to its previous-generation GeForce RTX 3070 and RTX 3070 Ti offerings. With its Ada Lovelace GPUs, Nvidia has been emphasizing that its latest GPUs can rival or surpass higher-class previous-generation offerings at lower price. With its GeForce RTX 4070, it looks like Nvidia is betting on higher-performance and lower power at the same launch price.

In any case, Nvidia has not announced its GeForce RTX 4070 officially and we cannot verify authenticity of the slide. Therefore, take the information with a grain of salt for now.

According to reputable hardware leaker, @Zed__Wang, Nvidia intends to release its inexpensive GeForce RTX 4050 and GeForce RTX 4060 Ti graphics cards for desktops in May – June timeframe, whereas the launch window for GeForce RTX 4060 is not yet decided. The leaker, has a track record of revealing accurate information about Nvidia's forthcoming hardware but as always take the news with the necessary amount of sodium chloride.

Nvidia allegedly plans to release its performance-mainstream GeForce RTX 4060 Ti sometime in late May and then launch its inexpensive GeForce RTX 4050 graphics board in June, the leaker claims. Keeping in mind that Computex Taipei — the world's largest PC hardware trade show — is set to be held on May 30 – June 2, it is possible that Nvidia will use the exhibition to launch new its new desktop products (which have a chance to join the ranks of best graphics cards), though we are speculating.

The green company still has not decided when to release its mainstream GeForce RTX 4060, but it is logical to release it after the RTX 4060 Ti variant in a bid to motivate mainstream buyers to get the more expensive Ada Lovelace product.

In fact, @Zed__Waang  claims that Nvidia has already supplied its partners among graphics cards suppliers with templates for GeForce RTX 4060 Ti packages, which is an indicator that launch preparations for this product have started. Unfortunately, the package does not reveal any particular information about the upcoming graphics adapter, such as the number of CUDA cores or the amount of memory it carries onboard. 

Based on what we know from previous leaks, Nvidia's GeForce RTX 4060 Ti is set to be based on the AD106 graphics processor with 4352 CUDA cores mated with 8GB of GDDR6 memory using a 128-bit interface. By contrast, the GeForce RTX 4060 is rumored to feature a cut-down version of the AD106 GPU (presumably with 3072 CUDA cores) and 8GB of memory on a 128-bit bus. 

Meanwhile the GeForce RTX 4050 is largely a mysterious product. Nvidia's Ampere-based GeForce RTX 3050 used both GA106 and GA107 graphics processors and it is reasonable to expect Ada Lovelace-based GeForce RTX 4050 to use both AD106 and AD107 as well as to give the GPU developer and its partners a lot of flexibility with these boards that are meant to be priced reasonable. Then again, any assumptions about specifications of upcoming products that are over two months away are pure speculations.

There are loads of compact modern workstations that pack quite capable CPUs, but at the same time they lack the space to accommodate a standard high-performance workstation-grade graphics card. That typically limits them to entry-level GPUs with mediocre performance. For those that want a compact SFF workstation with more graphics oomph, Nvidia has introduced a new ProViz-oriented RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation graphics card. It's one of the more interesting offerings in the recent years, packing a high-end GPU into a low-profile form-factor, with a power consumption of just 70W.

The Nvidia RTX 4000 SFF Ada board uses the company's AD104 graphics processing unit with 6144 CUDA cores enabled (out of 7680 in total). That's the same GPU as the RTX 4070 Ti but with fewer active cores, and the boost frequency gets capped at around 1560 MHz to lower total board power. On the other hand, the graphics card comes with 20GB of GDDR6 memory with ECC that connects to the GPU using a 160-bit interface, so lots of memory for workstation use.

The GPU comes with two NVENC encoders and two NVDEC decoders activated, though Nvidia has not touched upon exact capabilities of these units. They should be similar to the NVENC and NVDEC used in other Ada cards, and you can see the video encoding performance and quality in our recent roundup of GPUs.

The GA104 chip in this configuration delivers peak single precision performance of 19.2 TFLOPS, making it theoretically comparable to a GeForce RTX 3070. It has peak RT performance of 44.3 TFLOPS, and peak FP8/INT8 tensor performance of 306.8 TFLOPS/TOPS.

Almost 20 FP32 TFLOPS may be dwarfed by the overwhelming performance of Nvidia’s RTX 6000 Ada Generation or GeForce RTX 4090, but the RTX 4000 SFF is a low-profile dual-slot graphics card that can fit into almost any desktop computer, even one that does not have a spare auxiliary PCIe power connector. Interestingly, RTX 4000 Ada’s 153/306.8 INT8 TFLOPS (without and with sparsity, respectively) performance is very close to that of Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 3090 Ti that is both more expensive and far more power hungry.

Since this is a workstation-grade add-in-board, it comes with four DisplayPort 1.4a connectors, has a 3-pin mini-DIN connector for stereoscopic 3D output (e.g. Nvidia 3D Vision), and supports Frame Lock capability for multi-display applications.

Speaking of multi display applications, one of the benefits of the compact dimensions, low power consumption, and broad compatibility of Nvidia’s RTX 4000 Ada Generation graphics card is the ability to install a number of such boards into a relatively compact system. It wouldn't need a high-wattage PSU and could still drive multi-display and video wall applications. Such systems are widely used by various industries, including aerospace, healthcare, military, pro A/V, digital signage, and security, just to name a few.

Starting in April, the newly released Nvidia's RTX 4000 SFF graphics cards for professional visualization applications will be available from the company's distribution partners like Leadtek, PNY, and Ryoyo Electro, with a recommended price of $1,250. Additionally, workstation manufacturers will offer this product later in the year.

Inno3D will equip its upcoming GeForce RTX 4070 graphics card with a classic eight-pin auxiliary PCIe power connector and not a modern 12VHPWR power connector found on more advanced products from Nvidia's Ada Lovelace stable, according to a picture of alleged Inno3D's package published at Chiphell (via @9550pro). 

Assuming that the picture of the package is legit, it confirms that Nvidia's AD104-based GeForce RTX 4070 graphics card has a moderate power requirement and will be fine with 150W of power delivered by an eight-pin PCIe power cable and up to 75W from the slot. Moderate power consumption is a reason why Inno3D's GeForce RTX 4070 comes with a rather simplistic dual-slot cooling system with only two fans. 

Indeed, Nvidia is not going to mandate the usage of the novel PCIe Gen5 12+4-pin auxiliary power connector (12VHPWR) on upcoming GeForce RTX 4070 graphics cards, our former colleague Igor Wallossek revealed last night. While some of Nvidia's partners could still equip their board with a 12VHPWR power plug, others might go with two eight-pin power connectors to deliver more power to the boards and increase their overclocking potential. But at least there will be models with a classic eight-pin auxiliary PCIe power connector that is compatible with existing power supplies. 

Given expected performance, -moderate power consumption, and compatibility, Nvidia's GeForce RTX 4070 will likely join the ranks of the best graphics cards.

Based on what we know about Nvidia's upcoming GeForce RTX 4070, it is set to use an AD104 graphics processing unit with 5888 CUDA cores activated (out of 7680 CUDA cores enabled on GeForce RTX 4070 Ti) that will be paired with 12GB of 21 GT/s memory using a 192-bit interface. 

An AD104 GPU in such configuration will be significantly slower than a full-fat AD104 chip, but this configuration will ensure that the vast majority of processors that Nvidia has could be qualified for a GeForce RTX 4070. Furthermore, it is likely that the chip will be a good overclocker. 

Nvidia and its partners are expected to start sales of GeForce RTX 4070 graphics cards on April 13, 2023. The prices of these boards remain a mystery for now. 

Asus teamed up with Noctua, yet again, to bring a special brown-and-tan-themed version of the RTX 4080 to market. The 4080  already competes with the best graphics cards, albeit at a high price. We have a sample of the Noctua card in hand and will be reviewing it shortly, though we don't expect a massive difference from the vanilla RTX 4080 Founders Edition in terms of performance — the 4080 ranks fourth in our GPU benchmarks hierarchy in rasterization, and second in ray tracing. Instead, this card is all about aesthetics and, hopefully, relative silence.

While the underlying hardware has undoubtedly changed quite a bit, the new RTX 4080 Noctua OC Edition looks nearly the same as the Asus RTX 3070 Noctua Edition we reviewed last year. Except Asus apparently decided a quad-slot card wasn't quite large enough, so the new RTX 4080 Noctua measures 310 x 145 x 87.5 mm, occupying 4.3 slots worth of case space. It's a good thing most people don't plug in expansion cards other than a GPU these days, as only the bottom slot or two on a typical ATX board would still be accessible with this card installed — though you could try for a PCIe riser solution.

The front of the Asus box is almost as non-descript as the card itself, featuring a large blank area in the top-right. Maybe that's for future product quotes, in which case here's one: This is the biggest, brownest graphics card we've ever reviewed! —Tom's Hardware.

But seriously, you're either going to look at this card and think it's incredibly boring, or you're going to love the minimalist brown-themed aesthetics. Even if the size of the card is anything but "minimal."

As you'd expect, there's virtually no difference in the raw specs for the Asus card compared to the Founders Edition, other than the clock speeds and the resulting TFLOPS. Nvidia's reference clock sits at 2,505 MHz for the RTX 4080, and the Noctua card (in OC mode) pushes that up to 2,625 MHz. In theory that's a 4.8% increase in GPU clocks, but we'll have to see how that plays out in practice.

Nvidia has been quite conservative, as usual, with its rated clock speeds. Across our 15-game test suite, for example, the RTX 4080 Founders Edition averaged between 2,720 MHz to as much as 2,820 MHz. We'll have to see just how high the clocks run with the Asus Noctua card once we get to testing, which should commence shortly. We still don't expect a big difference in graphics performance, though other aspects like noise levels will also be checked.

The two large Noctua NF-A12x25 fans dominate the front of the card, as you'd expect. These are designed for good airflow and low noise levels, and combined with the vapor chamber and large radiator we have every reason to expect good results in the temperature and noise testing results.

Naturally, all of the other aspects of the Nvidia Ada Lovelace architecture are present, including support for DLSS 3. I can say that I've opted to enable DLSS 3 while playing Hogwarts Legacy, just because it allows me to max out all the settings at 4K while still running at more than 60 fps. That's using DLSS Quality mode upscaling as well, so higher upscaling factors could further improve performance (at the cost of some visual fidelity). I'm still not convinced the 50–80 percent higher framerates that result really feel significantly faster, though the game certainly looks smoother.

As you can probably guess, the Asus RTX 4080 Noctua OC Edition doesn't come cheap. Nvidia's baseline price sits at $1,199, and Asus' top models typically carry a hefty premium. The official MSRP for the 4080 Noctua OC sits at $1,649, nearly 40% above the baseline models. And you can find many RTX 4080 cards starting right near MSRP, with this MSI RTX 4080 Ventus 3X OC actually selling for $8 below MSRP.

If the Noctua is too rich for your blood, Asus also offers the RTX 4080 TUF Gaming for $1,199, and Amazon has the RTX 4080 TUF Gaming OC for the same price. The base model RTX 4080 ROG Strix meanwhile goes for $1,459 at Newegg, while the RTX 4080 ROG Strix OC costs $1,474 at Amazon. Finally, there's the 4080 ROG Strix White for $1,599 at B&H. The Strix OC cards do have a higher 2,655 MHz boost clock compared to the Noctua version, though that last 30 MHz isn't likely to matter much.

Again, this is a big card, easily dwarfing the RTX 4080 Founders Edition. The RTX 4080 Noctua cards have been announced and should go on sale today, though these are likely to be limited runs and thus relatively rare. Looking at eBay for example, over the past 90 days only five RTX 3070 Noctua cards have been sold, compared to 182 RTX 3070 Strix cards. That doesn't inherently mean Asus manufactures over 35 times as many Strix cards as Noctua cards for the 3070, but it certainly implies finding the Noctua cards will be more difficult.

Gigabyte has seemingly revealed the memory configurations for Nvidia's upcoming GeForce RTX 4060 and GeForce RTX 4070 graphics cards via its Gigabyte Control Center software. There aren't any surprises, as the Ada Lovelace-based add-in-boards will carry 8GB and 12GB of memory, respectively, according to VideoCardz.

Version 23.03.02.01 Gigabyte's Control Center app adds support for the Gigabyte RTX 4070 Aero OC 12GB (GV-N4070AERO OC-12G) and the Gigabyte RTX 4060 Gaming OC 8GB (GV-N4060GAMING OC-8GD) products, revealing their memory capacities. The memory type (GDDR6X or GDDR6) isn't confirmed yet, though rumors pin the 4070 with GDDR6X and the 4060 with regular GDDR6.

We were already pretty sure that Nvidia's GeForce RTX 4070 would have the same 192-bit 12GB GDDR6X memory subsystem as the GeForce RTX 4070 Ti, since the two products are based on the same AD104 GPU. The key difference seems to be using fewer active CUDA cores on the 4070. Will the GeForce RTX 4070 end up in our list of the best graphics cards? We'll have to wait and see. Here are the tentative specs.

In many ways, 8GB of GDDR6 memory on Nvidia's GeForce RTX 4060 can be considered as a downgrade from the GeForce RTX 3060, which carries 12GB of GDDR6 memory. Nvidia's AD107 and AD106 graphics processors that power the company's GeForce RTX 4060 and RTX 4060 Ti products only feature a 128-bit memory interface (according to unofficial information), so it would only be possible to use these these GPUs with 8GB or 16GB of memory — and the latter option may not be exactly feasible for cost reasons, as it would require using memory on both sides of the PCB in "clamshell" mode (similar to the RTX 3090).

Nvidia is expected to launch its GeForce RTX 4070 with 12GB of memory on April 13, 2023. The product will be positioned below the GeForce RTX 4070 Ti that has been on the market for a couple of months now, but it is unclear how much Nvidia plans to charge for its vanilla GeForce RTX 4070. Given the specs, performance will be quite a bit lower than the 4070 Ti, suggesting the price would need to be under $650 to make much sense, and even that would likely be too high.

Plans for the RTX 4060 and 4060 Ti are even less clear. Last week we saw images of an alleged GeForce RTX 4060 Founders Edition board, which may be considered as a confirmation that Nvidia is working on this product. Yet, it remains to be seen when the GeForce RTX 4060 will hit the shelves and at what price. With the outgoing 3060 and 3060 Ti sitting at $329 and $399, respectively, we imagine $499 would be about the highest price most potential buyers would be willing to consider.

Reputable hardware leaker @KittyYYuko has published pictures of an alleged Nvidia's GeForce RTX 4060 Founders Edition graphics card. The Ada Lovelace-based add-in-board uses a cooling system akin to that used by other Founders Edition products, so while it may be rather quiet, it is not small enough to fit into a compact desktop.

The alleged GeForce RTX 4060 Founders Edition graphics card depicted by @KittyYYuko indeed carries the 'RTX 4060' marking on its double-wide cooling, unlike Nvidia's GeForce RTX 3060 Founders Edition and RTX 3060 Ti Founders Edition graphics boards that come with plain coolers without any markings. Curiously, the blogger asserts that the board is 'maybe, RTX 4060 Ti.' 

While Nvidia's GeForce RTX 4060 and RTX 4060 Ti have similar model numbers, they are likely to be very different internally. The GeForce RTX 4060 is reportedly based on the AD107 GPU with 3,072 CUDA cores and a 128-bit GDDR6 memory subsystem, whereas the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti carries the AD106 GPU with 4,352 CUDA cores (41% more) and a 128-bit GDDR6 memory subsystem. If priced right and they test well, both boards could end up in our list of the best graphics cards.

* : Rumored specs, not confirmed by Nvidia

The GeForce RTX 4060 Ti version is naturally projected to offer considerably higher performance than the vanilla GeForce RTX 4060. It will also be surprising if Nvidia releases a GeForce RTX 4060 Founders Edition but not a GeForce RTX 4060 Ti Founders Edition.

Yet Nvidia's strategy concerning Ada Lovelace-based Founders Edition boards looks different than the company's approach to Ampere-powered Founders Edition graphics cards. @KittyYYuko also published images of an Nvidia's RTX 4070 Ti Founders Edition, which hasn't been released by Team Green.  

When Nvidia rolled out its GeForce RTX 4080 and RTX 4090 graphics cards in October, the company said that it would not release a Founders Edition of its RTX 4080 12GB board, which was eventually rebranded as the GeForce RTX 4070 Ti. The lack of a 4070 Ti FE always felt a bit odd, considering we've had FE models of the GTX 1060 6GB and above, RTX 2060 and above, and RTX 3060 Ti and above.

The Founders Edition boards are aimed not only at end users, but also at PC makers, so not making an RTX 4070 Ti Founders Edition for $799 is a little bit odd since this product would be a bigger seller for PC makers than the considerably more expensive GeForce RTX 4080 Founders Edition that costs $1,199. Developing a product and not releasing it is nothing new in this industry, but canceling (or at least delaying) the RTX 4070 Ti Founders Edition is still strange, if it's true.

Considering the fact that these images of Nvidia's alleged RTX 4060 Founders Edition and RTX 4070 Ti Founders Edition AIBs come from an unofficial source, sprinkle liberally with salt. But you know what they say about smoke and fire, and it's possible that the pictures show products that are indeed incoming.

Nvidia plans to formally introduce its GeForce RTX 4070 on Monday, April, 13, according to hardware leaker @hongxing2020 who has a reputation of revealing accurate launch dates of Nvidia's upcoming hardware. Nvidia's GeForce RTX 4070 is set to be cheaper than the GeForce RTX 4070 Ti and will therefore make the company's Ada Lovelace architecture more accessible to gamers. 

Nvidia's vanilla GeForce RTX 4070 is set to be based on same AD104 graphics processor as the GeForce RTX 4070 Ti launched earlier this year. But while the latter uses a full-fat version of the GPU with all 7680 CUDA cores enabled, the non-Ti GeForce RTX 4070 will reportedly come with a severely cut down processor featuring 5888 CUDA cores and operating at 1920 MHz – 2475 MHz, but will still feature a 12GB GDDR6X memory subsystem with a 192-bit interface.  

Even with a severely cut down AD104 GPU, the GeForce RTX 4070 should feature compute performance of around 29 FP32 TFLOPS, which is more or less in line with that of GeForce RTX 3080. Meanwhile, the latter has a 320-bit memory bus and boasts with a peak bandwidth of 760 GB/s, which is significantly higher than 504 GB/s offered by AD104 with 21 GT/s GDDR6X memory. 

While a 29 FP32 TFLOPS compute performance would make the GeForce RTX 4070 one of the best graphics cards available, it remains to be seen how it performs against the company's previous-generation GeForce RTX 3080 in workloads where memory bandwidth matters (e.g., high resolutions with antialiasing). 

Severely cut down GPU configuration will ensure high availability of qualified AD104 GPUs, which will enable Nvidia and its partners to price the GeForce RTX 4070 part aggressively. Given that the model RTX 4070 will sit below the RTX 4070 Ti that carries a $799 MSRP, it is guaranteed that the newcomer will be cheaper, but we do not know how much cheaper it is going to be. 

Anyway, since information about the launch date and hardware configuration of the GeForce RTX 4070 comes from unofficial sources, take it with a grain of salt.

Nvidia has quietly started using a new version of its AD102 graphics processing unit for its GeForce RTX 4090 Founders Edition graphics cards, according to a Reddit post (via VideoCardz). The new version is marked as the AD102-301, and it is believed that it will have a minor impact on the bill-of-materials costs of the graphics boards, though the information is unofficial.

"I received one of the new batches of the [GeForce RTX 4090] Founders Edition Cards and discovered it is a new production GPU die AD102-301-A1," wrote cavitysearch123 in a Reddit post. "[The] board also has a new designation 16F4. There is no news about this, only [GeForce RTX] 4080-series receiving a new [AD103-301] revision."

One of the reasons why the Reddit user started to research which GPU version and revision they have is because the AD102-301 comes with a limited maximum voltage of 1.070V, whereas the AD102-300 supports a maximum voltage of 1.1V. While the difference does not seem to be significant from a regular user point of view, it is important from overclocking perspective. Yet, the user managed to push his GPU all the way to 3 GHz with liquid cooling, which makes the GeForce RTX 4090 — which is the best graphics card available today — even faster.

"I can get 3015mhz stable at 1.070V, but having the extra headroom is always welcome for stability," the user said. "Although I am not sure in the stock configuration, this is under a waterblock. I would guess worse performance [with stock cooling] since temperatures would be higher."

Since the printed circuit board of this AD102-301-based GeForce RTX 4090 FE card has a different ID than a PCB of an AD102-300-powered RTX 4090 FE product, it is impossible to flash it with the original firmware with higher maximum voltage.

Earlier this year Nvidia quietly started to use AD103-301 and AD104-251 chips in graphics processors for GeForce RTX 4080 and GeForce RTX 4070 add-in-boards, respectively. As reported, these GPUs integrate a comparator that ensures that fans rotate at the right speed by comparing the fans' PWM signal with actual values. Previous configurations — AD103-300 and AD104-250 — had their comparator circuit disabled and this required makers of actual graphics cards to add a comparator circuit to their cards.

The difference between the AD102-300 and AD102-301 is unknown, but if the latter integrates the aforementioned circuitry, this will have an impact on GeForce RTX 4090 BOM cost. Meanwhile, keeping in mind that Nvidia's GeForce RTX 4090 Founders Edition starts at $1,599, a slightly lower BOM would hardly have any impact on its retail price. Yet, if the change between the AD102-300 and AD102-301 is not a working comparator but rather something else, then we could only guess how this impacts the performance or costs of GeForce RTX 4090 boards.

Nvidia's latest driver, version 531.18, appears to have a bug that causes high CPU usage after exiting games. However, the company admits that the problem exists, so expect Nvidia to issue a hotfix or a new driver version that fixes the annoying bug. 

As it turns out, Nvidia's Display Container Service causes 10% - 15% higher CPU usage after a game is closed, which can be observed in Windows Task Manager. Some Reddit users believe the bug was caused by Nvidia's Game Session Telemetry Plugin version 531.18 (NvGSTPlugin.dll).  

It should be noted that not all systems are affected by the bug. For example, our colleague Andreas Schilling tried to replicate the issue but failed. 

"I tried to recreate the issue on two systems with the latest 531.18 drivers and was not able to get the NVIDIA container task going crazy like this," he wrote in a Twitter post. 

Some Reddit users suggest blocking/removing NvGSTPlugin.dll to fix the problem manually, but it is unclear what side effects this remedy may cause, so this solution can hardly be recommended. Therefore, the easiest fix is to use the previous 528.49 WHQL driver that may not support some of the latest games, but at least it works without significant problems. 

While Nvidia formally admits the problem, the company didn't reveal when it plans to release a hotfix or a new version without this bug. Meanwhile, given that the bug is rather annoying, it is likely that Nvidia is inclined to release a hotfix sooner rather than later, so perhaps it makes sense to wait a little bit before rolling back to a previous version of Nvidia's driver.

Nvidia's GeForce RTX 40-series (Ada Lovelace) GPUs are among the best graphics cards, and it looks like they're finally getting some love from gamers on Steam. The latest Steam Hardware Survey confirms that the GeForce RTX 4080 and GeForce RTX 4070 Ti are starting to climb the ranks, albeit slowly.

The GeForce RTX 4070 Ti has shown the most significant growth out of the three Ada Lovelace graphics cards. The graphics card currently sits in the 77th position and improves its participation on the Steam Hardware Survey by 0.14%. The GeForce RTX 4080 occupies the 74th spot, but its popularity has only grown by 0.07%. Meanwhile, the GeForce RTX 4090, which debuted on the Steam hardware charts last month, has now settled in 53rd place on the ranking. That card's share increased by 0.08% over the month.

The GeForce RTX 40-series graphics cards are admittedly far from breaking into the top ten most popular models. However, the big takeaway is that Ada is on the main page now. The GeForce RTX 4080 and GeForce RTX 4070 Ti were previously on the API page.

At the same time, things haven't changed much at the top. The four-year-old GeForce GTX 1650 (Turing) is still the most prevalent graphics card for Steam gamers. The Turing-based graphics card recently dethroned the GeForce GTX 1060 (Pascal), which had been the reigning champ for quite a while now. Nvidia's GeForce RTX 30-series (Ampere) graphics cards have also gained significant traction. The GeForce RTX 3060 was the star of the survey, exhibiting a 0.72% improvement. The GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile also increased by 0.32%.

DirectX 12 Systems (Windows 10/11 With DX12 GPU)

On the other hand, AMD doesn't have any representation in the top ten. The best performer seems to be what Steam labels as "AMD Radeon Graphics," which probably groups up all the different AMD iGPUs that didn't qualify elsewhere. Unfortunately, it has stagnated and only showed a -0.09% variation over the month. The Radeon RX 580 (Polaris), which came out in 2017, is the only long-standing AMD graphics card on the Steam Hardware Survey. The aging performer is down at the 23rd position with a 1.2% share.

AMD's last-generation Radeon RX 6000-series (RDNA 2) products revealed modest gains. The Radeon RX 6600 XT and Radeon RX 6600 improved their shares by 0.01%. Although the Arc A770 and Arc A750 have been out for some time, Intel has yet to appear on the graphics card ranking on Steam. As a result, we suspect that Intel Arc likely has less than 0.01% participation. The same goes for AMD's latest Radeon RX 7900-series (RDNA 3) graphics cards, which arrived after Nvidia's Ada-powered offerings.

The 1080p (1920x1080) resolution (64.6%) remains the prevailing choice. However, Steam gamers are starting to get into higher resolutions. Steam's statistics show that the 1440p (2450x1440) resolution grew 1.27% over February.

Regarding processor trends, 67.17% (up 0.04%) of Steam users own Intel processors, whereas 32.8% use AMD chips. Hexa-core processors (33.42%) are the leading configuration among Steam gamers. As for operating systems, gamers continue to favor Windows 10 (62.33%), but Windows 11 (32.06%) adoption is gradually improving. Keep in mind, however, that not all Steam gamers participate in the survey.

It's a pity that the Radeon Pro W6800X Duo didn't make it outside Apple's ecosystem. Given its latest performance show, the dual Navi 21-based offering from AMD would rival the best graphics cards on the market.

The Radeon Pro W6800X Duo features not one but two Navi 21 (Sienna Cichlid) dies. They communicate with each other via AMD's Infinity Fabric interconnect. Unfortunately, AMD didn't let the Radeon Pro W6800X Duo leverage the full Navi 21 silicon. Instead, the chipmaker disabled 20 CUs (compute units) from each Navi 21, leaving the Radeon Pro W6800X Duo with just 60 CUs or 3,840 SPs (stream processors). Each Navi 21 dies also arrives with 32GB of 16 Gbps GDDR6 memory across a 256-bit memory interface and 128MB of Infinity Cache.

AMD produced the Radeon Pro W6800X Duo specifically for the Mac Pro; therefore, the graphics card adopts Apple's proprietary MPX (Mac Pro eXpansion) form factor. The expansion module has no external power connectors, so Apple combines a standard PCIe x16 connector and a custom connector for added power delivery. The Radeon Pro W6800X Duo has a 400W, so a single PCIe x16 expansion slot isn't enough to provide the graphics card with enough juice.

Distinguished extreme overclock Roman "der8auer" Hartung got the Radeon Pro W6800X Duo to work on a standard motherboard with some clever modifications. First, he connected the graphics card to the PCIe expansion slot using a regular PCIe x16 riser cable and subsequently soldered two 12V and two ground wires from his  12VHPWR cable to the Apple connector.

Radeon Pro W6800X Duo Benchmarks

Hartung tested the Radeon Pro W6800X Duo on his latest Z790 platform with the Core i9-13900K and 32GB (2x16GB) of DDR5-6000 C30 memory. He specifically used 3DMark's Time Spy Extreme GT1 benchmark for comparison. Surprisingly, the regular Adrenalin drivers refused to install, implying that the Radeon Pro W6800X Duo isn't intended to work on a non-Apple device. However, Hartung found success with the Apple Boot Camp driver.

The Radeon Pro W6800X Duo delivered 4% higher performance than the Asus Strix GeForce RTX 4080. The RDNA 2 graphics card also outperformed AMD's latest Radeon RX 7900 XTX by 8%. Only the GeForce RTX 4090 could beat the Radeon Pro W6800X Duo. The Ada Lovelace flagship beat the Radeon Pro W6800X Duo by a significant 27% margin.

Radeon Pro W6800X Duo is a graphics card for professional users, but it's always cool to see how the hardware performs in gaming. Apple sells the Radeon Pro W6800X Duo MPX Module for $5,000, so it's not a toy that everyone can acquire to play with. Although Hartung paid slightly less for his Radeon Pro W6800X Duo, kudos to him for buying one to show us how it fares against modern graphics cards, even if it's just a generic gaming benchmark.

Gigabyte now lists as many as six different GeForce RTX 4070 graphics cards models with various memory configurations on its Thai-language website, according to VideoCardz. Nvidia is rumored to formally announce its GeForce RTX 4070 in April, so Gigabyte's listings may be placeholders or even typos since actual specifications of the product may not be finalized. 

A Gigabyte game bundle giveaway in Thai language now reportedly lists GeForce RTX 4070 with 10GB, 12GB, and 16GB of GDDR6X memory, including GeForce RTX 4070 Aorus Master 12GB, GeForce RTX 4070 Eagle OC 12GB, GeForce RTX 4070 Gaming OC 10GB, GeForce RTX 4070 Gaming OC 12GB, and GeForce RTX 4070 Gaming OC 16GB. We logged into the Gigabyte Thai website, but couldn't find this giveaway, but presumably it exists as a user shared it with the staff at VideoCardz.

Nvidia's vanilla GeForce RTX 4070 is expected to be based on the AD104 graphics processor with 5888 CUDA cores operating at 1920 MHz – 2475 MHz as well as a 192-bit memory bus. Given that the board has to use 16Gb (2GB) GDDR6X memory chips, the only configurations possible on a 192-bit memory interface are 12GB (using six ICs) and 24GB (using 12 ICs). 

For 10GB, an AD104-based product would have to go down to a 160-bit memory interface, which is possible, but which will lower memory bandwidth. Meanwhile, the AD104 physically does not have a 256-bit memory interface to support a 16GB configuration without using an extravagant memory organization. 

For now, it looks like Gigabyte listed different versions of GeForce RTX 4070 because Nvidia either considers or considered various configurations of GeForce RTX 4070 product, including a 10GB and a 12GB verson. Meanwhile, it is impossible for an AD104-based product to support 16GB of memory with its 192-bit memory interface without using a fancy memory organization and possibly repeating the GeForce RTX 970 4GB fiasco, at least based on what we know about the AD104. 

While all of GeForce RTX 4070 boards with different memory configs might join the ranks of some of the best graphics cards available, it looks like only 12GB version will make it to the market. Still, we will have to wait until later this year (possibly April) to find out.

Nvidia has notified its partners about its plans to launch its GeForce RTX 4070 graphics card in April, reports VideoCardz. The company has not set any exact dates. The only thing that is known is that it wants its performance mainstream product based on the Ada Lovelace microarchitecture to hit the market this April.

Just like the GeForce RTX 4070 Ti, the vanilla GeForce RTX 4070 is expected to be based on the AD104 graphics processor and carry 12GB of GDDR6X memory onboard. Meanwhile, Nvidia is expected to severely cut down the GPU and leave it with 5888 CUDA cores, operating at 1920 MHz – 2475 MHz. 

As a result, the RTX 4070 will reportedly feature peak FP32 compute performance of up to 29 TFLOPS, down from 40 TFLOPS in the GeForce RTX 4070 Ti. Lower compute performance also means lower power consumption, and with a 200W total board power, the card will not require a very sophisticated and expensive cooling system. In any case, the GeForce RTX 4070 should be making a play for a spot on our best graphics cards list later this Spring. 

By reducing the number of active stream processors by almost 2000 units compared to the GeForce RTX 4070 Ti, Nvidia guarantees that yields of the vanilla GeForce RTX 4070 will be close to 100%. Assuming that the green company ordered enough AD104, it should be able to fulfill demand for its performance mainstream offering easily.

While Nvidia is aiming to put the vanilla GeForce RTX 4070 on store shelves in April, it's unclear whether that will be early or late in the month. Perhaps, the company is now evaluating how much GeForce RTX 30-series inventory its partners have left,  and will set the exact launch date accordingly.

What also remains to be seen is how much the company plans to charge for its GeForce RTX 4070. It's obvious that its MSRP will be lower than $799 — but just how much lower that is will be key to its appeal.