In response to a Tweet by @Zed__Wang, Nvidia has resurrected the RTX 3080 12GB SKU, in an effort to filter extra GA102 dies from its overstocked stock. This can be a very abrupt change by Nvidia for the reason that 3080 12GB was reportedly dropped from manufacturing traces simply two months in the past. However, we won’t blame Nvidia with the “oversupply” disaster happening proper now surrounding high-end GPUs.
For these unfamiliar with Nvidia’s “stealthy” 3080 mannequin, the 12GB was quietly launched earlier this yr in January on the sole request of AIB companions. We do not have an official rationalization for why it was created, however the 3080 12 GB’s specs counsel this mannequin was designed to make use of up uniquely faulty GA102 dies which had all 12 reminiscence controllers working, however had been unusable for 3080 Ti’s and 3090s. This GPU mannequin was launched on the top of the GPU disaster, so it makes that AIB companions would have requested for this mannequin particularly.
The RTX 3080 12GB’s full specs function the totally unlocked reminiscence system from the 3080 Ti, together with a 384-bit-wide bus, and 12GB of VRAM for a complete of 912GBps of reminiscence throughput. However SM counts took an enormous hit from 80 to 70, leading to a CUDA core depend discount of 1,280, to 8960. However in comparison with the 10GB mannequin, this can be a core depend improve with 256 extra cores.Â
Satirically, the buffed-up reminiscence system makes the 3080 12GB a gaming beast, with the cardboard truly outranking the 3080 Ti on our GPU benchmarks hierarchy. Contemplating that the RTX 3080 12GB might be fairly a bit cheaper than the 3080 Ti, this can be a nice worth.
Now that Nvidia is coping with oversupply points, it is smart Nvidia would resurrect the 3080 12GB to extra effectively distribute its overabundance of GA102 dies. As soon as this GPU turns into extra broadly accessible, Nvidia can worth lower the 3080 10GB extra aggressively, whereas preserving the 12GB mannequin at the next worth. This technique ought to permit Nvidia to promote extra playing cards and make increased income concurrently.
We additionally suspect the 3080 12GB will likely be bought at its lowest worth ever since its launch in January. Even earlier than the cardboard provide dried up two months in the past, you can snag a 3080 12GB for simply $729 on a brief low cost. We would not be stunned if Nvidia priced the 3080 12GB round this worth, and even decrease on a great sale.
