For a while now, there have been online speculations about a new RTX 4070 variant being released. As per the reports, this variant will have a slower GDDR6 memory due to the supply shortage caused by quality issues in a GDDR6X batch.
Following the shortage, it was said that Nvidia will be launching an RTX 4070 with the slower GDDR6 memory. Now, it seems like Gigabyte might be one of the first manufacturers to release this new variant with the downgraded memory configuration.
According to a recent report by VideoCardz, Gigabyte has plans to launch two new RTX 4070 models with GDDR6 memory. The two upcoming models are Windforce 2X V2 OC with a dual-fan design, and Windforce V2 OC, which sports a triple fan design.
As far as specs are concerned, they will remain the same as the original - 5888 CUDA cores, 12GB VRAM, and 200W TDP. However, we’d expect the performance to be slightly different, considering that the memory has been downgraded.
So far, Gigabyte does not seem to have revealed the exact price of these graphics cards, but it is mentioned that they would be budget-friendly. Further, the release date has also not been revealed, but we can expect it to be soon.
In any case, the original RTX 4070 will not be pulled off the shelves or discontinued. Users will still be able to buy those, like the Asus Dual GeForce RTX 4070 Evo OC Edition (curr. $549 on Amazon). However, the supply of the original cards will be lower and the new GDDR6 variants will be more.
Nvidia's RTX 4070 GDDR6: The Same Performance, But Slower Memory
Nvidia has finally pulled the wraps off the industry's worst-kept secret, a "new" RTX 4070 with GDDR6 memory. The previous version came with GDDR6X memory, but due to a shortage, Nvidia has swapped it out for slightly slower memory, although it says performance will be "similar." Everything else about the GPU is the same, including its $549 price tag. Nvidia launched the 4070 at $599, then lowered the price when the Super version debuted at $599.
Nvidia tucked the announcement of the revamped RTX 4070 into a blog post about new products it was revealing at Gamescom in Germany. The company says it decided to swap out the memory for the more plentiful GDDR6 to "improve supply" and "meet strong demand." The original card included 21Gb/s GDDR6X memory, whereas the updated version backs that down to 20Gb/s GDDR6, which admittedly is a very small change. According to Videocardz, the change will reduce available memory bandwidth from 504GB/s to 480GB/s.
Nvidia says the two versions offer the same specs besides the memory and that the new card will offer equivalent performance in games and applications. The revised GPU will be available from Nvidia's partners starting in September, and it'll be interesting to see if there is any way for consumers to know which version they are buying before they pull the trigger. We doubt it would matter to most people since we expect performance similar to the previous version. Hopefully, discerning gamers will be given a heads-up prior to purchase.
The Impact of GDDR6 on Performance
While the memory downgrade might sound concerning, Nvidia insists that the performance impact will be minimal. The new RTX 4070 with GDDR6 memory is expected to deliver "similar performance" in games and applications compared to the GDDR6X version. This is likely due to the fact that the RTX 4070's performance is more heavily reliant on its GPU cores rather than its memory bandwidth. The larger L2 cache also helps compensate for the slightly slower memory.
The Future of the RTX 40 Series
For now, this will likely be the swan song for the RTX 40 series. We thought Nvidia was done with the series when it launched the RTX Super cards in January, so this move by the company is somewhat out of left field. However, it seems like demand for these GPUs is still high enough to precipitate this curious maneuver by Nvidia. Given the alleged high demand, the RTX 4070 series has likely become the high-end sweet spot for this generation since both the 4060 and 4080 series were panned since launch.
A Shift in Strategy: Nvidia's Focus on Supply and Availability
Nvidia's decision to release an RTX 4070 variant with GDDR6 memory highlights a significant shift in the company's strategy. Rather than prioritizing cutting-edge technology, Nvidia is now prioritizing meeting strong demand and ensuring ample supply. This move is likely driven by the ongoing global chip shortage and the company's desire to maintain market share. This strategy may involve sacrificing some performance to achieve a wider reach and better accessibility for consumers.
What's Next for Nvidia?
While the RTX 4070 with GDDR6 is an unexpected development, it's a reminder that the graphics card market is constantly evolving. Nvidia's focus on supply and availability suggests that we may see more strategic moves like this in the future. It will be interesting to see how these moves impact the overall performance and pricing of graphics cards in the coming months.
