RTX 50 Series GPU Rumors: High-End Features Trickling Down
The rumor mill is turning fast regarding NVIDIA's next RTX 50 series GPUs. Rumors suggest some fairly major changes, especially lower down the product stack. NVIDIA is possibly bringing high-end features to lower-end cards. Let's dive into the latest rumors.
RTX 5060 & RTX 5050 Laptops: GDDR7 Memory Across the Board
A Moroccan retailer seems to have revealed details about future ASUS TUF Gaming F16 laptops. Listings suggest that even the budget-friendly RTX 5060 and RTX 5050 laptop GPUs will sport 8GB of GDDR7 memory.
This is surprising. Previous rumors indicated the RTX 5050 would stick with GDDR6. GDDR7 is faster. If true, this would be a major win for affordable RTX 50 series mobile chips. Imagine the extra memory bandwidth in a more affordable gaming notebook.
The ASUS listings also feature 14th-gen Intel Core i7 processors. Pre-orders are available for these laptops. Prices are around $2066 for the RTX 5050 model and $2231 for the RTX 5060 model (VAT included). Retailer prices can differ.
Wait, a 24GB RTX 5080? MSI Listing Sparks Eyebrows
There is more to the memory situation. On the MSI website, in a list of supported cards for their X870 Tomahawk Wi-Fi motherboard, observers noted something interesting. An "RTX 5080 24 GB" was listed alongside other RTX 50 series cards like the RTX 5090 and RTX 5070 Ti.
NVIDIA typically dictates memory configurations for board partners. Discovering a 24GB RTX 5080 from MSI is unexpected. The standard RTX 5080 should be 16GB of VRAM. Is MSI releasing a special edition? Or is this a typo on the compatibility list?
A 24GB RTX 5080 might be feasible using 3GB GDDR7 memory modules instead of the more widespread 2GB modules. 24GB is likely excessive for flat-out gaming currently. However, it could assist with professional applications and future-proofing.
What Does This All Mean
It is still early. These are leaks and listings. They paint a potentially exciting picture for the RTX 50 series. GDDR7 memory reaching lower-end laptop GPUs would be good news for consumers. Then there is the rumored 24GB RTX 5080. It raises the question of whether NVIDIA will offer more memory configurations across the range, or if MSI is doing something special.
Confirmation statements are needed to be certain. Currently, the rumor mill is generating significant noise about NVIDIA's next-generation graphics cards.
