The GeForce RTX 4090, the RTX 3080 16GB, and RTX 3080 12GB. These three new GPUs have been the crown jewels of Nvidia’s practically two-hour keynote.

These graphics playing cards will undoubtedly be the strongest GPUs anybody will be capable of purchase, particularly the flagship RTX 4090. But individuals are not completely happy about these bulletins.

The drawback? Well, they’re additionally a number of the costliest GPUs ever made. The RTX 4090 is available in at $1,599, the RTX 4080 16GB is $1,199, and the RTX 4080 12GB is $899. Out of context, sure, these are some eye-watering costs. Thinking about how costly high-end GPUs have develop into over the previous couple of years is unimaginable.

Then once more, the RTX 3090 Ti had it beat simply earlier this 12 months, with its retail value of $1,999. The RTX 4090 is alleged to be two to 4 occasions quicker, so what’s the deal? A full $400 cheaper for extra efficiency seems like a stable deal on the floor. Is everybody simply complaining for the sake of complaining?

Well, not so quick. As the parents over within the {hardware} subreddit have been stating, Nvidia is being very cautious with the way it plans its lineup. If you evaluate the RTX 4090 to last-gen’s RTX 3090, you’re seeing a $100 uptick in value. Not nice for an already ungodly value, however nothing too stunning. The two RTX 4080 fashions are the place issues get furry.

There have been two fashions of the RTX 3080, a 10GB mannequin and a 12GB mannequin, priced at $699 and $799, respectively. That means the brand new RTX 4080 GPUs are a $400 value hike for the highest mannequin and $200 on the cheaper one. That means the RTX 4080 16GB truly matches the RTX 3080 Ti in value. The RTX 4080 has extra reminiscence, sure, nevertheless it’s apparent what Nvidia is doing right here.

In the previous, the 80-series GPUs have at all times represented a flagship mannequin, however are pretty attainable for a PC gamer. Clearly, these days are lengthy gone, regardless of what potential consumers will see.

But wait — it will get even worse when you think about what’s taking place with the RTX 4080 12GB. Despite being known as an “RTX 4080,” it’s a serious step down from the 16GB mannequin. You’d suppose the reminiscence was the one distinction between the 2, however no — the 16GB additionally has 21% extra CUDA cores, larger energy draw, and a 256-bit bus width. It’s a big step down when it comes to specs, feeling extra like the place the RTX 4070 needs to be within the lineup.

All of this comes on the heels of EVGA, one of many largest third-party producers within the sport, saying its choice to drag out of the GPU market fully, citing Nvidia’s poor practices as the explanation why. As one commenter on Reddit notes, the best way Nvidia handles pricing was one of many important causes EVGA known as it quits. In different phrases, it needs to be nearer to $499, not $699.

You’d suppose all this is able to put Nvidia in a tricky spot, however the firm is aware of precisely what it’s doing. It has a stockpile of 30-series graphics playing cards that it’s going to proceed to wish to promote. And except AMD can handle to place some critical stress on Nvidia with its new RX 7000 graphics playing cards coming quickly, Nvidia will proceed to squeeze the GPU market for all its value.

Editors’ Recommendations