NVIDIA Shifts Strategy: RTX 5080 to Launch Before Flagship RTX 5090

Contrary to initial rumors that NVIDIA was set to launch its new GeForce RTX 50 "Blackwell" series starting with the flagship RTX 5090, recent updates from insider Kopite7kimi indicate a strategic shift. It is now expected that the RTX 5080 will hit the market first, followed by the RTX 5090. This marks a change from NVIDIA's previous approach where the "Ada Lovelace" RTX 40 series began with the RTX 4090.

The rumors that only the RTX 5090 would be released this year have proven unfounded. Preliminary specs suggest that the RTX 5090 will utilize the GB202 GPU with up to 192 SM units and a 512-bit interface, while the RTX 5080 will feature the GB203 GPU with about 92 SM units and a 256-bit interface. Both models are expected to support the latest GDDR7 memory standard.

While official announcements at Computex 2024 are not anticipated, the first teasers of the new models could emerge by the end of Q3. This strategic pivot by NVIDIA highlights its flexibility in managing market expectations and adapting to consumer demand shifts.