The RTX 4080 is still a 12GB version, according to Nvidia''s GeForce GPU rollout. The card would have dropped below the RTX 4080 16GB and the RTX 4090, thus canceling it. The 16GB version will still be released as expected on November 16th.
"The RTX 4080 12GB is a fantastic graphics card, but it is not named right," according to Nvidias statement. "Having two GPUs with the 4080 designation is difficult. So, were you pressing the "unlaunch" button on the 4080 12GB?"
The RTX 4080 12GB model, which was slightly higher than the original, would have less bandwidth, despite the fact that the 12GB models VRAM would be smaller than the one from the previous Ampere generation. All that, for a much higher starting price of 949 / $899, and confusing naming would be the least of Nvidias problems.
Cancelling the launch outright remains a relatively straightforward process, particularly with the release day only one month away. If you think this would cause significant damage to Nvidia board partners, who will have paid for the right to purchase their own RTX 4080 12GB cards, then youe almost certainly right. Nvidia is also, according to sources, to make money by replacing the now-useless packaging that previously RTX 4080 12GB partner cards.
This indicates that the current RTX 4080 12GB stock will be rebranded as a different RTX 40 series product rather than being buried in the desert next to Ataris 700,000 E.T. cartridges. Logic would suggest it would sell for a less expensive price, although no new name or release date has been established (beyond Nvidia comping the new boxes). Hopefully the new RTX 4090 has already demonstrated that you can have the best graphics card in the world on
