Nvidia has decided to cancel the 12GB RTX 4080, which was set to be released in November, in a surprising but somewhat welcome move. Or, more accurately, they're "unlaunching" it. It turns out that having two graphics cards with the same name but different specifications can be perplexing.
There has also been some criticism levelled at the RTX 4080 12GB, but this is not mentioned in the official announcement. However, you'd think it'd been heard.
The following is the full text of the brief article posted on the GeForce Blog:
The RTX 4080 12GB is an excellent graphics card, but its name is incorrect. It's perplexing to have two GPUs with the 4080 designation.
So, on the 4080 12GB, we press the "unlaunch" button. The RTX 4080 16GB is incredible and is set to delight gamers worldwide on November 16th.
If the lines around the block and enthusiasm for the 4090 are any indication, the 4080 will be well received.
There are a few things to consider here. One is that Nvidia has listened to its fans, the press, and the notion that the RTX 4080 12GB is more akin to an RTX 4070 than the full-fat, 16GB RTX 4080. That alone is perplexing. It's not like buying a phone with a different storage capacity. However, it does not state that it has been cancelled. The good news is that the 'true' RTX 4080 will still be available next month, on November 16. And if the RTX 4090's generation-over-generation gains are any indication, it's going to be fantastic.
The RTX 4090 launch appears to have gone well as well. The online sales we saw were quickly depleted, but seeing people line up for a hot new piece of technology still warms the old nerd heart. Who knows what will happen with the 12GB RTX 4080 now. Perhaps it will reappear in 2023 as the RTX 4070 that everyone expected it to be.
Source: Nvidia