NVIDIA Unlaunches RTX 4080 12GB & DF Direct Weekly 82

The Unlaunching of the RTX 4080 12GB

In an unprecedented move for a hardware manufacturer, NVIDIA has officially "unlaunched" the controversial RTX 4080 12GB. The company acknowledged that having two distinct graphics cards under the 4080 model name caused significant market confusion.

The Future of the Discontinued Card

• The panel suggests the card will likely persist under a different name, such as the RTX 4070 or RTX 4070 Ti.
• There is speculation regarding necessary price adjustments to better compete with existing Ampere stock and the value proposition of the 3080.
• The group notes that the RTX 3080 at $699 remains a formidable competitor, making the initial $899 price point for the 12GB card difficult to justify.

"I don't think I've ever seen a U-turn from a graphics manufacturer quite this big, certainly not in the last decade."

The RTX 4090 Launch & DLSS 3

Following the breaking news, the team discusses the original topic: the launch of the RTX 4090 and the emergence of DLSS 3.

Performance and Market Position

• The RTX 4090 provides massive gains in both rasterized performance and Ray Tracing.
• The team debates the utility of DLSS 3 (Frame Generation); while it presents a compelling smoother experience, it remains a "double-edged sword" due to potential input latency and the need for higher refresh-rate displays.
• Discussions touch on the importance of input latency baselines, highlighting that different game engines behave differently under stress, even at identical frame rates.

Industry Developments

• Spider-Man Miles Morales: Nixxes is adding Ray Traced shadows, a move praised by the team as an example of leveraging high-end PC hardware effectively.
• NES Prototypes: Discussion on lost NES prototypes appearing at auction, emphasizing the importance of digital preservation.