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The GeForce RTX 5080 is definitely an RTX 5070, or at the very least it should be primarily based on its {hardware} configuration. That is the explanation the RTX 5080 is so underwhelming: it needs to be sitting within the 70 class at a lower cost level, delivering way more spectacular positive aspects era over era. As an alternative, Nvidia has grow to be grasping, and that is what we shall be exploring on this article.
The rationale we are able to confidently say the RTX 5080 is definitely an RTX 5070 in all however title is as a result of not so way back we explored the historical past of Nvidia’s GPU configurations, relationship again to the GeForce 700 sequence from 2013 (see our function: Nvidia’s GPU Classes Through the Years).
We regarded on the {hardware} configurations in every class and in contrast them relative to the flagship of the period. This allowed us to create a “typical” Nvidia GPU era – a mean of what we noticed over the past six generations.
Now that we all know for certain what the {hardware} of the RTX 5080 and RTX 5090 is, we are able to slot this into the comparability and see how Nvidia’s newest era is stacking up.
Spoiler alert: it would not stack up nicely in any respect.
Evaluating GPU Core Configurations
For core configuration, the RTX 5090 is an impressively giant GPU with 21,760 CUDA cores, however the RTX 5080 cuts this down to simply 10,752 CUDA cores, and the RTX 5070 is even additional reduce to six,144 CUDA cores. Because of this the RTX 5080 packs simply 49% of the cores seen within the flagship, and the 5070 packs simply 28%.
Nvidia GPUs: Shader (CUDA) Core Depend
Traditionally, that is fairly a weak {hardware} configuration, even for the RTX 5080. Throughout the six prior generations, on common, the 80-class GPU featured 72% of the cores of the flagship. A few of the higher generations, just like the RTX 30 sequence and RTX 3080, this quantity was over 80%. The 40 sequence was one of many weakest showings at 59%, however the RTX 5080 is even worse at simply 49%.
This really places it beneath the relative configuration of each 70-class GPU up to now six generations, excluding the RTX 4070. It is not fairly as reduce down because the RTX 4070, however the common core configuration throughout six years for a 70-class GPU is 54% of the flagship.
With the RTX 5080, it is simply 49%, so you might even make the case it is a 60 Ti-type product. It actually would not look misplaced as a 60 Ti within the 30 sequence, for instance, the place the RTX 3060 Ti had 46% of the core configuration of the RTX 3090. That mentioned, generally, the 5080 would normally match between a 60 Ti and 70-class product.
Evaluating VRAM
Issues do not look a lot better when analyzing reminiscence bandwidth. The RTX 5080 has the largest discount in reminiscence bandwidth relative to the flagship that we have seen within the 80-class.
With the 5090 packing 1,792 GB/s of bandwidth, however the 5080 simply 960 GB/s, it has obtained simply 54% of the reminiscence bandwidth. Traditionally, that places it beneath the common from the 70-class, although there are three generations the place the bandwidth discount is much like what we’re seeing from Blackwell.
Nvidia GPUs: Reminiscence Bandwidth (GB/s)
The RTX 5070 can also be shaping as much as be a lower-than-60-class configuration, although once more, there are some generations the place it matches the 60-class.
VRAM capability varies so much between generations, and there have been some funky configurations over time. Nevertheless, once more, the RTX 5080 would not stack up significantly nicely, that includes half the VRAM of the flagship mannequin. That is extra usually what you’d see from a 70-class card, though the 80-class would not all the time obtain considerably extra reminiscence than the 70-class.
The RTX 5070, with 12GB of VRAM, is extra according to a 60-series product, and that aligns with our basic sentiment on the minimal degree of VRAM that is appropriate for a $550 GPU.
Nvidia GPUs: VRAM Capability (GB)
Evaluating GPU Costs
Lastly, we are able to check out pricing. Now, GPUs are getting costlier annually, with the flagship mannequin (beforehand the Titan playing cards, now the 90-class playing cards) rising from $1,000 to $2,000 within the house of 10 years. That has additionally dragged up the pricing of the opposite fashions all through the lineup, however even nonetheless, is a $1,000 RTX 5080 an acceptable worth reduce relative to the flagship?
Nvidia GPUs: Launch MSRP Pricing
That is the one metric the place Blackwell is sitting extra favorably than the common era since 2013. Usually talking, the 80-class card is priced at 60% of the flagship’s worth, whereas the RTX 5080 is 50% of the value.
Now, there are some generations the place this aligns – the ten sequence and 30 sequence, for instance, come to thoughts the place the 1080 and 3080 have been roughly half the value of the Titan X and 3090, respectively. However it’s a little higher than common. Had been the configurations additionally according to expectations from an 80-series card, the 5080 could possibly be priced at $1,200, however sadly, the configuration is nicely beneath regular.
Equally, the RTX 5070 is definitely cheaper than the historic relative common worth of a 70-class GPU. With the flagship now costing $2,000, the 70-class GPU could be extra like $750. However once more, the 5070 being cheaper than common relative pricing is simply good if the configuration is similar because the historic common, which it is not.
Nvidia GPU Configuration Abstract
This abstract of the six-generation common Nvidia GPU configuration exhibits the problem completely. The GeForce RTX 5080 has a configuration that might usually sit round or barely beneath the extent of a 70-class GPU, but the value is extra according to what’s charged for a mannequin between the 70 and 80-class. In impact, this makes the RTX 5080 a barely worse-than-normal 70-class GPU in its {hardware} configuration, for which Nvidia is charging 70 Ti relative cash.
The RTX 5070 has the same downside. Its configuration is worse than a typical 60-class GPU, most likely extra across the mark of a theoretical “50 Ti” mannequin, and Nvidia is charging 15% greater than typical relative 60-class pricing for it.
This mismatch between {hardware} configuration – which drives efficiency – and the value is why most reviewers and many individuals locally really feel Blackwell is a particularly underwhelming era.
Fixing the RTX 5080
Now, there are two methods Nvidia might have mounted this era to make it extra according to the historical past of the GeForce sequence. The primary is to regulate the configurations. For the RTX 5080, this might have required a bigger GPU die that slots between GB202 and GB203. It will require someplace round 47% extra shader cores, so as a substitute of packing 84 SMs, it might want extra like 124 SMs, so 15,872 shader cores.
It will additionally want 43% extra reminiscence bandwidth, and the simplest approach to obtain that might be rising the reminiscence bus from 256-bit to 384-bit. This might additionally permit for a configuration with extra VRAM. In return, this configuration would justify a better worth level of $1,200 to be according to historic pricing traits.
Based mostly on the configuration, this correctly configured RTX 5080 could be roughly equal to an RTX 4090 besides priced $400 cheaper, extra for those who go by avenue pricing for the 4090.
That also would not be a massively compelling generational uplift relative to components just like the RTX 4080 Super – within the vary of 35% quicker for 20% more cash – however a number of that might be as a result of improve in worth for the flagship mannequin, dragging up the remainder of the lineup.
On the identical $1,000 worth level, this legendary RTX 5080 could be fairly compelling, and we suspect that is what most individuals have been hoping for – RTX 4090 efficiency for 4080 pricing.
This might repair one of many largest points with the 5070 as we see it proper now, which is its 12GB VRAM buffer. Growing this mannequin to be extra according to the 5080 would see the cardboard geared up with at the very least 16GB of VRAM.
For the RTX 5070, the configuration would wish to considerably improve to justify 70-class branding primarily based on historic traits. The 5070 would really want a barely bigger configuration than the present RTX 5080, although once more, the value might additionally improve to match traits.
The second, less complicated strategy to fixing the configuration situation is decreasing the value for the prevailing fashions and doubtlessly renaming them as nicely. However let’s simply go along with decreasing the value to make issues easy.
$700 or $800 RTX 5080, Anybody?
Based mostly on the {hardware} configuration of the RTX 5080, it needs to be priced round 35% of the flagship mannequin, which might put it at $700. That will lead to a value per body of simply $7.69 per body, a whopping 38% discount relative to the RTX 4080 Tremendous, making it a extremely compelling era. That will put it on par with, perhaps barely worse than, the fee per body uplift the RTX 3080 supplied relative to the RTX 2080, among the finest latest generations we have had till crypto mining ruined it.
Possibly that is a bit too beneficiant for the present GPU market, so perhaps $800 is extra lifelike for this kind of {hardware} configuration in 2025. That is fairly costly for what’s traditionally extra like 70-series {hardware}, however it might nonetheless current a 29% discount in value per body relative to the RTX 4080 Tremendous.
Is a Higher Configuration or Value Doable?
The plain caveat is that it is grow to be costlier to supply a graphics card in 2025. Wafers at the moment are considerably costlier, reminiscence is costlier, board designs have grow to be extra complicated – mainly, the whole lot is costlier.
The plain caveat that goes with all of that is that it is grow to be costlier to supply a graphics card in 2025 in comparison with earlier years, particularly if we examine again to the GeForce 900 or 10 series eras. Wafers at the moment are considerably costlier, reminiscence is costlier, board designs have grow to be extra complicated – mainly, the whole lot is costlier. There’s additionally basic inflation to take care of over the past decade.
That is Nvidia’s main protection when requested concerning the rising value of graphics playing cards over time. So the query is whether or not it is cheap for 70-class {hardware} to value considerably extra in 2025 and now be rebranded as 80-class {hardware}.
First, let’s discover die sizes. There’s some fluctuation over time with how a lot GPU silicon is in every product, and the way reduce down every mannequin is, however the pattern has remained comparatively comparable. The present RTX 5070 die, GB205, is definitely the smallest 70-class die we have seen throughout these seven generations. GB203 used within the RTX 5080 can also be smaller than the common 80-class die, however barely bigger than the common 70-class die.
Nvidia GPUs: Die Dimension (sq. mm)
The issue Nvidia has confronted is that TSMC wafers have grow to be considerably costlier. Producing 378 sq mm of 4N silicon is drastically costlier than creating 398 sq mm of 28nm silicon, as was seen within the GeForce 900 sequence. However does this actually clarify why the GTX 980 value $550, the GTX 1080 value $600, and now the RTX 5080 prices $1,000?
We did some calculations primarily based on die sizes, yield estimates – slotted into the wonderful SemiAnalysis Die Yield Calculator – plus rumored prices for numerous TSMC wafer households. We additionally set a worth for faulty dies relative to good dies and assumed that good dies could be wanted for every product.
Based mostly on this, we got here up with a value of $140 for every GB203 die utilized in an RTX 5080. To be clear, this can be a tough estimate, not the factual value of the die. It is also clearly not the one element that goes into an RTX 5080 – there’s additionally the reminiscence, PCB, cooler, silicon packaging, bodily packaging, analysis and growth prices, and so forth.
Nvidia GPUs: Die Value Tough Estimate
We additionally did the identical factor for the GP104 silicon that Nvidia used within the GTX 1080 and GTX 1070, constructed on TSMC’s 16nm course of, and adjusted for inflation.
Our tough estimate for that die is a value of $40. Because of this within the almost 9 years since Pascal, we estimate the price of 70-class silicon has risen from $40 to $140, a 3.5x or almost $100 improve.
This could possibly be on the upper finish of the dimensions primarily based on the numbers we enter into the calculation, however even with extra favorable numbers for TSMC 4N silicon, we’re nonetheless seemingly taking a look at greater than a 2.5x value improve.
Inflation vs. {Hardware} Value vs. Greed
The GeForce GTX 1080 launched at $600 again in 2016, and the GTX 1070 launched at $380. Adjusted for inflation, these costs immediately could be extra like $780 and $500. Then you need to think about about $100 of further GPU silicon bills, plus the added value of 16GB of GDDR7 reminiscence versus 8GB of GDDR5-class reminiscence, and different related prices with a extra complicated graphics card design. This consists of needing a cooler and energy phases to deal with 360 watts, in comparison with simply 180 watts for the GTX 1080 and 150 watts for the GTX 1070.
When it comes to worth improve, Nvidia has raised the value of the mannequin with the complete die – so GTX 1080 to RTX 5080 – by $220 above inflation. And for the cut-down model – so GTX 1070 to RTX 5070 Ti – we’re taking a look at a $250 improve above inflation. That is ignoring for a second {that a} full GB203 configuration is extra according to a cut-down GP104 configuration relative to the flagship.
You’ll be able to see why, from a enterprise perspective, Nvidia desires to cost $200 to $250 extra for his or her newest merchandise in comparison with almost decade-old GPUs. The price of producing graphics playing cards has gone up, and Nvidia desires to take care of or develop fats margins on every product.
What portion is attributed to every of these issues is difficult to find out, particularly as a result of a few of the rise in element costs needs to be a part of the value rise resulting from inflation, and different components shall be resulting from bills outpacing inflation.
It is also attainable that whereas the margin as a greenback quantity has grown, the margin as a proportion has decreased – these Pascal dies would have been very low-cost to supply. That is all fundamental enterprise although: promote extra stuff at a better margin for those who can.
From a shopper perspective, we see little purpose why a relative {hardware} configuration that used to value $380 in 2016 or $500 in 2018 now completely must value $1,000 in 2025.
With all components included, we predict it is cheap for graphics playing cards to value extra, however a doubling of the value in lower than a decade is unreasonable. It isn’t costing Nvidia $400 – 500 extra to supply an RTX 5080 now than a GTX 1070 or RTX 2070 within the years prior.
The margin on these GPUs continues to be large, even when immediately they may not be the place Nvidia desires them to be – in spite of everything, the margins on these datacenter AI playing cards nonetheless far outstrip GeForce GPUs.
Does Nvidia need to promote an RTX 5080 at a worth extra according to 70-class {hardware}? Completely not. May they achieve this in the event that they actually needed to? Yeah, and possibly fairly comfortably.
In addition they might have made the RTX 5080 a bigger GPU configuration, which might have been extra expensive to supply, however once more, not outrageously so (except you care solely about margins, wherein case a $100 – 150 value improve is devastating) – and if it led to a considerably higher product, there would have been extra worth flexibility.
We will look to different components of the GPU market to see whether or not that is cheap too. The Intel Arc B580 makes use of a GPU die that’s comparable in measurement to the RTX 5070, constructed on the same TSMC 5nm node, and with the same 12GB VRAM buffer. Clearly, there are some variations – GDDR7 would improve the price of the 5070, as would the 60W larger TDP.
However Intel has priced their GPU at $250, in comparison with $550 for the RTX 5070. There have been some strategies that the B580 is being bought for close to value worth, and there are inventory points anyway, so it is exhausting to say it is really accessible at $250, however we predict you get the image. A lot of the distinction in worth between the B580 and RTX 5070 is because of margin, not the {hardware} itself.
The opposite think about all of that is competitors. Nvidia is promoting avid gamers a 70-class configuration for $1,000 as a result of they don’t have any competitors. There isn’t a strain to cut back costs or reduce into their margins as a result of the overwhelming majority of avid gamers purchase Nvidia GPUs.
They’re solely competing with themselves on this worth vary, and primarily based on the GeForce 40 sequence versus AMD’s RDNA3, you might make a powerful case they have been competing with themselves throughout most of that product stack. What may pressure Nvidia to cease creating poor GPU configurations is a compelling various, however proper now, there is not one.
