The subsequent technology of Nvidia Ampere RTX 3000 graphics playing cards could possibly be revealed on August 31st if a brand new cryptic tweet from the GPU maker is something to go by, as they’ve simply began the #UltimateCountdown to one thing massive in 21 days time. The tweet itself incorporates nothing however an ellipsis, the aforementioned hashtag and a brief clip of a ‘Big Bang’ type explosion, however Nvidia’s new Twitter header picture for his or her GeForce account provides the phrase “21 days, 21 years,” paying homage to the unique announcement date of their very first GeForce GPU – the GeForce 256 – on August 31st 1999.
I could possibly be leaping the gun right here, in fact, because it’s completely potential Nvidia gained’t in reality reveal their line-up of subsequent technology graphics playing cards in 21 days time, and it may all be an elaborate PR stunt for some sort of commemorative version of that aforementioned GeForce 256 card.
However, provided that we’ve been ready months and months for Nvidia to lastly carry the lid on their upcoming household of RTX 3000 graphics playing cards, most notably on what we’re assuming are going to be known as the RTX 3080 Ti and RTX 3080, it appears extra possible that they’re making an attempt to drum up some pleasure for these relatively than the rest.
…#UltimateCountdown pic.twitter.com/f23HcbHUk6
— NVIDIA GeForce (@NVIDIAGeForce) August 10, 2020
Nvidia first unveiled their next-gen Ampere GPU architecture again in the midst of May on the on-line model of their GTC 2020 convention, however on the time they solely talked about how their new 7nm GPUs could be utilised in information centres and issues decidedly not associated to gaming. We then bought a possible glimpse of what Nvidia’s RTX 3000 playing cards are going to appear to be firstly of June when a supposedly leaked RTX 3080 surfaced on the web with a relatively funky-looking fan design.
We’ve additionally seen loads of leaked benchmarks crop up in 3DMark’s TimeSpy benchmark lately, too, with preliminary figures suggesting the RTX 3080 can be as much as 35% quicker than the RTX 2080 Ti in that individual take a look at. Indeed, simply within the final week or so, the web hearsay mill appear to be satisfied that Nvidia can be launching their next-gen playing cards on September 17th, with different lower-end RTX 3000 playing cards such because the RTX 3070 and RTX 3060 to comply with in October and November. As a outcome, all of it appears very possible that no matter they’re going to announce on August 31st will, in reality, be their RTX 3000 line-up relatively than one thing else.
If true, it could additionally imply Nvidia may have as soon as once more bought out in entrance of AMD’s Big Navi launch, which in the mean time remains to be due someday earlier than the top of the 12 months. The present on-line whisperings recommend a November launch for the following technology of AMD Navi playing cards, that are meant to be AMD’s 4K opponents to Nvidia’s flagship RTX playing cards, however AMD have but to announce any concrete themselves.
In the previous, AMD have all the time tended to play second fiddle to Nvidia relating to their high-end GPUs, regardless of often being significantly better value for cash additional down the GPU foodchain. Their hotly anticipated Radeon 7, for instance, was virtually pretty much as good as Nvidia’s RTX 2080 when it got here out at the beginning of 2019, however its excessive worth and barely slower efficiency meant Nvidia’s card was the higher purchase general. Since then, AMD haven’t launched one other high-end graphics card as a part of their present RX 5000 household to compete with Nvidia’s RTX playing cards, and it’s hoped that their Big Navi launch will lastly carry some much-needed competitors to the 4K gaming enviornment.
Still, till AMD set a date for his or her Big Navi extravaganza, all eyes can be on no matter Nvidia have gotten up their sleeve on August 31st.
