- MSI has listed an RTX 5080 24GB mannequin on its web site
- It isn’t the primary time MSI has hinted in the direction of a better capability card
- Some declare it is a mistake, others an indication of issues to come back
MSI has teased an RTX 5080 mannequin that includes 24GB GDDR7 VRAM (up from the usual 16GB) of the 80-class card on its web site.
Noticed by TweakTown, a compatibility itemizing of MSI’s X870 Tomahawk Wi-Fi motherboard options help for an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 mannequin with “24576” beneath the Reminiscence Measurement.
Earlier than the RTX 5080’s launch date on January 30, 2025, we beforehand coated rumors that an RTX 5080 24GB model could possibly be “inbound” as a result of Samsung‘s GDDR7 reminiscence modules are shipped in 2GB (with 3GB configurations on the way in which). That is a part of the rationale why the RTX 5090 options 32GB GDDR7 (up from the 24GB GDDR6X of the RTX 4090).
This supply additionally notes a earlier event when MSI showcased an RTX 5080 Vanguard variant that includes 24GB GDDR7 in a promotional video, with the alleged reminiscence pool seen on the packaging. Nonetheless, it has been quiet (outdoors of rumors and hypothesis since then) till now.
It is potential that this might simply be an error on MSI’s half, nevertheless it additionally reveals that the 80-class card might function double the obtainable VRAM. Apparently, the itemizing doesn’t function the usual 16GB model within the specs sheet, so the corporate might have listed a placeholder quantity based mostly on pre-release data slightly than the retail figures.
With that mentioned, it isn’t the primary time that we have seen totally different reminiscence pool capacities of graphics playing cards, akin to with the unique launch window for the then-cancelled RTX 4080 12GB (which later grew to become the RTX 4070 Ti). Equally, the RTX 4060 Ti exists in each 8GB and 16GB configurations, proving that two variations of the identical GPU can succeed out there with out complicated customers.
An indication of issues to come back for the 80-class card?
Whether or not the RTX 5080 24GB itemizing is a real mistake or not, the potential for having two choices in the marketplace is just factor for individuals as you may have the choice of two totally different GPUs, with a possible latter mannequin extra “futureproofed” for 4K gaming as releases demand extra VRAM than what we sometimes see.
Some avid gamers have expressed disappointment within the RTX 5080 having the identical reminiscence pool because the RTX 4080 (regardless of the leap in GDDR7 from GDDR6X and the variations in bandwidth seen). This was seen with the RTX 5070 and RTX 5070 Ti, each that includes the identical respective 12GB and 16GB reminiscence swimming pools as their previous-generation counterparts.
After many months of hypothesis round an upgraded RTX 5080 24GB model, we might even see it floor, or it might stay little greater than a chance, hinting in the direction of the following technology as an alternative. If it does launch, it could possibly be the half-step between it and the RTX 5090, which is smart given the $1,000 distinction in MSRP between the 2; if we had been to invest on potential pricing, $1,200 (matching the unique RTX 4080) appears most probably.
