HW News - RTX 3080 Ti Inbound, Shady GPU Warranties, Intel Fires at NVIDIA In a recent episode of HW News, many exciting developments within the tech world were discussed, particularly regarding graphics cards, industry competition, and various corporate strategies. This week’s episode presented by Gamers Nexus highlights significant information about the upcoming NVIDIA RTX 3080 Ti, questionable GPU warranties, and competitive moves between Intel and NVIDIA.
RTX 3080 Ti Announcement
The episode kicks off with a leak from MSI regarding the RTX 3080 Ti, showcasing the card's specifications, including its memory. MSI inadvertently revealed a box labeled with the product name, confirming previous rumors about its release, which is speculated to come with 12GB of memory—a more competitive offering compared to the 10GB RTX 3080 but still positioned to avoid undermining the higher-end RTX 3090. The report mentions that the NVIDIA RTX 3080 Ti is anticipated to be priced around $1,000, which positions it between the RTX 3080 and RTX 3090 cost-wise, providing gamers with a compelling new option in the high-performance GPU market.
Intel vs. NVIDIA
The rivalry between Intel and NVIDIA took center stage, as both companies appear to be taking jabs at each other. Intel is reportedly making strides to position itself as a competitor in the GPU space, hinting at its growing interest in market segments that NVIDIA has traditionally dominated. Moreover, the talk shifts to Atari, humorously framed as a company caught in a cycle of changing business models, now delving into blockchain and NFTs, mirroring the trends in the gaming community.
Warranty Concerns
One pressing issue raised during the discussion involved GPU warranties. Recent reports indicate that companies like Gigabyte and MSI are shortening warranty periods in light of the booming cryptocurrency mining market. Gigabyte, for example, has introduced a 90-day warranty on some of its GPUs, which many experts see as unacceptable given the complexity and expected longevity of modern graphics cards. The conversation suggests a troubling trend where manufacturers may leverage warranty terms to cover their risks associated with increased demand from miners.
Industry Trends and Future Developments
The video wraps up with a brief overview of ongoing industry trends, including TSMC's production challenges due to a power outage impacting thousands of wafers, and insights into AMD's new CPU lineups aimed at entry-level gaming systems.
Call to Action
What are your thoughts on the early leak of the RTX 3080 Ti? Do you believe that a 12GB configuration is sufficient, or should NVIDIA have gone for a higher capacity? Also, how do you feel about the diminishing warranty periods offered by GPU manufacturers? Share your insights and let’s discuss how these developments might affect your future hardware choices! For further reading, check out related threads discussing GPU performance benchmarks and the evolving landscape of the GPU market.
