Introduction
NVIDIA, a giant in the graphics card market, is reportedly gearing up to launch a more cost-effective version of its GeForce RTX 4070. This new variant is said to feature GDDR6 memory, replacing the GDDR6X that the original RTX 4070 came with. The move aims to differentiate the new SKU from the RTX 4070 Super and potentially bring the price below the $500 mark.
Background
When NVIDIA refreshed its RTX 40-series ‘Ada’ product stack in January, it made several noteworthy changes. The company discontinued the RTX 4070 Ti and RTX 4080, introducing the RTX 4070 Ti Super and RTX 4080 Super instead. However, the RTX 4070 remained unchanged, selling at approximately $50 lower than the RTX 4070 Super. The introduction of this new variant could be an attempt by NVIDIA to make the GeForce RTX 4070 even more affordable.
Technical Differences
The original RTX 4070 launched with 21 Gbps GDDR6X memory. In contrast, the new variant will come with 20 Gbps conventional GDDR6 memory. While this change results in a 4.75% drop in memory bandwidth, NVIDIA is likely to compensate by slightly increasing the GPU clocks. The ASIC code for this new SKU is AD104-251, differing from the AD104-250 of the original RTX 4070. The core configuration remains unchanged, featuring 5,888 CUDA cores across 46 streaming multiprocessors.
Impact on the Market
The adoption of JEDEC standard GDDR6 chips, which are presumably cheaper than GDDR6X, could enable NVIDIA to position this new variant aggressively in the market. Not only would this bring down the cost, but it could also appeal to budget-conscious gamers and professionals who are in need of high-performance graphics at a more accessible price point. Additionally, it appears that Galax has already prepared a card based on this new SKU.
Conclusion
Overall, the introduction of a more affordable GeForce RTX 4070 variant could be a strategic move by NVIDIA to capture a larger market share. By bringing down the price and making minor adjustments to the components, NVIDIA aims to provide a competitive yet budget-friendly alternative for its customers. As we await an official announcement, it will be interesting to see how this new SKU performs and how the market responds.
