NVIDIA appears to be introducing a new SKU for its GeForce RTX 4070 graphics card featuring GDDR6 memory instead of GDDR6X, likely in response to shortages of the latter. Reports suggest that the shortage stems from production issues, including a batch of GDDR6X memory failing quality checks.
The upcoming GeForce RTX 4070 GDDR6 variant reportedly retains the same specifications as its initial release, with the exception of the VRAM speed, which could be set at 20 Gbps. This model is expected to include the AD104-250-A1 GPU with 5888 CUDA cores, 184 texture mapping units (TMUs), and 64 raster operations pipelines (ROPs). The base clock is set at 1920 MHz, with a boost clock of 2475 MHz, and features a 192-bit bus interface complete with 12 GB of VRAM. Originally equipped with high-speed 21 Gbps GDDR6X modules allowing for up to 504.2 GB/s bandwidth, the potential reduction to 20 Gbps GDDR6 would bring the bandwidth down to approximately 480 GB/s, a modest 5% decrease.
Bandwidth plays a significant role in the performance of the RTX 4070’s Ada GPU architecture, and although the proposed decrease may seem slight, it could have an impact on gaming performance. However, with the hefty 48 MB L2 cache and efficient memory compression methods, along with room for memory overclocking, users may find performance impacts are minimal in practical scenarios. Memory overclocking might enable users to reach 21 Gbps VRAM speeds, enhancing gaming sessions but possibly falling short for constant, heavy usage.
Given the abundance of GDDR6 memory, the new RTX 4070 GDDR6 models are expected to hit the market soon. They are also anticipated to be priced slightly lower than their GDDR6X counterparts, potentially around the $499 mark, compared to the original models’ price points of $549, although discounts are often available.
In terms of the RTX 4070 series lineup, the official RTX 4070 SUPER model and the unreleased variant both utilize 21 Gbps GDDR6X memory, while the new RTX 4070 G6 is poised to offer 20 Gbps GDDR6 memory. Each of these models varies slightly in core counts, TMUs/ROPs, clocks, and memory bandwidth specifications, providing consumers with a range of options to choose from depending on their needs and budget.
The release date and broader availability details of the RTX 4070 GDDR6 SKU have yet to be announced, so interested consumers should keep an eye out for the latest information in the coming days. With the competitive pricing, the upcoming NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 GDDR6 could offer an appealing alternative to those seeking high-performance graphics without the higher price tag associated with the GDDR6X models.
