Nvidia Shakes the GPU Market With GeForce RTX 30 Series

Abhinav Raj, Writer
@uxconnections

Nvidia’s revolutionary new Ampere cards will offer 8K HDR gaming, immersive VR experience with twice the anticipated core count, at $499

CEO Jen-Hsun Huang sent tremors through the GPU market unveiling the heavily anticipated Nvidia GeForce RTX 30 Series graphics cards live at the GeForce Special Event stream on Tuesday. 

Nvidia’s new RTX 30 Series cards promise the greatest generational leap forward in graphical performance. Based on the new Ampere architecture, all the 3 new variants, RTX 3070, RTX 3080 and RTX 3090 are built to outperform the previous $1200 flagship GPU, the hitherto unmatched RTX 2080Ti. 

The RTX 3070 will ship with 8 GB of GDDR6 memory whereas the RTX 3080 and 3090 will ship with 10 and 24 GB of GDDR6X memory respectively. 

The new RTX 30 line up is powered by Ampere-Nvidia’s second-generation RTX architecture, third-generation Tensor cores and overhauled streaming multiprocessors for a phenomenal upgrade in ray-tracing capabilities and AI features.

(Image: Nvidia)

Samsung’s 8nm-based Ampere architecture packs a punch into the card to deliver a never-before-seen graphical performance, but RTX 30 cards feature another X factor: AI. 

Nvidia’s Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS) is a deep learning neural network that harnesses the power of AI to deliver enhanced visual fidelity through dedicated third-generation microprocessors, referred to as Tensor cores.

The line-up is equipped with revamped, state-of-the-art cooling systems as well. The upgraded thermal dissipation system features dual axial flow-through, optimizing airflow, ensuring a 30% greater efficiency and up to 3x quieter fans. 

To the astonishment of the tech community, the RTX 30 series cards start at a reality-defying price: the RTX 3070 card is priced at $499, defeating the previous flagship 2080Ti at performance and price.

Battlefield V by EA DICE supports real-time ray-tracing. (Image: Nvidia)

Nvidia holds an 80% market share (as of Q2 2020) and witnessed a 2.5% increase from Q1 2020. Despite being in a comfortable spot in the GPU market at the moment and its contemporaries AMD and Intel being on the weaker side in the tug of war for market share—why has Nvidia graced consumers with benevolent prices? 

Renowned tech YouTuber Linus Sebastian has an interesting hypothesis. 

“With launch date set for the end of Q3 and beginning of Q4, it’s pretty clear who Nvidia sees as the real competition for 3000 series, and it’s not AMD, or at least not directly, anyway. It’s Sony and Microsoft, with the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5”, said Linus in a recent video. 

“By getting ahead of launches, Nvidia seems to be trying to steal some of the thunder, hopefully preventing gamers from being lured away from PC—where Nvidia dominates—over to consoles.”

GeForce RTX 30 Series graphics cards will hit the market on September 17th.