Nvidia accelerating launch of RTX 5080 24GB variant, potentially arriving as early as December 2026
The high-end graphics card market is facing a significant shift as NVIDIA reportedly prepares to launch a 24GB variant of the GeForce RTX 5080 to replace the existing 16GB model. This move comes at a time of extreme price volatility and dwindling supply for flagship GPUs, suggesting a strategic pivot in how the company manages its top-tier hardware.
According to reports from the ChannelGate WeChat account, NVIDIA is accelerating the rollout of the RTX 5080 24GB specifically for the Chinese market, with availability targeted between December 2026 and January 2027. This launch is expected to coincide with the discontinuation of both the GeForce RTX 5080 16GB and the GeForce RTX 5090D V2 in that region. The report indicates that NVIDIA has already cleared much of its 16GB inventory, leaving only enough stock to last approximately two months, which aligns closely with the projected arrival of the new 24GB SKU.
This anticipated refresh is mirrored by several alarming signals in the broader retail market. The RTX 5080 has recently disappeared from NVIDIA’s own online marketplace, alongside the RTX 5090 and various partner custom cards. Before vanishing from the official store, the RTX 5080 saw prices soar past $2,000 at several retailers, far exceeding its original launch MSRP. Further complicating the supply chain, some board partners have reportedly been unable to secure the GB202 GPU and the necessary 32GB of GDDR7 VRAM required for RTX 5090 production.
Technical Specifications and Variants
The jump from 16GB to 24GB of VRAM is likely achieved through a shift in memory module density. While the current RTX 5080 utilizes eight 2GB GDDR7 memory chips, a transition to 3GB chips would allow for a 50% increase in total capacity. However, it remains unverified whether this new card is a simple VRAM bump or a more comprehensive "SUPER" refresh. Previous rumors suggested a broader update to the 50-series lineup with the following specifications:
RTX 5080 Super: 10,752 CUDA cores, 24GB GDDR7, 415W TGP RTX 5070 Ti Super: 8,960 CUDA cores, 24GB GDDR7, 350W TGP RTX 5070 Super: 6,400 CUDA cores, 18GB GDDR7, 275W TGP
If the upcoming 24GB model is indeed a "SUPER" variant, it may feature the GB203-450 GPU with increased clock speeds and faster memory pin speeds, resulting in higher bandwidth and a higher power limit. If it is merely a memory increase, the performance gains may be more modest, though the added headroom would be critical for specific workloads.
This additional VRAM is particularly attractive for users running local AI models, as 24GB would allow for the execution of quantized 27B parameter models that are too large for the 16GB framebuffer. This demand for AI-capable hardware, however, may clash with consumer availability. With DRAM manufacturers like Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron warning of supply constraints that could persist until 2030, the new RTX 5080 24GB is expected to carry a heavy price tag, with some estimates placing it around $2,000.
The broader implications of this rollout suggest that NVIDIA may be tailoring its flagship offerings to better suit the demands of AI firms and high-end enthusiasts, potentially at the expense of traditional gamers. Given the timing of the rumored Chinese launch, it is possible that a global announcement will follow during the CES 2027 showcase. Whether this results in a stable supply for consumers or further price inflation remains to be seen, especially as AI firms continue to stockpile high-VRAM GPUs.
