NVIDIA made waves at CES 2024 by announcing updated RTX 40 Super graphics cards that bring improved performance and surprisingly competitive pricing compared to previous models. The new GPUs leverage AI and real-time ray tracing while aiming to make high-end PC gaming more accessible.
RTX 4080 and 4070 Super Cards Offer Better Value Than Predecessors
The stars of NVIDIA’s CES keynote were the GeForce RTX 4080 Super and RTX 4070 Super. Early pricing leaks show the 16GB RTX 4080 Super launching at $799, undercutting the controversial $1199 launch price of the standard RTX 4080.
Similarly, the 12GB RTX 4070 Super is expected to retail between $599 and $649, noticeably cheaper than the original RTX 4070 at $799. With GPU prices finally normalizing after years of inflated costs, NVIDIA’s new Super cards stand out for bringing high-end performance to more mainstream price points.
| GPU | Launch Price |
|---|---|
| RTX 4080 Super | $799 |
| RTX 4070 Super | $599-$649 |
These competitive prices have sparked excitement among PC gaming enthusiasts, with many praising NVIDIA for listening to customer feedback. The new Super models strike an appealing balance between cutting-edge tech and affordability. Their arrival also ratchets up competition with rival AMD, who is prepping its own next-gen Radeon RX 7000 refresh.
Supercharged Performance Targets High-Refresh Rate 4K Gaming
Early benchmarks of the RTX 4080 Super suggest it should outpace the standard RTX 4080 in rasterization workloads while roughly matching it in ray tracing. With 7680 CUDA cores and 16GB of 21 Gbps GDDR6X memory, the 4080 Super is an extremely capable 4K gaming card able to deliver high frame rates even with ray tracing and DLSS 3 enabled.
The RTX 4070 Super also brings ample horsepower, slotting in above the RTX 3090 Ti with 5888 CUDA cores and 12GB of 21Gbps memory. NVIDIA claims it can run modern titles at over 100 FPS in 4K with max settings. For players still gaming in 1440p, both Super GPUs provide abundant overhead for buttery smooth high-refresh rate gaming.
AI Powers New Capabilities Like One-Click Game Tuning
A key emphasis of NVIDIA’s CES showcase was integrating AI deeper into the gaming experience. The company’s AI neural networks are now mature enough to perform functions like automatic game tuning.
New GeForce Experience software lets users optimize game settings for their exact PC hardware with a single click, using an AI model trained on thousands of combinations. This takes the guesswork and frustration out of manual tuning.
In another neat demo, NVIDIA blended physics simulation with AI to enable real-time destruction in games. Previously too computationally expensive, the AI-accelerated simulation lets game worlds crumble and explode in naturally chaotic ways as players destroy objects. This level of detail was impossible in past games.
Generation AI Suite Unlocks Creative Potential
Beyond gaming, NVIDIA spent ample time discussing how their AI frameworks like Generative AI Toolkit are empowering creative professionals. Suite of online AI services aims to make state-of-the-art generative models accessible to millions of RTX PC owners.
With tools like image inpainting, text-to-image generation, and audio upscaling, RTX users can leverage AI to elevate their creative projects and workflows. Much buzz surrounds the AI services’ ability to synthesize rich 3D environments from natural language text prompts at speeds not previously possible.
NVIDIA announced multiple partnerships centered on its Omniverse and AI infrastructure, collaborating with automotive, robotics, and gaming companies to drive future innovation.
Super GPU Supply Expected to Improve…With a Catch
Amidst the excitement over value pricing, there is some concern RTX 40 Super demand may outstrip supply when cards launch later this month. However, sources indicate Super production volume should exceed that of RTX 4080 and 4070 Ti models. This gives hope that launch stock could meet buyer demand better than last generation.
That said, widespread reports allege board partners will focus manufacturing efforts on expensive, ultra-premium custom cards rather than affordable reference models. So buyers hoping to snag a $599 RTX 4070 Super at MSRP may still face limited availability, with prices skewing towards fancy third-party variants carrying premium price tags. Time will tell whether supply issues resurface.
Outlook: More Disruption Ahead in the GPU Arms Race
With competitive pricing, AI enhancements, and assumed production improvements, NVIDIA’s RTX 40 Super GPUs are positioned shake up the graphics card market in 2024. But AMD also has some potent contenders in the wings, with venerable chiplet-based RDNA3 designs hungry for market share.
Most intriguing is the promise of AI integration radically transforming both gaming and professional graphics. Between one-click optimization, revolutionized creative workflows, and cloud-based services, GPUs are evolving beyond pure graphics hardware into more general computing workhorses. And competition is heating up to deliver these experiences to the masses.
The GPU arms race is set to enter a disruptive new phase, and gamers, creators, and computer enthusiasts of all stripes stand to benefit from rapid innovation. One thing is certain: 2024 promises to be a groundbreaking year for the graphics industry.
To err is human, but AI does it too. Whilst factual data is used in the production of these articles, the content is written entirely by AI. Double check any facts you intend to rely on with another source.
