NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 16 GB GPU Release Date Set for January 2025, Followed by RTX 5090 32 GB Flagship GPU

NVIDIA to Launch GeForce RTX 5080 and RTX 5090 GPUs in January 2025

The upcoming release of NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 5080 16 GB GPU marks the beginning of the much-anticipated “Blackwell”gaming lineup, set to hit the market in January 2025, ahead of the flagship RTX 5090.

Launch and Announcement at CES 2025

NVIDIA is gearing up for an exciting unveiling at CES 2025, where company CEO Jensen Huang will showcase its next-generation graphics cards, including the enthusiast-focused RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 models. Both desktop and laptop variants will be presented, with significant details about their retail availability expected to emerge.

Details on the GeForce RTX 5080

The GeForce RTX 5080 will feature 16 GB of GDDR7 memory and impressive speeds reaching up to 32 Gbps. Set to become available shortly after CES in mid-January 2025, this GPU aims to claim the top performance spot in the market. Notably, it is unusual for the 80-class model to lead the retail release, as historically, the 90-class models debuted first, exemplified by the recent launch of the RTX 4090.

This strategic decision may reflect NVIDIA’s response to the RTX 4090’s success in comparison to the RTX 4080, which did not capture consumer interest as effectively. The superior performance of the RTX 4090, combined with a compelling upgrade path, made it an appealing choice for gamers eager to get their hands on the latest technology. Interestingly, the RTX 4080 has regained traction following its revamp with the “SUPER”release a year later, highlighting an evolving marketplace where gamers are always on the lookout for next-gen upgrades.

Expectations for the RTX 5090

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 is projected to make its debut just weeks after the RTX 5080, likely launching in late January or around mid-February 2025. This flagship graphics card promises to deliver remarkable enhancements over its predecessors and set impressive benchmarks for high-end PC gaming enthusiasts.

Competition from AMD and Intel

As NVIDIA prepares for its launch, competitors AMD and Intel are targeting the mainstream market segments, potentially offering compelling alternatives. While their performance may not rival the next-level offerings from NVIDIA, aspects like ray tracing and overall value may attract gamers’ attention. Intel’s Arc B580 GPU has already gained traction in the $250 market segment, showcasing surprising popularity and creating a competitive scenario for NVIDIA’s next-gen offerings.

Both NVIDIA and AMD will be challenged to respond effectively to Intel’s recent entry in the graphics space, as the latter’s offerings are still months away from release. This gives Intel an opportunity to capture a significant share of the market.

Retail Availability of the RTX 5080 and RTX 5090

The upcoming GeForce RTX 5080 will be available in both Founders Edition and partner variants, with initial listings already surfacing online. The same will be true for the RTX 5090 upon its retail launch, so enthusiasts should stay alert for further updates in the coming weeks.

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50 Series Preliminary Specifications

Graphics Card Name	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Ti	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060
GPU Name	Blackwell GB202-300	Blackwell GB203-400	Blackwell GB203-300	Blackwell GB205	Blackwell GB206?	Blackwell GB206?
GPU SMs	170 (192 Full)	84 (84 Full)	70 (84 Full)	50 (50 SM Full)	TBD	TBD
GPU Cores	21760 (+33%)	10752 (+11%)	8960 (+16%)	6400	TBD	TBD
Memory Capacity	32 GB GDDR7 (+33%)	16 GB GDDR7 (0%)	16 GB GDDR7	12 GB GDDR7	16 GB GDDR7	8 GB GDDR7
Memory Speed	28 Gbps	32 Gbps	28 Gbps	28 Gbps	28 Gbps?	28 Gbps?
Bandwidth	1792 GB/s	1024 GB/s	896 GB/s	672 GB/s	448 GB/s	448 GB/s
TBP	600W (+33%)	400W (+25%)	350W (+23%)	250W (+14%)	TBD	TBD
Launch	Q1 2025	Q1 2025	Q1 2025	Q1 2025	TBD	TBD