What simply occurred? Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has lent credence to the current rumor that the corporate will restart manufacturing of its older GPUs – a outcome of the present AI-driven reminiscence disaster. However quite than simply releasing the identical outdated card, Huang urged reintroducing the merchandise with fashionable options, equivalent to the newest performance-increasing AI expertise.
There have been rumors this week that Nvidia is ready to restart manufacturing of the RTX 3060, which launched in 2021 and was discontinued in 2024. With AI information facilities gobbling up all of the DRAM, GPU costs are climbing: there are studies that the RTX 5090 may attain $5,000.
Throughout a Q&A session at CES, Tom’s {Hardware} reporter Paul Alcorn requested Huang if restarting manufacturing on older GPUs on legacy processor nodes may assist ease the present provide and manufacturing points.
Huang appeared open to the concept and even urged a technique to make the re-released playing cards extra interesting.
“Yeah, presumably, and we may presumably, relying on which technology, we may additionally deliver the newest technology AI expertise to the earlier technology GPUs, and that may require a good quantity of engineering, however it’s additionally throughout the realm of chance,” the CEO stated. “I am going to return and try this. It is a good suggestion.”
The idea of releasing the outdated playing cards with AI options to enhance their efficiency does sound fascinating. The RTX 3060 is presently the most well-liked GPU amongst Steam survey individuals, illustrating its lasting enchantment. Relaunching the cardboard (hopefully it could be the unique 12GB model and never the cut-down 8GB variant) with some further bells and whistles and a compelling worth level could possibly be a wise transfer on Nvidia’s half.
One new AI function Jensen could possibly be referring to is DLSS 4.5. The most recent model of Nvidia’s upscaling tech introduces a slew of graphical and stability enhancements, however it comes at the price of an enormous 20+% efficiency drop in comparison with DLSS 4 when used on RTX 3000 and RTX 2000 GPUs.
Nvidia felt the necessity to verify that there can be no new (or outdated) GPUs introduced at CES this 12 months. Nevertheless, there was lots for avid gamers to get enthusiastic about.
Along with DLSS 4.5, Nvidia revealed particulars about its up to date G-Sync Pulsar tech. Not solely will the newest model additional cut back movement blur, claiming to make 360Hz displays appear like 1,000Hz, however it additionally adjusts a monitor’s brightness and shade based mostly on ambient room lighting.
