Nvidia's RTX 5080 could be the first next-generation Blackwell graphics card to go on sale later this year, and GPU stock could be plentiful when it arrives.
These are the latest rumors from YouTube leaker Moore's Law is Dead (MLID), who claims that Nvidia has made the decision to release the RTX 5080 as soon as possible, before the RTX 5090, which was originally planned to be the first Blackwell. offer (as was the RTX 4090 with Lovelace).
However, if this happens (sprinkle plenty of salt), then the RTX 5080 won't arrive until the end of the year as the first next-gen GPU, maybe not until the fourth quarter. MLID notes that graphics card makers have yet to receive detailed information on the RTX 5080, so that means it can't be considering a launch that soon (which means Q3 looks less likely as a result).
Here's the thing, though: If the RTX 5080 doesn't arrive until Q4, say October or even November, that doesn't leave much room to squeeze out the RTX 5090 in 2024.
All of which is to say, as MLID further points out, this potential deadline adjustment at Nvidia may be due to the RTX 5090 being delayed, rather than the RTX 5080 being moved forward on Blackwell's release schedule.
Good news for consumers
However, this is all good news for the consumer, as the RTX 5080 is the most interesting possible candidate for our list of the best graphics cards; Of course, it will be much more affordable than the flagship. In fact, part (or even a large part) of the reason Nvidia is prioritizing the RTX 5080 may be because Team Green will be able to supply it as a GPU for China (with a specification that is included in the graphics card import ban).
MLID also tells us that the RTX 5080 could see decent volume in terms of production in Q4 as well, so that's another positive rumor talk here. If much of that stock isn't shipped to China, note that MLID certainly sees supplying that country with new high-end GPUs as a key part of Nvidia's strategy here. (Naturally, the RTX 5090 will be too powerful a proposition for the Chinese market, given that the RTX 4090 already is, of course.)
The bottom line then is that we could see the RTX 5080 perhaps early in the fourth quarter, with solid stock levels (as long as too much production volume is not allocated to China).
This is a change from a previous rumor that cast some doubt on the RTX 5080 appearing in 2024, plus MLID seemed unsure there would be much stock if the GPU came out this year. In fact, there has been broader theorizing about an initial 'on paper' (low volume) launch for Nvidia's next-generation graphics cards, although we shouldn't get carried away by any of these rumors, including the current crop.
