Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080, the first 16nm GPU test
Finally ! It was time that we expected: a first graphics card built around a GPU manufactured with new manufacturing processes FinFET arrives. And Nvidia is opening the ball with a GeForce GTX 1080 intended to ensure first place on the podium.
After over 4 years of loyal service to our GPU, the manufacturing process 28nm TSMC will gradually bow out to make way for its own 16nm FinFET and at 14 nm GlobalFoundries and Samsung, for delight of the players. This technological leap will allow either to AMD and NVIDIA to offer more interesting graphics cards it in terms of features, performance and / or energy efficiency.
If AMD disclosed the first of its Polaris GPU manufactured in 14 nm, Nvidia who arrived first on the market with a GPU Pascal generation dedicated players: the GP104. In addition to introducing 16 nm TSMC, it also introduces the use of GDDR5X memory that can push the bandwidth up without blowing consumption modules.
The GP104 is directly in line with the previous GM204 and GK104 in the sense that it is not even the biggest GPU that Nvidia will offer this generation. There will come later, probably next year. Meanwhile, it will not prevent this relatively small GP104 to easily take the lead against the previous tenors that are the GeForce GTX 980 Ti and GTX Titan X.
The first graphics card to the board is therefore a very high-end model, positioned as such by Nvidia. While this will once again some teeth gnashing, this positioning is logical, especially at this level of performance is no competition. The GeForce GTX 1080 is announced at a beginner price $ 599 (€ 670), while the reference model that we will present, and will be the first available starting May 27, is trading at $ 699, or € 790 TTC official price in Europe!