Nvidia launched the GeForce RTX 4080 in mid-November, which uses the AD103-300 silicon. However, there is a new variant developed by Nvidia, the AD103-301 GPU. What are the differences?
Nvidia RTX 4080: New variants will be available with AD103 GPUs
The first manufacturer to use the new AD103-301 silicon is Gainward. This updated silicon, called AD103-301, brings changes that are not noticeable to the end user, as it does not bring any performance improvements or reductions over the original variant. However, it appears that this new GPU could lower costs for partners.
Apparently, Nvidia is not only implementing the XX0/XX1 silicon with the AD103 chip but also doing the same with the AD104 silicon when it hits the market, with the AD104-250 and AD104-251 variants. The new 251 variants will reportedly require “a few fewer components,” the source said, which will lower manufacturing costs, though not significantly.
AD104-250 / 251 = GeForce RTX 4070AD104-250 requires a comparator circuit, AD104-251 is not required, GeForce RTX 4080 will soon switch to AD103-301. @VideoCardz
– HKEPC (@hkepcmedia) January 9, 2023
Although the two variants AD103-300 and AD103-301 seem to have similar performance characteristics and identical features, this does not exempt the manufacturers from having to make some changes to the printed circuit board (PCB).
Gainward confirms that the two variants share the same clock speeds, TDP, and GPU configurations. This shouldn’t change anything for gamers and future RTX 4080 buyers, and this new GPU should slowly replace the original variant as partners implement it in their own RTX 4080 graphics cards.