If you’re in any way interested in PC gaming hardware, 2016 is shaping up to be an incredibly interesting year. With the dawn of VR the likes of Nvidia and AMD are working hard to push out single cards capable of carrying the headsets into the future, and keep up with the increasingly high demands of top-end AAA titles. That means that Nvidia’s Maxwell architecture is reaching its flagship twilight, making way for Pascal to arrive in what could be just a few weeks time.
It’s already known that Nvidia plan to formally unveil the new architecture during their GTC event next month, but a new report suggests that the cards might see release not too long after. According to Kitguru, Nvidia could be prepping their GTX 1080 and 1070 cards (with a likely change in naming convention) to ship as early as May – with a formal launch at the prestigious Computex Expo in Taipei.
The GTX 1080 and 1070 will also reportedly not ship with the highly anticipated High-Bandwidth Memory (or HBM), with Nvidia instead opting for GDDRX5 memory. That’s a faster variant of the standard GDDR5 that’s in most cards today, but it’s still not as generation leaping as HBM. The report also suggests that both cards would ship with 8GB of memory – a substantial leap over the 6GB of the 980Ti.
This contradicts earlier reports however, which suggested that Pascal’s launch would being with laptop and mobile chips in May, and follow with desktop cards later in the year. This is similar to the way Maxwell was introduced, and right now seems far more likely to believe.
Either way, we’re set to see what exactly Nvidia has planned for Pascal in just a few weeks, with the GTC reveal being accompanied by a live demo of the new chipset in action. Here’s to hoping it’s the same sort of performance leap that the incredibly successful Maxwell architecture was.
Last Updated: March 14, 2016
Pariah
March 14, 2016 at 09:33
No HBM? Seriously? What the hell is the point then?
HairyEwok
March 14, 2016 at 11:15
Guess they’ll start with GDDR5 (May)(Low Range cards) then hop onto GDDR5X (Aug)(Mid Range cards) then HBM2 (Nov)(High Range cards)
Pariah
March 14, 2016 at 11:20
Article says they’ll have GDDRX5 from the get-go. That however means no HBM, with only a “ti” model likely to get that. Or just a GTX 2080 from next year with HBM.
But AMD already have HBM on their flagship, so if AMD release a new range this year, with their mainstream card (“R9 490” – roughly in the R6k – R7k price range) AND it has HBM – then Nvidia lose out BIG time. I’d rather buy that, than Nvidia’s about-to-be-redundant GDDRX5.
HairyEwok
March 14, 2016 at 11:35
Can I just ask, do you have a 4k monitor or perhaps a VR headset or will buy one of the two products in the next 2 years, if no then there’s no reason to even look at HBM since it’ll be for the people with those products. GDDR5X runs at double the bandwidth of GDDR5, thats double the performance of what we have today so GDDR5X should run 4k gaming and VR headsets as well.
HBM right now for me is just a gimmick, IF games were to leap with the power of HBM then yeah buy it but with consoles holding back that leap I just dont know.
Pariah
March 14, 2016 at 11:40
I’m looking for future proofing here. Right now I’m not planning on gaming at 4K or in VR, but what about in 2 years? What if I have the budget for either a graphics card OR 4k Monitor, I’d rather be able to just buy the peripheral.
Also, 1TB/s memory bandwidth on HBM2, and even at lower resolutions you can pump way more pretty pixels per second than GDDRX5, at 640GB/s. Also, 32GB cards will be possible (though not entirely likely if its not flagship) – but 16GB mainstream cards. Honestly, AMD are looking to be the stronger contender this year, and since I’m upgrading now (first time in almost 4 years – my usual cycle) I may as well go for the one that will last me the longest.
HairyEwok
March 14, 2016 at 11:54
Also just remember what does it help you have one helluva big pipeline to pump all the pixels but the power isn’t there. It’s all new memory but nothing is being said about the GPU processor itself. All we know is that the die is down to 14-16nm FinFET which means better power to watt performance, by how much they aren’t clear
Pariah
March 14, 2016 at 11:58
Listen, the current R9 390 – slightly cheaper than the GTX 970 – is keeping up or beating the 970. I WILL wait and see what the reviews and performance specs say/are etc. – BUT AMD are looking to be the current favourite in my books. And I haven’t said that in years, not since the Nvidia GT6600 all those years ago.
Sean Buckman
March 14, 2016 at 18:07
If you are trying to future proof for 4k and you are planning on buying hardware now, then you would be making a mistake. 4k needs to mature, these are pretty much first gen cards built specifically for VR and 4k. That being said, would you buy first gen tech for future proofing? Not to mention, how much content is currently available in VR or 4k? Answer is, not much. So, there are two reasons that future proofing for 4k right now is not a good idea. I would wait a year, get windows 10 so you can use DX12, then buy one high end AMD card and one high end Nvidia card.
wargamer1969
March 15, 2016 at 16:21
I play all my games just fine with 4k now have been since last Summer. A single 980ti runs it fine. Pascal should nearly double that.
Ruff
March 19, 2016 at 07:45
This guy is an idiot
Michael
March 17, 2016 at 04:50
There’s no such thing as “future proofing” with graphics cards or anything else performance related.
Newer cards will be significantly faster whatever you buy today.
Robert Dykes
March 14, 2016 at 18:09
Why do people buy 500hp Mustang GTO? Do you really think they dragrace at every light going to wallmart and back. Of course not. People want the best.
I mean… there is no reason to buy an i7. It offers almost like 5% benchmark boost for games yet cost 100$ more. Despite this its the number 1 selling intel CPU.
Its intoxicating to try and have the best technology possible. Its half the point of building a custom rig.
George Phillips
March 15, 2016 at 10:25
Astute analogy.
polysix
March 15, 2016 at 11:45
I have a Vive on pre-order, so in my case I’d appreciate big pascal asap.
HvR
March 14, 2016 at 11:35
You can not switch between the two as the interfaces are completely incompatible.
Robert Dykes
March 14, 2016 at 18:05
the 1080 is estimated to be around 900$ at launch. HARDLY low range. Even if the price is wrong, the 1080 will be the 3 most powerful card, again, hardly low range. So its definitely a disappointment to see it launch without HBM 2. I was going to get the 1080… but now I will just hold off and get the 1080ti.
wargamer1969
March 15, 2016 at 16:22
Will be waiting till 2017.
Fernando Romero
March 15, 2016 at 18:59
Most likely. The 980TI launched 8 months after the 980
Killer_Bee
March 15, 2016 at 04:02
Judging by 9XX Series Low&Mid (950&960) came almost 2 years after. 4 Cards are spotted in plans as of last month , i’d assume it’s the same deal “70-80-TITAN-80TI”. Once the “Ti” is out they will release MID&LOW end to the BIG manufacturers. But thats just my guess 😉
HvR
March 14, 2016 at 11:40
Probably because HBMv2 hardware rollout has been delayed (there has been rumours).
GDDR5x uses HMCv3 which doubles the performance of HBMv1 and is less than 3% slower than BHMv2 albeit at power consumption cost.
Other rumours are that AMD has been making licensing/royalty demands on Nvidia for using HBM; but this is less likely since they have cross-patent agreements and HBM being JEDEC adopted.
Robdarian
March 16, 2016 at 03:25
Word is that Polaris won’t use HBM2 either, just looked up the roadmap AMD unveiled and it looks like it won’t be on cards until 2017 and the next gen AFTER Polaris.
Charl van der Merwe
March 14, 2016 at 16:39
at 1080p gaming(that 90% of gamers are on),I doubt it makes a difference, the core GPU is where it’s at.
wargamer1969
March 15, 2016 at 16:22
I stopped playing at 1080p in 2008. Get with the program.
Smurfman256
March 14, 2016 at 23:23
expect HBM in the Titan 3 with 16GB.
Knowles2
March 15, 2016 at 01:08
Keep up with the competition, probably. I have read they still have difficulty manufacturing large quantities of HBM. So it make sense they skip that and go ahead with all of the other new technologies.
NormiesBeGone
March 19, 2016 at 23:16
HBM gen 1 ended up being as redundant and pointless as GDDR4 back in the day, HBM gen 2 isn’t ready yet and will be too expensive for anything performance tier and down.
Pariah
March 14, 2016 at 09:36
I mean, I’m planning on upgrading around then, so the release date is fantastic. But without HBM is it really a good long-term purchase?
Greylingad[CNFRMD]
March 14, 2016 at 09:58
It could be because they want to see if there are any hitches with the tech, you know, heating issues etc….
Pariah
March 14, 2016 at 10:01
Nah, this smells of HBM not being ready for their cards yet, but they need to release a card because $$$$. So they just slap the GDDRX5 stuff on because they know it works. And honestly, if AMD release a new range that competes but uses HBM – I might just buy red. Always think of the future when you buy, that’s the golden rule on PC.
Xplato
March 15, 2016 at 21:56
then you clearly don’t understand the big picture. take the division, that’s the best any console game is going to look like. and unfortunatly majority of games are multiplat, so cosoles are going to stop cards of this year from really every being challenged. for 1080P the rather funny named 1080 is going to last for probably 3 if not 4 years. for 4K it’s irrelevant because 4K is at least 3 years from really being viable. PC are going to be bottlenecked by console for at least 4 more years, becuese that’s when the new “CUTTING edge” consoles are more than likely going to come out. even then console won’t ever really do 4K it’s too expensive. that’s the problem. if you were to go buy a I7 6700K, and the 1080 I guarantee you it would last you at least 4 years.amdVS nvidia is pointless becuese at the end of the day console are going to limit the need for powerful GPUs, which is a problem becuese the technology is advancing far faster than it was before. I said 4K needed 3 years what I really meant was that in 3 years 4K will probally be where 1440P is right now. a little bit more costly but not that bad.
Pat Gunn
March 16, 2016 at 16:58
Consoles don’t matter any more. Even for games that get a port, they’re getting stuff that’s the equivalent to running in low-res with a lot of settings turned down. Doesn’t make them bad games or play badly, but people who really want high-res will go PC and have it look a little bit better. Besides, a lot of games don’t get console ports. So the idea of consoles holding back PC gaming is off.
Ghost In The Rift
March 14, 2016 at 10:06
And here i was, starving my self and got the GTX960, don’t even wana think about Pascal’s price.
Sean Buckman
March 14, 2016 at 18:12
Should have starved a little more and at least got the 970…
Persian Scientist.
March 16, 2016 at 12:29
3.5 GB……
wargamer1969
March 15, 2016 at 16:23
2 980ti 40 in 4k monitor here. Since last Summer.
GalacticLordCaptainAwesomeness
March 14, 2016 at 10:11
Does not matter that there is no HBM…. It is all about the $$$… But the fanbois will keep buying them because it is a new card… like with the iPhones …. Go go Team red
HairyEwok
March 14, 2016 at 11:23
Hold up right there. What about team reds fanbois, they’ll buy the new Polaris range as well because its new.
GalacticLordCaptainAwesomeness
March 14, 2016 at 11:33
There is a new Polaris range coming out? Damn i’m still stuck then on the 290 OC…. Buuut there is no need for a new card as of yet.
Yes there will be those who do, however, what is the point of the new Green card…. some of the red cards actually have new Tech and performance 😉
HairyEwok
March 14, 2016 at 11:42
Check out GDC when it starts, AMD is showing off their new Polaris range which is a strong contender against Nvidia.
http://www.gdconf.com/
GalacticLordCaptainAwesomeness
March 14, 2016 at 11:50
Will do thanks man.
but just for some info http://techfrag.com/2016/03/01/far-cry-primal-benchmarks-show-amd-with-performance-lead-over-nvidia/
no need to upgrade as the ‘Cheaper and lower ended AMD cards’ seem to be doing well against the double the price green ones
Aimé Des-Air
March 14, 2016 at 14:37
gtx 9series (sept 2014)
amd R9 3xx series (june 2015)
But not totally sure
And the r9 290 was a best graphic card if we talk about quality/price
Please don’t be fanboy, just take the best during your bought time.
sorry for my bad English, I sux
Hardscrabblehammer
March 14, 2016 at 14:56
If game developers could actually utilize the ridiculously awesome and massive bandwidth of 16gig HBM, then it would matter. But since they can’t, at least not for another few years, it’s not a big deal if they go with the GDDR5X, which by the way, is also ridiculously awesome when you compare it to the current graphic cards. 8 gigs of GDDR5X will allow for vast amounts of super detailed photo realistic textures to load all around a PC in big titles.
umadpeople
March 14, 2016 at 17:46
honestly, is there any chance that we will be getting HBM for mobile aka notebook graphic card? i will be very disappointed if they use the ddr5x for mobile graphics card instead, desktop not really suitable for me because i travel a lot, what i hope is the new pascal mobile graphics card will have similar performance to the desktop version & x2 or x3 the performance over the previous gtx980.
Sean Buckman
March 14, 2016 at 18:14
There will be no AMD/Nvidia rivalry soon because of DX12. Every PC gamer will be using both soon enough.
wargamer1969
March 15, 2016 at 00:33
Guessing the 1080 model won’t be as mind blowingly faster than the 980ti maybe 1.5 times better but still worth it over my 780 classified.
Killer_Bee
March 15, 2016 at 15:29
Who is the Douche deleting comments?
Geoffrey Tim
March 15, 2016 at 15:33
We don’t, as a habit, delete comments – but if your comments contain links they may be nabbed by the spam filter.
Fernando Romero
March 15, 2016 at 19:00
I am very excited to see what will come. I do use a 4k display as my primary monitor and most games aren’t even worth running at 4k at the framerate cost.
MakoRuu
March 16, 2016 at 03:44
It’s all inaccurate speculation based on some serial shipping numbers from India, and people are already judging.
Be patient, scrubs.