The new Nvidia RTX 4070 GDDR6 graphics card has the same GPU specs. However, it comes with a slower GDDR6 VRAM clocked at 20Gbps instead of 21Gbps of GDDR6X.
Earlier this month, we revealed how, as per the rumors, Nvidia is working on a GDDR6 version of Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 graphics card. Possibly due to shortages of GDDR6X VRAM. So to solve the shortages issue, Nvidia found a fix. Replace faster GDDR6X VRAM with slower GDDR6.
Looks like the rumor of GDDR6 version of Nvidia RTX 4070 is completely correct.
RTX 4070 GDDR6
In an official announcement (via Tom’s Hardware and VideoCardz) about Nvidia’s new graphics card drivers, Nvidia has quite announced the GeForce RTX 4070 graphics card. The announcement reads:
To improve supply and availability to meet strong demand, we’re introducing the GeForce RTX 4070 with extra fast GDDR6 memory. All of the other specs remain the same. It offers similar performance in games and applications.
It will be available from our graphics cards partners worldwide, starting in September. It is supported in today’s Game Ready Driver. For more details on the GeForce RTX 4070, visit the GeForce RTX 4070 product page on GeForce.com.
The wordings are interesting. Improve supply and availability to meet strong demand. Extra fast GDDR6. Similar performance.
Either way, the specs of the graphics card remain the same. Except the now slower VRAM.
While the original RTX 4070 came with GDDR6X clocked at 21Gbps, which amounted to the bandwidth of 504GB/s, the RTX 4070 GDDR6 has a 5% slower GDDR6 VRAM running at 20Gbps, which amounts to the bandwidth of 480GB/s.
Now, whether this translates to a lower power usage and reduced performance, it’s to be seen.
These new graphics cards are going to start releasing starting September this year.
Conclusion
We have no problem with Nvidia releasing a GDDR6 version of the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 graphics card with a slightly slower VRAM. Nvidia surely might have its own reasons, including the rumored GDDR6X shortage, as hinted in the official announcement. The graphics cards below the RTX 4070 series either way uses slower GDDR6.
The problem is the labeling and buyers potentially getting misguided due to it. Take the Gainward’s listing for the new GDDR6 graphics card, for example. The title makes no mention of the GDDR6 VRAM. It’s only when one reads the specs behind the box that they come to know that the graphics card uses a slower GDDR6 VRAM running at 20Gbps.
So how would the buyers easily know about the change in the VRAM. Most of the internet is filled with the reviews of the RTX 4070 with GDDR6X. So they would think that they are getting the same thing.
It’s not something that’s happening for the first time, either. So it’s surely something that we would like to see Nvidia address when it makes new launches like this.
