NVIDIA RTX 5090 Could Be Discontinued as RTX 5080 May Get 24GB VRAM Upgrade
NVIDIA could be preparing a significant change to its high-end GeForce graphics card lineup, with new leaks suggesting that the RTX 5090 may be discontinued while the RTX 5080 could receive a substantial memory upgrade.
According to the rumors, NVIDIA may shift production of its powerful GB202 graphics chips toward RTX PRO workstation GPUs, potentially reducing their availability for GeForce gaming graphics cards. Meanwhile, a separate leak suggests the RTX 5080 could receive a new 24GB VRAM configuration, up from the 16GB available in the current model.
Neither change has been confirmed by NVIDIA, so both reports should be treated as unverified rumors rather than official product announcements.
NVIDIA RTX 5090 Discontinuation Rumor Explained
The GeForce RTX 5090 is NVIDIA’s flagship consumer graphics card in its RTX 50 series, built on the Blackwell architecture. It launched with 32GB of GDDR7 memory and is designed for demanding gaming workloads, 4K gaming, ray tracing, and other GPU-intensive applications.
The latest rumor suggests NVIDIA could stop producing the RTX 5090 or significantly reduce its availability by reserving more of its GB202 silicon for RTX PRO workstation products.
The GB202 is the large GPU die used in the RTX 5090. NVIDIA’s professional graphics lineup also uses Blackwell-based GPUs, although workstation products can have different configurations, memory systems, and capabilities from their GeForce counterparts.
If NVIDIA prioritizes professional graphics products, the move could reflect a decision about how to allocate available GPU production capacity. Workstation GPUs serve professional workloads such as AI development, engineering, scientific computing, and 3D content creation, where customers may pay a premium for specialized features and professional support.
However, the leak does not establish that NVIDIA has officially decided to discontinue the RTX 5090. A reduction in production, a temporary supply shortage, and a complete product discontinuation are different scenarios, and there is not enough verified information to conclude which, if any, is being considered.
RTX 5080 Could Receive 24GB of VRAM
The second rumor could be particularly interesting for gamers and creators who want more graphics memory without purchasing NVIDIA’s most expensive consumer GPU.
The current RTX 5080 features 16GB of GDDR7 memory. According to the leak, NVIDIA may be considering a 24GB version that would provide 50% more VRAM than the existing model.
More VRAM can help with demanding games, high-resolution textures, ray tracing, content creation, and workloads involving large assets. It can also provide additional headroom for local AI applications and other memory-intensive tasks.
However, additional memory does not automatically translate into a 50% performance increase. Actual gaming performance depends on factors including GPU processing power, memory bandwidth, game optimization, and whether a particular workload exceeds the existing card’s memory capacity.
A 24GB RTX 5080 could therefore be an attractive option for users who need more memory but do not require the RTX 5090’s full performance capabilities.
NVIDIA has not announced a 24GB RTX 5080, and the leak does not establish its possible release date, price, or final specifications.
How the Rumored Changes Could Affect NVIDIA’s GPU Lineup
If both rumors prove accurate, NVIDIA’s high-end consumer GPU strategy could look different from the lineup currently available.
The RTX 5090 offers 32GB of GDDR7 memory, while the RTX 5080 has 16GB. A 24GB version of the latter would narrow the memory-capacity gap between the two cards, although their processing performance and other specifications would still differ.
A potential reduction in RTX 5090 supply could also make the RTX 5080 more important for buyers seeking a high-end GeForce GPU. However, whether that would lead to higher prices, better availability for the RTX 5080, or a shift toward workstation products remains unknown.
The situation would also matter to PC enthusiasts considering an upgrade. Anyone planning to purchase a flagship GPU should distinguish between confirmed specifications and unverified reports, particularly when making a costly hardware decision.
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