Skip to main content

Nvidia to bring more power to laptops with notebook graphics refresh in March

 

Nvidia will debut as many as six new laptop graphics options in March, 2020, covering the entire range from the entry-level GTX 1650, right through to the RTX 2080 Super with 8GB of GDDR6. The 2070 Super is also making an appearance, bringing 8GB of its own memory to bear, though there’s also a suggestion that the RTX 2060 will be marketed as a Super variant, too.

Recommended Videos

In the first few weeks of 2020, the momentum and mindshare for new graphics cards and chips has been everywhere but in Nvidia’s camp. AMD has some new desktop and mobile GPUs of its own, in the form of the 5500 XT and 5500M, and there are new reports of impressive performance from Intel’s Xe GPUs. But Nvidia appears ready to hit back with some new laptop chips of its own, according to a WCCFTech report on leaks from a source inside Nvidia.

The new GPUs are set to replace existing GTX and RTX options in most mainstream laptops in 2020, ousting some older 10-series designs, and upgrading others to the higher performance offered by Nvidia’s Super range of refreshed cards. The GTX 1650 will replace the aged GTX 1050 3GB, upping the memory to 4GB of GDDR6. The 1650 Ti will ditch the existing GTX 1650 with 4GB of GDDR5, boosting core counts and clock speeds as well.

The RTX 2060 is, in name alone, no different from the existing RTX 2060 available in laptops, but WCCFTech believes this will use a brand-new chip, and is likely to be released as a Super variant, with higher clocks.

There will reportedly be two new RTX 2070s, one Super, the other not. It’s not clear how the non-Super will differ from the original, but the Super variant is expected to have higher clocks and additional CUDA cores, bringing it more in line with the standard RTX 2080. That will be eclipsed by the new, top-tier Nvidia RTX mobile GPU, the RTX 2080 Super with a full 8GB of GDDR6.

With plans for these new GPUs to become available on March 31, it raises the question of how soon we can expect Nvidia Ampere GPUs. Those next-gen graphics cards and chips are expected to debut in 2020, but releasing a new line of cards so soon after a mobile refresh would be a surprise.

Jon Martindale
Jon Martindale is a freelance evergreen writer and occasional section coordinator, covering how to guides, best-of lists, and…
Nvidia’s RTX 5060 Ti could repeat last generation’s mistakes
Logo on the RTX 4060 Ti graphics card.

Nvidia's list of the best graphics cards is about to expand with the arrival of the RTX 5060 Ti 16GB/8GB and the RTX 5060 non-Ti. We don't know yet, but we know that they're coming. But today's leak shows us that gamers may have been right to worry about how much these GPUs will cost. It looks like Nvidia could walk down the same path it has paved with the RTX 40-series, and that's not necessarily good news.

The information comes from Board Channels, which is a source with a good track record. Still, remember that we need to take everything with a pinch of salt until Nvidia itself confirms the specs and the pricing.

Read more
Nvidia RTX 5070 available at suggested price at Best Buy, grab it now
The RTX 5070 in a graphic.

It may be the day after April Fool's Day, but this is no joke. The coveted Nvidia RTX 5070 is currently available at the major retailer, Best Buy, at its regularly suggested price of $550. 

There have already been reports of increased availability of the RTX 50-series graphics cards, such as news of exclusive offerings for Amazon Prime members. However, this sighting is a lucky opportunity for those who don’t want to spend in excess for a graphic component. All of Nvidia’s GPUs have been subject to reseller and scalper inflation, but its cheapest option becoming too costly can be exhausting. Retailers attempted to push the price of the mid-range RTX 5070 Ti up to $1,000 in March before complaints forced them to bring the price down to a more reasonable level. 

Read more
Amazon has AMD and Nvidia GPU stock for you, but you’ll need Prime
AMD Radeon RX 9070 GPUs from different brands

Amazon appears to be taking measures to combat GPU scalping by reserving some stock of Nvidia’s RTX 5000 and AMD’s Radeon 9000 series graphics cards for its Prime subscribers. According to a report by Club386, select high-end GPUs are now available exclusively to Prime members, potentially limiting the impact of scalpers and resellers. Notably, Amazon has not explicitly announced this as an anti-scalping tactic, leaving room for speculation about its true intentions.

Several Nvidia RTX 5000 series GPUs, from the RTX 5080 to the RTX 5070, are listed as "reserved for Prime members" on Amazon, preventing non-members from purchasing them. The flagship RTX 5090 is notably exempt, likely due to its high price, while the RTX 40 series remains unaffected, possibly because of limited remaining stock.

Read more