Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 40-series GPUs are currently considered some of the top graphics cards available. However, there are already rumors circulating about the next-generation GeForce RTX 50-series (codenamed Blackwell) GPUs. While we may not be too excited about this potential upgrade path, reliable leaker kopite7kimi has provided some details about the successor to Ada Lovelace.
According to kopite7kimi, the GeForce RTX 50-series graphics cards will likely feature TSMC’s 3nm process node. This progression makes sense since the current GeForce RTX 40-series GPUs utilize the 5nm process node. With the 3nm process node, TSMC promises a performance boost of up to 15% compared to the 5nm node, while maintaining the same power level and number of transistors.
In terms of power savings, TSMC claims that the 3nm process node could reduce power consumption by as much as 30%. Additionally, the die sizes are estimated to be around 42% smaller than those of the 5nm process node. This reduction in size could lead to interesting improvements in Blackwell’s silicon. For example, the AD102, which powers the flagship GeForce RTX 4090, currently has a large die size of 609 mm². If the transition to the 3nm process node delivers smaller die sizes, it would be a noteworthy development.
It’s worth noting that the GeForce RTX 50-series graphics cards are rumored to have DisplayPort 2.1 support. Nvidia is lagging behind AMD in this aspect, as AMD has already introduced DisplayPort 2.1 on its existing Radeon RX 7000-series products. Currently, Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 40-series graphics cards only support DisplayPort 1.4a.
Regarding the PCIe interface, there are rumors that the Blackwell GPUs will feature the PCIe 5.0 interface. This may be excessive for mainstream graphics cards, but it’s a possibility. As for power connectors, it is likely that Blackwell will continue to use the 16-pin connector, potentially depending on the revised 12v-2×6 version.
The adoption of the 12v-2×6 standard is anticipated to provide a safer interconnect. Nvidia has faced criticism for the 12VHPWR meltdown issue, which some repair technicians attribute to the connector and third-party adapters. It is recommended that Nvidia and other companies adopting this standard emphasize the importance of following the ATX 5.0 specification to ensure the safety of third-party cables, extensions, and adapters.
At this point, there is still much uncertainty surrounding the Blackwell SKUs. While there are speculations about increased core counts or the use of GDDR7 memory in the GeForce RTX 50 series, it’s best to approach these rumors with skepticism.
