Nvidia’s Blackwell laptop graphics cards are expected to arrive in early 2025. A recent leak suggests the amount of video memory (VRAM) these cards will have.
This information comes from Moore’s Law is Dead (MLID), a frequent YouTube leaker. In our experience, they are a trustworthy source for GPU and CPU leaks.
MLID claims to have the complete details of the VRAM. According to them, the top model RTX 5090 will have the same setup as the RTX 4090. This might be disappointing for some. It will have 16GB of VRAM and a 256-bit memory bus.
The better news may come from the next model, likely the RTX 5080, also known as the second tier Blackwell GPU. It will also feature 16GB of VRAM and a 256-bit bus.
This is an upgrade from the current RTX 4080 laptop GPU, which has 12GB of VRAM.
However, there’s a small complication. Remember, the RTX 4080 mobile GPU used a less powerful chip, the AD104, compared to the AD103 in the RTX 4090.
But a recent rumor from MLID suggests that the RTX 5080 will use the GB203 chip, the same as the flagship 5090. This means it could be significantly more powerful, especially with the added VRAM upgrade.
This also suggests that Nvidia may choose to name it the RTX 5080 Ti instead of just the RTX 5080, to indicate the improvements.
This decision could impact the rest of the lineup. If Nvidia names the second tier GPU the RTX 5080 Ti, then what would have been the RTX 4070 equivalent might be called the RTX 5080.
However, if the second tier remains the RTX 5080, then the third tier would naturally be named the RTX 5070.
You probably understand, but regardless of its name, the third tier GPU is expected to have 12GB of VRAM, which is more than the 8GB in the RTX 4070.
As for the fourth tier GPU, likely the RTX 5060, or perhaps the RTX 5070 if Nvidia follows the 5090 / 5080 Ti / 5080 naming pattern, it will have 8GB of VRAM, which might disappoint some.
Analysis: The Good, the Bad, and the 8GB Problem
There’s mixed news here, so take it with caution since it’s just rumors.
On the positive side, the RTX 5080 could be significantly stronger than the RTX 4080, potentially leading Nvidia to name it the RTX 5080 Ti.
This would enhance the top-end options. It’s also positive that the third tier GPU might have an extra 4GB of video RAM, increasing from 8GB to 12GB.
The less favorable news involves not boosting the VRAM on the flagship Blackwell mobile GPU and keeping only 8GB of VRAM for the fourth tier GPU, which is likely the RTX 5060 or possibly the RTX 5070.
Looking ahead, since these are next-generation GPUs expected to dominate until at least 2027, both VRAM capacities seem inadequate. The decision to stick with 8GB on the lower-end model appears especially uncertain for future gaming needs.
Assuming Nvidia chooses this path, we should note that it might not happen at all – so it’s premature to worry too much about these outcomes.
However, regarding the reliability of this information, MLID claims it comes from some of his most trusted sources. These are people who have previously provided early images of GPUs – they are well-connected Nvidia insiders. Because of this, MLID is confident in these predictions.
As always, we’ll wait to see if other leaks support MLID’s claims. But if they do, the highest and lowest offerings in the Blackwell range of GPUs for gaming laptops could end up being a letdown. These mobile graphics cards are expected to launch in early 2025, likely in March, based on earlier leaks.
What we think?
I think the new Nvidia RTX 5080 might be really strong, maybe even called RTX 5080 Ti because it’s a lot better than the old one.
The third GPU will have more memory, which is good. But, the top model and the lowest one might not have enough memory for future games, which could be disappointing. We need to wait and see if more leaks confirm these details.