After months of massive graphics cards like the RTX 4090, Nvidia is finally winding things down at its GPU Technology Conference (GTC). The RTX 4000 SFF delivers the Ada Lovelace architecture in a tiny package, but you probably won’t find it among the best graphics cards out there.
Although the RTX 4000 SFF uses the same architecture as the RTX 4080 in gaming GPUs, it is built for a very different purpose. It uses Nvidia enterprise drivers, and is built to power computer-aided design (CAD), graphics design, AI applications, and software development, according to Nvidia. The card has two slots and includes a low-profile bracket for cases like the Hyte Y40.
As for the specs, it includes 20GB of GDDR6 memory on a 160-bit bus, as well as 6,144 CUDA cores, 192 Tensor cores, and 48 ray tracing cores. Those core specs fall slightly short of the RTX 4070 Ti, but you shouldn’t expect the RTX 4000 SFF to be nearly as powerful. It has solid features, but is limited to only 70 watts of power due to its small form factor nature.
Although the RTX 4000 fills a niche for SFF gamers, it’s not a great buy. Nvidia says that PNY and Ryeo Electro will start selling the GPU in April for $1,250, and will position it as a GPU built for professional applications.
Nvidia is also bringing the Ada Lovelace architecture to laptop makers. We’ve had our first taste of RTX 40-series GPUs in machines like the Asus ROG Zephyrus M16, but Nvidia’s new range is built for creators, not gamers.
The flagship RTX 5000 comes with 9,728 CUDA cores along with 16GB of GDDR6 memory. Lower down the stack, the RTX 4000 and RTX 3500 both come with 12GB of GDDR6 memory, but the RTX 4000 packs 7,424 CUDA cores, while the RTX 3500 packs in 5,120. Below that are the RTX 3000 and RTX 2000, with 4,608 and 3,072 CUDA cores, respectively. Both come with 8GB of GDDR6 memory.
Nvidia didn’t point to any specific models, but said that buyers can expect to see workstations from HP, Lenovo and others packing the new ADA GPUs starting this month. Again, these GPUs use Nvidia’s Studio drivers and are built for professional applications, so expect workstations to cost a premium over gaming-focused machines.
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