As per the VGA compatibility list on the MSI website, there could be another variant of the RTX 5080 from the company with a higher VRAM size.
MSI Website Reveals a Possible 24 GB RTX 5080 GPU; Is MSI Taking its Own Route for RTX 50 GPUs?
Usually, NVIDIA board partners are not allowed to alter the specs of NVIDIA GPUs and have to strictly adhere to the specs defined by NVIDIA. This also includes memory configuration, but surprisingly, MSI has listed a 24 GB variant of the GeForce RTX 5080 on its website.
MSI hasn't officially announced such a variant but has listed the 24 GB RTX 5080 edition in the VGA compatibility list of the MSI X870 Tomahawk Wi-Fi page. The list shows the released RTX 50 series GPUs, including the RTX 5090, RTX 5070 Ti, and RTX 5070. Weirdly, the RTX 5080 16 GB edition doesn't show up, which could mean that the listing of 24 GB RTX 5080 might be a typo.
Remember that the VGA compatibility list is a general list of GPUs that a motherboard can support out of the box and this doesn't really indicate if it is an RTX 5080 GPU from MSI or from other vendors. Since this is something we only see on MSI's website, many are wondering if MSI is preparing a 24 GB edition of the RTX 5080.
This cannot be verified unless MSI comments on this matter, and it's unlikely that MSI can alter the memory configuration of the GPU without NVIDIA's permission. However, a 24 GB RTX 5080 is definitely possible through the usage of 3 GB GDDR7 memory modules. Typically, NVIDIA uses 2 GB GDDR7 memory modules on its RTX 50 series GPUs, but 3 GB modules also exist, which is why we have a 24 GB RTX 5090 laptop GPU with a 256-bit memory interface.
The GeForce RTX 5080 also features a 256-bit memory interface and, by default, comes with 16 GB VRAM capacity. By using 3 GB modules, it can reach 24 GB capacity but only if NVIDIA decides. It's possible that the future GeForce RTX 5080 variants, like the RTX 5080 Ti or RTX 5080 Super, might feature such a VRAM configuration, but at the moment, the RTX 5080 might stick with just 16 GB capacity.
While a 24 GB RTX 5080 may not be highly beneficial in gaming, it can certainly be helpful in other memory-intensive tasks. This is why the RTX 4090 already exists with a 48 GB variant in China and is selling for around the same price as the RTX 5090 as per the current price trends.
News Sources: MSI, @unikoshardware
About the author: Sarfraz Khan is a hardware reporter with a focus on PC components and the builder community. With years of experience writing about PC hardware and laptops, his work has been featured on several reputable technology publications. Sarfraz's hands-on experience is demonstrated through his first-person accounts of using and comparing different hardware configurations, providing practical and relatable insights for everyday users. His technical analysis is respected by peers in the enthusiast community and has been cited by specialized hardware sites such as Germany's Igor's Lab.
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