Nvidia has reassured consumers that the manufacturing defect affecting desktop RTX 50 graphics cards will not impact laptop models, despite delays in their release. The RTX 50 series has faced challenges, including a shortage of Render Output Units (ROPs) in some desktop versions, resulting in performance drops. Reports suggest that the laptop GPUs may also be affected, prompting Nvidia to enhance quality control. The launch of laptops is now pushed back to April or May, raising concerns over production and supply issues.
Nvidia Addresses RTX 50 Manufacturing Concerns
Nvidia has assured consumers that the manufacturing defect affecting desktop RTX 50 graphics cards will not be present in the laptop versions. However, the launch of laptops featuring the RTX 50 has experienced delays, pushing their availability back.
The debut of the Blackwell graphics card series (RTX 50) has been anything but smooth for Nvidia. Issues such as software glitches leading to black screens have been partially mitigated with a recent update to the GeForce Game Ready driver. Nevertheless, various other challenges have marred the introduction of these new GPUs.
ROP Deficiency in RTX 50 Desktop Models
Reports indicate that certain units of the RTX 5090, RTX 5080, and RTX 5070 Ti are affected by a shortage of Render Output Units (ROPs), which are critical for the GPU’s performance. These units play a vital role at the end of the graphical processing cycle, just before the rendering is stored in memory and sent to the display.
Typically, an RTX 5090 is expected to have 176 ROPs, the RTX 5080 should feature 112 ROPs, and the RTX 5070 Ti is designed with 96 ROPs. However, some cards shipped by Nvidia have not met these specifications, leading to diminished performance. In cases of this defect, a complete partition of ROPs, totaling eight units, may be absent. This results in a performance deficit of 4.5% for the RTX 5090, 7% for the RTX 5080, and over 8% for the RTX 5070 Ti.
All versions, including Founder’s Edition and custom designs from third-party manufacturers, could be affected by this manufacturing flaw. Nvidia has stated that only 0.5% of the graphics cards sold exhibit this issue.
Concerns have arisen as two German media outlets, Heise Online and Hardwareluxx, reported that this ROP issue might also impact the RTX 50 laptop models. Initially, the first laptops equipped with RTX 50 GPUs were expected to launch in March, but they are now likely to be delayed until April or even May. Reports indicate that Nvidia has urged manufacturers to ensure their products meet technical standards, particularly regarding the required number of ROPs.
Nvidia has responded to concerns by asserting that the manufacturing defect found in desktop RTX 50 models will not affect the laptop versions. “All partners continue to conduct checks as part of our standard testing procedure,” the company informed The Verge, denying any special protocols for the Blackwell graphics cards designed for laptops.
Ben Berraondo, Nvidia GeForce’s global public relations director, emphasized that “no other GPU is affected” and reassured that laptop GPUs will not suffer from the missing ROP issue. It remains unclear whether this is due to the absence of the defect in laptop GPUs or if enhanced quality control will prevent defective units from reaching the market.
The delay in launching the first laptops equipped with RTX 50 graphics cards raises questions about the situation’s complexity. According to Heise Online, this postponement may stem from Nvidia only recently providing the final vBIOS for laptop GPUs. It is also possible that low production rates are causing supply shortages, hindering the mass assembly of laptops and their subsequent availability.
As of now, obtaining an RTX 50 graphics card at a reasonable price remains a significant challenge. Nvidia’s pricing has not been adhered to by its partners, leading to frustration among consumers. With the production of the RTX 40 series concluding earlier than expected, the market has seen a significant drought. Hopes were high that AMD’s Radeon RX 9000 series would offer relief, but models like the Radeon RX 9070 and Radeon RX 9070 XT are also being sold at prices above AMD’s suggested retail prices.