GeForce RTX 5000: Notebook GPUs are also affected by ROP decline
Gaming laptops with GeForce RTX 5000 are not even on the market yet, but faulty GPUs with too few ROPs also affect this device class.
Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 fĂĽr Gaming-Notebooks.
(Image: c't / mue)
The launch of the GeForce RTX 5000 was and is a debacle: Even if you ignore the fact that you can hardly buy such graphics cards at the moment (and if you can, then only at absurdly high prices), there have been a number of technical anomalies since the launch, from melting power stretchers and inexplicable black screens to GPUs that incorrectly have fewer raster operation pipelines (ROPs) than specified in the data sheet.
As c't has now learned from several notebook manufacturers, they are currently working extra shifts in the Far East to prevent the drama from going into the next act: Nvidia has urged manufacturers to check notebooks already produced with the new mobile GeForce RTX 5000 graphics chips. The focus here is also on GPUs that have too few ROPs active than the data sheet specifies. This error can lead to significant losses in 3D performance.
The aim of this action is to ensure that systems with faulty mobile GPUs – some of which have apparently slipped through Nvidia's quality assurance as with the desktop variants – are intercepted before they are even delivered to customers. The current testing procedure should still mean less effort for manufacturers than subsequent replacement campaigns – not to mention the frustrated customers, if they were to receive faulty units.
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Production start-up
It is unclear how many notebooks are affected; one manufacturer only spoke of the first batch of his devices having to do the extra test round. According to reports, mass production is only starting up these days: Nvidia just distributed the final vBIOS for the notebook GPUs last week, after some fine-tuning was still required.
The first gaming notebooks with GeForce RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 have been available for pre-order since the end of February. As things currently stand, however, delivery will not take place in March as originally planned, but from April onwards. Depending on the notebook manufacturer and model, GPU variant, CPU manufacturer and delivery region, shipping could start in May or even later. It also remains to be seen whether there are enough GPUs or demand will be much greater than supply.
Nvidia has denied the ROP error in notebook GPUs overnight. We stand by our statement. Read here how this fits together.
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