First Nvidia GTX 1180 PCB prototype leaked with 12 GB 384-bit GDDR6 VRAM

Many sources have already pointed out that Nvidia’s GeForce GTX 11xx next gen gaming GPU family is scheduled for a July release, with third-party customized AIBs coming in early September. Since the desktop GPU team from Nvidia is said to already be in possession of reference design papers and boards, testing for such early cards should be happening as we speak. Information about one of these early test prototypes has recently been leaked on reddit (post already deleted), complete with some specs and pictures.

The prototype GTX 1180 card seems to be missing the processor, but the provided spec sheet mentions that the board features 12 GB of GDDR6 video memory with a 384-bit bus, three 8-pin power connectors and a second gen NVLink connector. Apparently, the card uses Micron memory chips, and judging by Micron’s own spec sheets, the 12 GB installed on the prototype card should yield around 672 GB/s total bandwidth, which would be a tad faster than what Titan V can output right now. Micron’s specs also allow for 14/16 GB memory options, so Nvidia might opt to include more memory for the Ti versions later on.

The GPU area looks to be consistent with the dimensions of the Volta GPUs launched last year, meaning that the next gen gaming GPU from Nvidia is indeed derived from the Volta design. Additionally, the triple 8-pin setup should not be considered standard for finalized specs. These are most likely included for testers that assess the maximum clocks for GPU and memory, and they may also provide relevant information about the overclocking potential to third party AIB makers.

Regarding the presence of the NVLink interface on the test board, this could indicate that Nvidia could be looking to replace the SLI connectors with the improved NVLink ones. Even though the NVLink interface is not yet supported by any games, Nvidia could push for an adoption with the release of the GTX 11xx series.

It would be interesting to see if Nvidia will change the cooling system, since the prototype card comes with only 4 small blower fans on top of the VRMs. Insider sources claim that the reference docs and PCB designs were received mid-June and it would take around 1 month to release finalized specs.

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