The source claims that the coming flagship RTX 3090 Ti with a full-fledged GA102 AMPERE graphics processor is a test machine for the next generation series. The reasons for such applications were simple: RTX 3090 Ti will be the first NVIDIA card with the PCIe Gen5 power connector and the first GeForce with one GPU reached the TDP 450 W.
However, it turned out that GA102 and AD102 graphics processors can be compatible by outputs, which means that a large number of user designs RTX 3090 Ti can be reused for the next-generation flagships: RTX 4080 or, possibly, even RTX 4090. If this is true. This will save a lot of effort and the cost of developing for partners on the Management Board.
According to the report, the unnamed reference board for the AD102 graphics processor will have 24 voltage converter for VRM and 4 memory converter (only 28 phases). This is more than 20 on RTX 3090. It should be noted that this is a reference board, and not a special edition from the partner on the board. Since it is compatible with GA102 graphics processors, and the AD102 graphics processors are not yet available, the board partners are currently using it with the Custom BIOS GA102 600 W for internal testing before NVIDIA will give them Ada graphic processors. However, the board is ready and improved, approves Igor'sLab.
Interestingly, Igor'slab says that in order to match the rumors about the TDP600 W for the Ad102 graphics processor, the partners on the board will be included with the adapters of 4 × 8 contacts by 12VHPWR (12 + 4). As it became known yesterday, RTX 3090 TI with a capacity of 450 W comes with an adapter 3 × 8-pin connector. NVIDIA RTX 3090 has two types of printed circuit boards: PG136 for Founders Edition and reference PG132. RTX 3080 uses PG133 or PG132. Meanwhile, the upcoming RTX 3090 Ti, as they say, will have PG139, but it is unclear whether this board number is intended for Founder's Edition or semi-non-standard AIB design.