RTX 50 SUPER Rumors: Everything We Know So Far
Summer and autumn leaks point to NVIDIA lining up an RTX 50 SUPER refresh to hold the line until the 60-series arrives. Here's the rumor stack so far--dates, specs, and how to prep your rig if you plan to upgrade.
Rumor timeline and signal strength
| Date | Development | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| April 2025 | AD208-401 spotted in NVIDIA drivers | Codename hints at a beefed-up RTX 5090 with more VRAM |
| July 2025 | AIB partners briefed on "SUPER refresh" roadmap | Confirms the launch window shifted to Q1 2026[^1] |
| September 2025 | TweakTown reports 50% more VRAM vs. non-SUPER cards | Suggests NVIDIA is countering AMD's memory bump |
| October 2025 | Driver branch 555.xx references new device IDs | Historically appears 4-6 months before shipping, pointing to Feb-Mar availability |
Expected specs across the stack
| Model | CUDA cores (rumoured) | Memory | Bus | Target user |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RTX 5090 SUPER | 18,432 | 32-36 GB GDDR7 | 384-bit | AAA 8K gaming, workstation AI inference |
| RTX 5080 SUPER | 14,336 | 24 GB GDDR7 | 320-bit | 4K/120 gaming, VR, 8K editing |
| RTX 5070 SUPER | 11,264 | 20 GB GDDR7 | 256-bit | Streamers, creators, mid-range AI workloads |
VRAM is the headline. NVIDIA wants to blunt AMD's 24 GB Radeon moves while keeping Ada Lovelace silicon relevant through 2026.
Why NVIDIA needs a SUPER refresh
- Competitive pressure. AMD's RDNA 4 cards and Intel's Battlemage push on efficiency and memory. SUPER cards plug pricing gaps and keep GeForce users from defecting.
- AI demand. Corporate buyers are still hoovering up consumer GPUs for inference clusters. Larger VRAM pools make RTX 50 SUPER attractive for ML inference without going full data centre.
- Lifecycle extension. Refreshing the line stretches Ada's runway another 12-15 months, giving NVIDIA time to ramp the next architecture without aggressive price cuts.
Prep checklist for different users
Gamers
- Validate PSU headroom: a 5090 SUPER may demand 600 W plus the new 12V-2x6 connector.
- Update your motherboard BIOS to handle PCIe Gen5 power draw optimisations.
- Track seasonal promotions--the Cyber Monday 2025 playbook covers current-gen discounts that may be smarter buys if prices plunge.
Creators
- Plan upgrades around NVIDIA Studio and Broadcast updates that will likely accompany the refresh.
- Map workloads that will benefit from an extra 8-12 GB VRAM so you can justify the spend (e.g., multi-track 8K timelines, larger diffusion models).
IT teams and startups
- Budget for MSRP bumps: expect the 5090 SUPER to start around $1,899, judging by prior launches.
- Mix and match: keep existing cards for lower-priority jobs and slot SUPER models into top-tier inference or render nodes.
- Automate stock monitoring via n8n or Make so procurement can pounce on retailer drops (we outline the automation approach in our workflow comparison).
What insiders are hinting at
- Wccftech and VideoCardz both expect NVIDIA to use CES 2026 or a standalone GeForce event in February for the reveal.[^2]
- ASUS and MSI sources at Computex said board designs are locked, with cooling and acoustics getting extra attention.
- Jensen Huang told CNBC that refreshes "bring the latest architecture to more customers," a subtle nod that the program is real.
Upgrade without regret
- Skip day-one preorders. Wait for third-party benchmarks vs. AMD's Navi 4 before committing.
- Check case clearance. Card footprints keep growing--ensure you have 3.5 slots of breathing room and strong intake airflow.
- Hunt bundles. NVIDIA routinely pairs launches with free games or GeForce NOW Ultimate--calculate the net value before buying.
- Stay flexible. If you need horsepower for AI video or rendering right now, renting compute may be smarter; our AI video tool roundup highlights when services beat hardware.
The bottom line: RTX 50 SUPER looks set for late Q1 2026 with VRAM-heavy revisions. Shore up power, cooling, and budgets now, and you'll be ready whether you grab the refresh or score discounted RTX 40 stock instead.
[^1]: TweakTown. "GeForce RTX 50 SUPER Series Refresh Could Arrive Later in 2026 Than Expected." October 2025. [^2]: Wccftech. "NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50 SUPER Rumor Round-Up." October 2025.