14 DAY TRIAL // The latest graphics cards from NVIDIA may not feature the absolute best technology that NVIDIA has come up with, since the GM210 graphics processing unit is being held in reserve. However, the GTX 980 and 970 are still the best in the company's lineup, dual-chip boards notwithstanding.
That means that they need to hold their own against AMD's Radeon R9 series. Something that has been accomplished well enough so far, but which may not be as easy going forward.
From what we've heard, AMD is preparing to launch more Radeon R9 290X graphics adapters with 8 GB of GDDR5 VRAM memory this November (2014).
We'll be sure to check out those rumors separately. Right now, we're more interested in the rumor that NVIDIA is getting ready to match AMD's offer.
Technically, AMD already has boards with 8 GB memory on sale, but NVIDIA's cards have been able to compensate for that by means of better performance and lower power consumption.
However, by now, the customers who value efficiency over performance will have already placed their orders, so NVIDIA needs to change tactics lest it see a drop in demand worldwide.
8 GB GDDR5 VRAM are needed for multi-GPU 4K gaming
Memory width doesn't matter for single-monitor use, provided the monitor is a normal one. When you start to cross into 4K territory though, it becomes much more important.
Because of that, SLI and CrossFire configurations of two or more NVIDIA/AMD video cards are bought quite often by the high-end community. Even though the performance advantage isn't more than 50% for the most part, instead of double.
The only video boards that can comfortably run games at that quality are dual-GPU ones, but they barely count as single adapters themselves, since they're essentially SLI/CrossFire GPU setups on a single PCB.
The high amount of anti-aliasing that has to happen at 4K quality is one of the major reasons why a wide memory bandwidth and capacity is required.
If the VRAM could stack cumulatively in a multi-GPU setup, boards with higher capacities wouldn't really be needed. But it cannot, so they are.
The ETA for the release of 8 GB boards
Unfortunately, we don't have a narrower one than “this November.” That they're coming at all is really just a rumor now, although Hermitage Akihabara usually nails things just right. We'll get back to you once the Santa Clara, California-based company validates or invalidates the rumor. Either way, it's just a matter of time.