A Japanese tech shop and GPU repair specialist shop called AiGPU was found to be offering customers the opportunity to double the VRAM capacity of their RTX 2080 Ti from 11GB to 22GB. And all you have to pay is 45,000 yen (~RM1,146).

The process of expanding memory capacity on a GPU isn’t anything we’ve not heard about before: the process involves replacing the surrounding VRAM chips around the GPU die with higher capacity modules. Typically, NVIDIA uses 2GB chips, but for older models like the RTX 2080 Ti, they used 1GB chips. Specifically, 1GB GDDR6 chips.

AiGPU basically replaces the older GDDR6 chips around the RTX 2080 Ti with 2GB variants, which, to state the obvious, effectively doubles the GPU’s capacity. There is also a little techo-wizardry involved, namely changing the memory configuration so that the GPU actually recognises its new capacity.

We last reviewed the RTX 2080 Ti in its default state back in 2018, when it first launched. Like all flagships, the card was certainly a powerhouse for its time, but it was quickly overshadowed by even the second most powerful card of the Ampere generation, the RTX 3080. At least, in 4K gaming.

And it’s not just the RTX 2080 Ti that AiGPU is offering its capacity-upgrading services for, nor is it limited to just cards from the Turing era. The specialist’s shop reportedly lists several GPUs from other generations with double their capacities: An RTX A2000 with 12GB, RX 3070 with 16GB, RTX 3080 with 20GB, RTX 4080 and 4080 Super with 32GB, and an RTX 4090 with 480GB. The latter has actual proof through Gamers Nexus‘ investigation into the AI GPU black market in China.

And that brings us full circle to the reason why: AI and its increasingly demanding workloads that, in turn, require high performance GPUs, particularly those with 20GB or more.

To be precise, the growing demand for AI-capable hardware has led to a memory chip crisis that isn’t just affecting GPUs, but also the production of other memory-based products, such as RAM and storage. We’ll claim the broken record status at this stage: it’s led to a surge in pricing for all three goods in the DIY PC and laptop market, with companies now forced to charged well beyond what anyone would consider top-dollar or even acceptable prices.

(Source: AiGPU, Videocardz)

Updated 1:08 pm, Wed, 19 August 26