The image was first uploaded by a user on the Chinese tech forum, Chiphell, who claims that the GPU is the real deal and that this would probably be what the end consumers will receive upon purchase. While unsubstantiated, it should be noted that the GPU seen here is also labeled as a qualifications sample; NVIDIA typically sends such GPUs to its AiB partners as a way for them to prep their custom-cooled cards based on the new GPUs.
Sadly, due to the lack of details, it goes without saying that the validity of the GPU is questionable at best. That said, recent images of NVIDIA’s alleged unique Founders Edition cooler shroud next to an RTX 2080 does give us some idea as to just how big Ampere’s die size would be on the PCB. On another and somewhat related note, MSI seems to be preparing to launch a tidal wave of GeForce RTX 30 series, if its recent registration with Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) is anything to go by. The Taiwanese PC components and laptop brand reportedly listed a total of 29 models on the EEC database, but stops short of giving them names that would make it easy for people like us to identify them. Despite that, and given the company’s practice in its naming convention, we have a pretty good idea as to which card is which; back with Turing, MSI labelled its GeForce RTX 2080 Ti with the codes V371 and V377, the RTX 2060 with V375, and so and so forth. Thus, if habits stay true, the models with the serial number V388 could be the RTX 3090, while cards labelled V389 and V390 could correspond to the RTX 3080 and 3070, respectively. In any case, we’ll just have to wait until NVIDIA’s Special Event that is slated to kick at once the timer of its “Ultimate Countdown” reaches zero. (Source: Chiphell via Hot Hardware, ECC)
