Whatever Happened to the GTX 980 Ti to GTX 1080 Ti Step-up Programme

btarunr · Mar 1, 2017

Just before Holiday 2016 (December), we were intrigued by a curious line in a LinkedIn job-posting, which at the time confirmed that NVIDIA is working on the GeForce GTX 1080 Ti, and more importantly, that existing users of the GeForce GTX 980 Ti would have a priority in a pre-order queue, or a "Step Up Offer." A step-up offer is that in which GTX 980 Ti users would have the ability to trade-in their GTX 980 Ti cards for new GTX 1080 Ti cards, at a price significantly lower than buying a brand-new GTX 1080 Ti card. From the looks of it, there is no sign of such an offer.

The other, more scary detail about the GTX 1080 Ti, which was doing rounds at the time, was its fabled $999 price-tag, with fears of NVIDIA price-gouging with the new card so as to not cannibalize inventory of premium GTX 1080 cards in stock, some of which are still priced over the $700 mark. Alas, the GTX 1080 Ti launched at $699, a price we're sure NVIDIA partners with unsold super-premium GTX 1080 cards won't take kindly, and the GTX 1080 got its price cut to $499. NVIDIA is taking no chances with its market preparation for AMD's next-generation Radeon RX Vega.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

rtwjunkie · Mar 1, 2017

This is a good question, and also undetermined when they announced it if it would include AIB cards, or just trading in reference 980Ti's with 1080Ti FE (reference).

I'm not sure I'm quite willing in any case to drop my well tested and thoroughly stable 980Ti for something that we still have no idea what problems it will show up with.

Inevitably, if the trade-up still exists, it likely won't still exist when the 1080Ti has become a mature, stable product, which is when I would likely upgrade. That's ok though, it's just the way it is on my upgrade cycle.

peche · Mar 1, 2017

rtwjunkie said:
I'm not sure I'm quite willing in any case to drop my well tested and thoroughly stable 980Ti for something that we still have no idea what problems it will show up with.

Agreed, i guess could be better to wait, see the card, specs and some benchs, tests and reviews, then you could decide if replace or stay with the card you have,
900 series were strong cards, 1000 series are insane cards, cant wait to see what 2000 series will offer!

Regards,

ZoneDymo · Mar 1, 2017

peche said:
Agreed, i guess could be better to wait, see the card, specs and some benchs, tests and reviews, then you could decide if replace or stay with the card you have,
900 series were strong cards, 1000 series are insane cards, cant wait to see what 2000 series will offer!

Regards,

Well 1100 series first

peche · Mar 1, 2017

ZoneDymo said:
Well 1100 series first

my bad

EarthDog · Mar 1, 2017

Sorry.. must have missed something... they are NOT allowing this to happen now?

"From the looks of what?" Is there a reason behind this thought process or a source?

Or................am I thinking EVGA's step up? LOL!

rtwjunkie · Mar 1, 2017

EarthDog said:
Sorry.. must have missed something... they are NOT allowing this to happen now?

"From the looks of what?" Is there a reason behind this thought process or a source?

Or................am I thinking EVGA's step up? LOL!

Because other than 3 or 4 months ago when Nvidia floated this thought, not one further word has been said about it. Since it was ostensibly aimed at pre-orders, it's interesting that we are at that point now and Nvidia appears to be hoping everyone forgot.

FreedomEclipse · Mar 1, 2017

Nvidia should be called out on it if they refuse to acknowledge they made or said anything about a 980ti step up programme.

It would be a dick move on their part specially after the whole gtx970 memory shenanigans. They dont need more negative PR

EarthDog · Mar 1, 2017

rtwjunkie said:
Because other than 3 or 4 months ago when Nvidia floated this thought, not one further word has been said about it. since it was ostensibly aimed at pre-orders, it's interesting that we are at that point now and Nvidia appears to be hoping everyone forgot.

Gotcha... ok, so no mention of it outside of that...

...perhaps TPU should reach out to NVIDIA and ask? That would be due diligence if there isn't a source stating it isn't going to happen.

I mean, I can read between the lines too and don't think the sentiment is a reach, however, without it being sourced, I was suckered into click bait again...

rtwjunkie · Mar 1, 2017

EarthDog said:
Gotcha... ok, so no mention of it outside of that...

...perhaps TPU should reach out to NVIDIA and ask? That would be due diligence if there isn't a source stating it isn't going to happen.

I mean, I can read between the lines too and don't think the sentiment is a reach, however, without it being sourced, I was suckered into click bait again...

Agreed! It would be one way to clear the air and provide some authority to the article.

ironwolf · Mar 1, 2017

Is Nvidia (or the card makers) going to compensate places like Newegg/Amazon for their current stock of 1080 cards over this price drop?

rtwjunkie · Mar 1, 2017

ironwolf said:
Is Nvidia (or the card makers) going to compensate places like Newegg/Amazon for their current stock of 1080 cards over this price drop?

I doubt it. The price drop article said that vendors and distributors would likely not be happy with Nvidia.

erixx · Mar 1, 2017

As if retailers didn't know about yesterdays announcement ahead, like us "insiders", right. LOL

Evangeline · Mar 1, 2017

There was no such thing, don't know where you got it from. They said 98oTi users will have priority in ordering, there was no mention of a discount.

Casecutter · Mar 1, 2017

Ah, I always saw it as a ploy to move the 980Ti off shelves as some bonus to motivate some. Nvidia has no need to react to this.

unsmart · Mar 1, 2017

Nice to see competition at work but would like more competitors like the old days. We need the NFL not the U.S politic of communism +1 to really drive the industry.

D1RTYD1Z619 · Mar 1, 2017

rtwjunkie said:
I doubt it. The price drop article said that vendors and distributors would likely not be happy with Nvidia.

Plus NVidia's CEO said that it would be 499 for 1080 non-ti but their website has it for 549

the54thvoid · Mar 1, 2017

A linkedIn job posting is not an announcement of fact. Loving the terribly blase shotgun approach to news TPU is having these days.

silentbogo · Mar 1, 2017

What? There was no official announcement anywhere at any time about this "step up program".
What are you smoking, guys?

Vayra86 · Mar 1, 2017

Step up from Nvidia themselves, probably not going to happen. Wishful thinking I reckon.

End result is they'd have a bunch of used and OC'ed 980ti cards to do... what exactly?

revin · Mar 1, 2017

Evangeline said:
There was no such thing, don't know where you got it from. They said 98oTi users will have priority in ordering, there was no mention of a discount.

Well then what was or better yet what IS it?

dbc · Mar 1, 2017

LOL little late NVIDIA. Should of released it around christmas when everyone was spending money. I already bought my card so you wont be getting my money till im ready to upgrade which wont be needed for a long long long time if at all. Suck a fat dick NVIDIA. F ur trolling.

rtwjunkie · Mar 1, 2017

dbc said:
LOL little late NVIDIA. Should of released it around christmas when everyone was spending money. I already bought my card so you wont be getting my money till im ready to upgrade which wont be needed for a long long long time if at all. Suck a fat dick NVIDIA. F ur trolling.

Dude, relax, stop treating them like a person. Just like with the 980Ti, it was an unnecessary product item until Nvidia went to release its own performance card. It's a business decision that makes sense and depends on AMD's release schedule.

dbc · Mar 1, 2017

they literally had the 1080 ti in stock ever since october. so no it was a business decision to release it later than earlier. i think they wouldve made wayyyy more money if they released it november.

jabbadap · Mar 1, 2017

dbc said:
they literally had the 1080 ti in stock ever since october. so no it was a business decision to release it later than earlier. i think they wouldve made wayyyy more money if they released it november.

Probably not, they could sell pile of gtx1080 almost for the same money(why on earth compete with them selves). And now they have time to sell gtx1080ti without competition until the vega arrives(if it could even compete with this, hopefully it can).

Late release might benefit customers too, there should be healthy stock. Not that painful out of stock gxt1080 and awful price gouging.

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Whatever Happened to the GTX 980 Ti to GTX 1080 Ti Step-up Programme

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