NVIDIA's upcoming RTX 5090 and 5080 graphics cards are maintaining similar L1 cache architectures as their predecessors while introducing marginal improvements to L2 cache capacity, according to recent specifications reported by HardwareLuxx. The flagship RTX 5090 maintains the same 128 KB L1 cache per SM as the RTX 4090 but achieves a higher total L1 cache of 21.7 MB thanks to its increased SM count of 170. This represents a notable improvement over the RTX 4090's 16.3 MB total L1 cache, which features 128 SMs. In terms of L2 cache, the RTX 5090 sees a 33.3% increase over its predecessor, boasting 96 MB compared to the RTX 4090's 72 MB, with SM count going up by 32.8%, so there is a slight difference.

However, this improvement is relatively modest compared to the previous generation's leap, where the RTX 4090 featured twelve times more L2 cache than the RTX 3090. The RTX 5080 shows more conservative improvements, with its L1 cache capacity only marginally exceeding its predecessor by 1 MB (10.7 MB vs 9.7 MB). Its L2 cache maintains parity at 64 MB, matching the RTX 4080 and 4080 Super. To compensate for these incremental cache improvements, NVIDIA is implementing faster GDDR7 memory across the RTX 50 series. Most models will feature 28 Gbps modules, with the RTX 5080 receiving special treatment with 30 Gbps memory. Additionally, some models are getting wider memory buses, with the RTX 5090 featuring a 512-bit bus and the RTX 5070 Ti upgrading to a 256-bit interface.

AMD is preparing to release its next generation of high-performance CPUs, the Ryzen 9000X3D series, and rumors are circulating about potential increases in stacked L3 cache. However, a recent report from Wccftech suggests that the upcoming models will maintain the same 64 MB of additional 3D V-cache as their predecessors. The X3D moniker represents AMD's 3D V-Cache technology, which vertically stacks an extra L3 cache on top of one CPU chiplet. This design has proven particularly effective in enhancing gaming performance, leading AMD to market these processors as the "ultimate gaming" solutions. According to the latest information, the potential Ryzen 9 9950X3D would feature 16 Zen 5 cores with a total of 128 (64+64) MB L3 cache, while a Ryzen 9 9900X3D would offer 12 cores with the same cache capacity. The Ryzen 7 9800X3D is expected to provide 96 (32+64) MB of total L3 cache.

Regarding L2, the CPUs feature one MB of L2 cache per core. Perhaps the most exciting development for overclockers is the reported inclusion of full overclocking support in the new X3D series. This marks a significant evolution from the limited options available in previous generations, potentially allowing enthusiasts to push these gaming-focused chips to new heights of performance. While the release date for the Ryzen 9000X3D series remains unconfirmed, industry speculation suggests a launch window as early as September or October. This timing would coincide with the release of new X870 (E) chipset motherboards. PC enthusiasts would potentially wait to match the next-gen CPU and motherboards, so this should be a significant upgrade cycle for many.

NVIDIA's H800 AI GPU was rolled out last year to appease the Sanction Gods—but later on, the US Government deemed the cutdown "Hopper" part to be far too potent for Team Green's Chinese enterprise customers. Last October, newly amended export conditions banned sales of the H800, as well as the slightly older (plus similarly gimped) A800 "Ampere" GPU in the region. NVIDIA's engineering team returned to the drawing board, and developed a new range of compliantly weakened products. An exclusive Reuters report suggests that Team Green is taking pre-orders for a refreshed "Hopper" GPU—the latest China-specific flagship is called "HGX H20." NVIDIA web presences have not been updated with this new model, as well as Ada Lovelace-based L20 PCIe and L2 PCIe GPUs. Huawei's competing Ascend 910B is said to be slightly more performant in "some areas"—when compared to the H20—according to insiders within the distribution network.

The leakers reckon that NVIDIA's mainland distributors will be selling H20 models within a price range of $12,000 - $15,000—Huawei's locally developed Ascend 910B is priced at 120,000 RMB (~$16,900). One Reuters source stated that: "some distributors have started advertising the (NVIDIA H20) chips with a significant markup to the lower end of that range at about 110,000 yuan ($15,320). The report suggests that NVIDIA refused to comment on this situation. Another insider claimed that: "distributors are offering H20 servers, which are pre-configured with eight of the AI chips, for 1.4 million yuan. By comparison, servers that used eight of the H800 chips were sold at around 2 million yuan when they were launched a year ago." Small batches of H20 products are expected to reach important clients within the first quarter of 2024, followed by a wider release in Q2. It is believed that mass production will begin around Spring time.