AI fever is on the rise, and a perfect example of this is the modification of numerous NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Ti graphics cards with 22 GB of VRAM for AI acceleration. The seller claims that their solution is the best on the market as a cost-effective alternative to the GeForce RTX 3090 or GeForce RTX 4090 for speeding up AI-related workloads.
Modders have found a unique solution to deal with the current shortage of AI GPUs while generating extra revenue. In this specific case, the older NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Ti will experience a second life, although far from gaming. It appears that the only way to access good AI performance on a “low budget” is to purchase one of these GeForce RTX 2080 Ti cards enhanced with more VRAM.
The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Ti originally hit the market with 11 GB of VRAM. These graphics cards have been modified to add twice the memory, totaling 22 GB of VRAM. This is a clever move for a consumer who needs hardware focused on the benefits of AI capabilities. For light or moderate workloads, there is no need for a high-end GPU. That’s why this GeForce RTX 2080 Ti combines the best of both worlds at an affordable price compared to other modern graphic options.
Of course, there is an interesting additional cost, but knowing the price of other GPUs, it’s quite justifiable. AI workloads require a significant amount of memory. VRAM acts as a high-speed storage buffer for massive datasets, complex models, and intermediate calculations that drive AI algorithms. That’s why the only modification made to the GeForce RTX 2080 Ti is to increase its memory to 22 GB capacity.
It seems the seller of these graphics cards is a professional modder who has done this before. They reassure customers not to worry about driver compatibility or performance stability with the GPU. The card is modified at the hardware and software (BIOS) level, ready to be installed in a conventional PC with its drivers for everything to work perfectly.
The modified GPU is sold for AI acceleration tasks at a recommended price of $499. If you purchase more than one, you receive a 15% discount. For context, the original model with 11 GB of VRAM is around $150 – $250 plus shipping. Despite a good profit margin, buyers will still find this GPU a better option than an RTX 3090, which costs over $750 plus shipping.
In the past, there were GeForce RTX 2080 Ti graphics cards with 44 GB of VRAM. However, the 22 GB model is more tempting as it’s more accessible. This GPU will also continue to be suitable for gaming.
It’s been tested for Stable Diffusion and is compatible with personal PCs or data center servers. It supports Ubuntu / CentOS / Debian / Windows / Pytorch / Jax / Tensorflow and regular gaming use, with display and HDMI ports. Shipping time is 10 business days as GPUs need to be updated and fully tested before being sent.
In China, RTX 2080 Ti graphics cards are also being modified to bypass US restrictions, as they no longer have access to graphics cards like the GeForce RTX 4090 due to a US-imposed ban. Chinese modders are modifying these graphics cards, as well as RTX 3080 cards, to access more powerful cards for AI acceleration.
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