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Nvidia's RTX 20 Series Launched in 2018, Introducing Real-Time Ray Tracing to PC Gaming
Key points
- Nvidia launched RTX 2080 and 2080 Ti GPUs in 2018.
- These cards introduced real-time ray tracing to PC gaming.
- Initial adoption was hampered by high prices and limited game titles.
- The RTX 2080 Ti offered a 26% performance increase over the GTX 1080 Ti.
Introduction of Real-Time Ray Tracing
Eight years ago, Nvidia released its Turing GPUs, specifically the GeForce RTX 2080 and RTX 2080 Ti, which brought real-time ray tracing to PC gaming. Nvidia positioned this as a major advancement, with CEO Jensen Huang stating it would usher in a "new golden age of gaming."
Initial Market Reception and Challenges
Despite Nvidia's claims, many gamers did not immediately embrace ray tracing due to its performance impact and the high cost of the new graphics cards. At launch, there was also a scarcity of games that supported the new technology, limiting its appeal. Early titles showcasing ray tracing included Battlefield V, Metro Exodus, and Shadow of the Tomb Raider.
Pricing and Performance Details
The RTX 2080 Founders Edition was priced at $799, $100 more than the previous flagship GTX 1080 Ti, while partner cards were available for $699. The flagship RTX 2080 Ti, priced at $1200, offered approximately a 26% performance increase over the GTX 1080 Ti. This price-to-performance ratio was noted as a significant barrier for most gamers.
✨ This summary was generated by AI from the outlets' reporting listed below. It is not independently verified and may contain errors — check the original sources. How BrevFeed works →
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Reporting from
Nvidia released its GeForce RTX 2080 and 2080 Ti graphics cards in 2018, pioneering real-time ray tracing in PC gaming. This launch marked a significant technological shift for GPUs, though initial adoption was slow due to high prices and limited game support.