NVIDIA Launches 12GB VRAM Variant of RTX 5070 Laptop GPU, Shipping in June

NVIDIA has announced a new variant of its GeForce RTX 5070 Laptop GPU, featuring 12GB of VRAM, alongside the existing 8GB model. The update was revealed in a recent blog post detailing the latest Game Ready Drivers.

"Demand for GeForce RTX remains strong, and memory supply is constrained. In order to maximize memory availability, we are releasing the GeForce RTX 5070 Laptop GPU 12GB configuration with 24Gb G7 memory. This gives our partners access to an additional pool of memory to complement the 16Gb G7 supply that currently ships with most GeForce GPUs," NVIDIA stated.

The first laptops equipped with the 12GB RTX 5070 are expected to begin shipping in June 2025. Major manufacturers, including ASUS, Lenovo, and MSI, are anticipated to offer the new GPU configuration in select models.

Pricing and Availability

NVIDIA has not yet confirmed official pricing for the 12GB RTX 5070 laptops. However, reports from outlets like NotebookCheck suggest the new models could be priced similarly to RTX 5070 Ti-equipped systems. For reference, a high-end laptop like the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16S AI with an RTX 5070 Ti can cost up to $2,650, depending on RAM configuration.

While the 12GB variant may not match the price of top-tier models, manufacturers are likely to pair it with lower system RAM to balance costs.

Technical Specifications

NVIDIA has not disclosed a full spec sheet for the 12GB RTX 5070. However, the company confirmed the new model uses 24Gb G7 memory, compared to the 16Gb G7 found in the standard 8GB variant. The two memory types differ in manufacturing processes: the 24Gb variant uses 3GB memory modules, while the 16Gb variant uses 2GB modules.

This shift leverages a more consistently available memory supply from manufacturers like Samsung and Micron.

Despite the increase in VRAM, the 12GB RTX 5070 may not deliver proportional performance gains. Unless NVIDIA has redesigned the GPU with a wider 192-bit memory bus—which appears unlikely—the new model will retain the standard 128-bit bus used in the RTX 5070. This means the additional memory may not be fully utilized in bandwidth-intensive scenarios, such as high-resolution gaming or content creation.

For most games, the performance impact may be minimal. However, users seeking a significant upgrade over the 8GB model should consider that raw VRAM alone does not guarantee a substantial boost in frame rates or graphical fidelity.