MSI quietly releases new version of Ventus series graphics cards
Recently, according to the revelation from an online user named momomo_us, MSI discreetly introduced the new Ventus Essential graphics card series on its international website, which is designed to augment the standard Ventus lineup. The fresh Ventus Essential cards are slated to offer specifications almost identical to the conventional Ventus models. However, they may correspond to a varied Bill of Materials (BOM), implying a slight reduction in the production costs of the new Ventus editions.
Currently, MSI’s Ventus Essential lineup encompasses the GeForce RTX 4070, GeForce RTX 4070 Ti, and GeForce RTX 4090, all available in both overclocked (OC) and non-overclocked versions. Specifically, the RTX 4070 is available in 2X and 3X variants, denoting dual-fan and triple-fan configurations, respectively; whereas the RTX 4070 Ti is available in E and E1 models, with the E1 being 4g heavier than its E counterpart, albeit largely indistinguishable principal specifications.
In comparison to the conventional Ventus series, the Ventus Essential, while mirroring the design and general specifications, exhibits slight variations in the minutiae. The RTX 4090 in the Ventus Essential lineup features two DisplayPorts and two HDMIs, as opposed to the three DisplayPorts and a singular HDMI in the standard Ventus series. It’s worth noting that the RTX 40 series graphics cards have a DisplayPort version of 1.4a, which supports 8bit/10bit encoding and offers a peak bandwidth of 25.92Gbps, enabling 8K@75Hz display output via DSC. Conversely, the HDMI is of version 2.1, which supports 16bit/18bit encoding, with a maximum transmission bandwidth of up to 42Gbps, allowing a robust 8K@120Hz display output via DSC. Although HDMI licensing costs are generally higher than those of DisplayPort, for users eyeing to assemble an 8K high-refresh dual screen, these adjustments in the Ventus Essential series hold particular relevance.
Beyond these interface enhancements, cost reduction stands as one of the potential advantages of the Ventus Essential series. This strategy might bolster MSI’s competitive edge in the RTX 40 series graphics card market. However, whether these cards will be released domestically and whether their retail prices will follow suit in terms of cost reductions remain to be seen.
