The launch of Nvidia's 30 Series graphics cards has not gone smoothly. First, RTX 3080s sold out near-instantly, in large part due to bot networks and scalpers. Then, in the weeks since release, a bigger issue appeared. Some 3080 users have been reporting that games were either freezing or crashing, with the only common factor being the new graphics card. It led to a major controversy among the PC gaming community, but while the stock of Nvidia's 30 Series cards is still near to zero, Nvidia has apparently fixed its crashing issue.
According to reporting among PC gaming enthusiasts, the recently-issued Nvidia 456.55 driver update for the 3080 graphics card fixes its problems with game crashes. It isn't clear if the driver fixes the problem for all versions of the 3080 card for all users, but it's assumed to have. The driver appears to have limited or constrained the 3080's boost clock to frequencies at or below 2000 MHz. Previously, boost could increase frequencies between 2050 and 2100 MHz.
While the new Nvidia drivers do appear to have fixed the issue, many are referring to the correction as a bandaid for a bigger problem with the 3080s. The bigger problem may require manufacturers to issue BIOS updates for their cards. Some cards could even change some of the components on certain cards, like it's been confirmed that EVGA did between issuing demo cards and launch. Obviously, a solution that impairs the potential clock of a card like the 3080 is not a great option.
The deeper issue with the recently released graphics cards is being reported as an issue with the 3080s' capacitors. Some 3080s use one type of capacitor, POSCAPs, while others use another type, MLCCs, too. Without getting too technical, certain capacitor arrangements introduce instability when the cards demand high boost frequencies, and that leads to games crashing in particularly performance demanding in-game scenarios.
For the time being, the situation will likely be considered solved. After all, relatively few people even encountered the problem in the first place, since there are so few 3080 cards in the wild. By the time more cards start being delivered, most 3080 users will never have realized there was a problem in the first place.
Both the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 and 3090 graphics cards have already launched. The 3070, Nvidia's more competitive $499 graphics card, launches on October 15. That gives Nvidia half a month left to ensure that its next launch doesn't end up as much of a struggle as its cards' launches so far. PC gamers hoping to upgrade this holiday season may not have their expectations met.
Source: Guru3D