PC Games Hardware tested a modded GeForce RTX 2080 Ti upgraded to 22 GB of GDDR6 memory, revealing significant performance gains in memory-intensive titles. At 4K resolution with DLSS Performance and FSR 3.1 Frame Generation, Flight Simulator 2024 averaged 52.5 FPS on the 22 GB model compared to just 30.2 FPS on the standard 11 GB version—a 74% improvement. Spider-Man 2 saw a jump from 39.4 to 64.0 FPS, while Indiana Jones and the Great Circle crashed on the 11 GB card.
At 1440p with DLSS Quality, the gap narrowed, though the 11 GB model still lagged by about 20% in those two games. The outlet selected nine memory-heavy titles intentionally, noting most games run fine on 11 GB. These modded cards, often sourced from Alibaba or listed on eBay for around $499, involve swapping all eleven memory chips with 2 GB Samsung parts.
No firmware changes are required—relocating a single strap resistor informs the GPU of the extra capacity, and NVIDIA drivers recognize it automatically. However, the card’s weak blower cooler and 250 W power limit constrained performance, so PCGH equalized both cards at 1.9 GHz, 15 GT/s, and 280 W for fair comparison. Priced near €500, the 22 GB modded card is notably cheaper than a 16 GB RTX 5060 Ti (€770 in Germany).
Despite the appeal, PCGH warns it’s a gamble: the hardware is eight years old, soldering modifications may fail over time, and buyers should verify seller reputation and warranty terms beyond a 30-day return window.
Source: TechPowerUp News · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing