RTX 2080 SUPER Modded to Double VRAM: 28% FPS Boost in Resident Evil 9

Summary

A rare hardware mod has been performed on the Galax GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER HOF, doubling its VRAM from 8GB to 16GB. The mod was carried out by Paulo Gomes' team, who claim no previous successful upgrade of an RTX 2080 SUPER to 16GB has been documented. The process involved replacing all eight Samsung 1GB GDDR6 memory chips with 2GB ones and modifying the card's memory configuration so the GPU could recognize the larger modules. After adjustments, the card successfully recognized the full 16GB capacity. The team also added a physical switch to toggle between 8GB and 16GB modes, enabling same-card comparison without altering other components. However, the mod is not flawless: the team encountered display issues at low GPU frequencies, required a modified NVIDIA driver configuration, and the card always runs in high-performance mode. In real-world testing, the team found a 28% FPS improvement in Resident Evil 9 with 16GB VRAM. This mod demonstrates the potential for older GPUs to gain new life through hardware upgrades, but also highlights challenges related to driver compatibility and stability. For players, it underscores the growing importance of VRAM capacity in high-end gaming, while hardware modding remains a niche and technically demanding endeavor. The event also sparks discussions about GPU upgradability and environmental sustainability, potentially influencing future…