If you’re after a high-end graphics card in 2024 then the Nvidia RTX 4080 could be just the thing you’ve been waiting for, were it not for the pricing, nor the newly released RTX 4080 Super which effectively replaces it. Our full RTX 4080 review goes over the good and bad of the original high-end Ada GPU, and despite impressive hardware, it can now no longer be considered one of the best GPUs available. We’re getting into exactly why below.
Nvidia RTX 4080 price
This is the biggest factor when considering the high-end Ada GPU because the RTX 4080 carries a high price tag. It’s available from $1,199 for the Founders Edition model and as a starting point for Team Green’s partners. In isolation, it may not sound like too big a jump but that’s before factoring in the price hike from its Ampere counterpart, the RTX 3080 which debuted at $699 for a markup of 70%.
No matter how you slice it, that’s a hugely inflated rate for an 80-class card and a bitter pill to swallow for those considering an upgrade in architecture. That’s especially true when considering that an RTX 4090, the Ada flagship, is available for just $300 more which nets you considerably more power on top of 8GB extra GDDR6X VRAM. Then there’s the fact the RTX 4080 Super is available for $999, a full $200 cheaper, which is also slightly faster, too. That’s to say nothing of the gaming performance of the cheaper RX 7900 XTX from AMD, too.
While we’re on the subject, our review unit is the ASUS TUF Gaming RTX 4080 which is available for $1,459 pushing ever closer to the MSRP of the RTX 4090. It’s effectively outdone by its own replacement as the ASUS TUF Gaming RTX 4080 Super is available for just $1,139.99 – undercutting the MSRP of the RTX 4080 despite its premium pricing. Simply put, unless you can find this card on sale, you’re better off with an alternative. For more on how the two cards compete, we recommend reading our RTX 4080 vs RTX 4080 Super feature.
The RTX 4080 boasts undeniably impressive performance but is disarmed by its ludicrous pricing, alienating it from the previous 80-class cards while providing less functionality than a 90-class GPU. What’s more, it’s been replaced by a cheaper and better RTX 4080 Super.
- Excellent 4K gaming performance
- Huge memory pool
- Good overhead for the future
- Ridiculously overpriced
- Replaced by the RTX 4080 Super
- RX 7900 XTX is better value
Why we’ve scored it a 3
The RTX 4080 is salvaged by its performance, hence the lukewarm rating, however, its pricing really lets it down. It’s too big a jump considering it’s an 80-class card and insulting to those who want 4K gaming, especially when AMD’s flagship undercuts by $200.
Nvidia RTX 4080 key specs
With that caveat out of the way we can get into what’s genuinely impressive about the RTX 4080 and that’s its specs. It’s built on the AD103 die, originally the only to be until the unveiling of the RTX 4070 Ti Super in January, and features a total of 9,728 CUDA cores. Couple this with 16GB GDDR6X memory and a 256-bit memory bus and you have all the makings of an incredibly powerful GPU for 4K gaming.
This extends to the memory as well. With a bandwidth of 716.8 GB/sec which works out to be 22.4 Gbps effective, the RTX 4080 is a night-and-day improvement on its predecessor and the current 70-class Ada cards, but that comes at the cost of power. That’s because the GPU has a 320W TDP meaning you’ll need at least a 700W PSU to run it, but we recommend a minimum of 800W to give yourself some overhead. As with other Ada cards, this one also connects with a 16-pin adapter, too.
Nvidia RTX 4080 key design
RTX 4080 design
RTX 4080 power connector
RTX 4080 TUF Badge
RTX 4080 IO
RTX 4080 heatsink
Using the Founders Edition model as a reference, Nvidia’s GPU measures 12.2 x 5.5 x 2.4 inches (LxWxH) and is a triple-slot video card, however, your mileage may vary depending on which partner card you opt for. For instance, our review unit is the ASUS TUF Gaming RTX 4080 which is longer, thicker, and taller at 13.7 x 5.9 x 2.8 (LxWxH). If the Founders Edition model looks like it could be a cramped fit in your rig then we recommend considering one of the best PC cases before investing in a new GPU.
Speaking to our review unit specifically, ASUS’ TUF variant features tank-like construction with its huge thick metal heatsink and triple fan setup. While the design is far from new or exciting, it gets the job done, a larger heatsink considering you’re able to push the GPU a little harder than some other variants. This one features a boost clock of 2640 MHz (a 5.3% increase over the boost clock of the original variant). If you’re into overclocking, the added heatsink should add good peace of mind, just know that it’s technically a quad-slot graphics card.
Nvidia RTX 4080 gaming performance
In the benchmarks conducted by BGFG’s Sebastian Kozlowski, we can see that the RTX 4080 generally performs favorably in 4K in top-tier gaming titles with few issues to speak of. This includes leading framerates in the likes of CS2, Doom Eternal, Assassin’s Creed Mirage, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, and The Finals. Barring one or two exceptions, the GPU natively delivers 4K60+ across the board with impressive ray tracing figures, too. You can check out the full benchmark graphs below for the full story.
Nvidia RTX 4090 synthetic performance
The RTX 4080 does well in our suite of industry-standard synthetic benchmarks as can be evidenced by 3DMark and Blender 4.0 with confident figures in both programs, only outdone by the likes of the pricier RTX 4090 GPU. This includes leading rendering figures in the likes of Blender’s Monster, Junkshop, and Classroom scenarios. That means that creatives are sure to get a lot out of its capabilities owing to its near-10,000 CUDA cores and 16GB GDDR6X memory pool.
Nvidia RTX 4080 encoding performance
As our benchmarks in the likes of Cinebench R24 and HandBrake show, the RTX 4080 is incredibly well adept with leading encoding performance, particularly evidenced in the rendering times of the Tears of Steel 4K files in various different resolutions and file sizes. If you’re a content creator then you should have no worries streaming or editing video with this GPU inside your rig.
Alternatives to the RTX 4080
As touched upon earlier in the review, your two biggest alternatives to the RTX 4080 are the RTX 4080 Super and the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX. Both are substantially cheaper, retailing from $999 and offer equal or slightly greater performance than what the original Ada class model could provide.
Conclusion
The RTX 4080 has been controversial since its launch in late 2022 and it’s not hard to see why. While the GPU is an undeniable powerhouse for 4K gaming, especially when utilizing DLSS for more frames, its price point continuously alienates people, further driving a wedge in the 80 class. Yes, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 features leading Tensor cores and RT cores for AI-accelerated action eclipsing the likes of the RX 7900 XT and RX 7900 XTX, but it also pushed the graphics card scene into a state of intangibility.
It’s something that even Nvidia itself has attempted to course-correct through the likes of the RTX 4080 Super Founders Edition by bringing the price tag down, offering the same level of performance (or more) for less thanks to the same total graphics power (TGP). This GPU still uses a bespoke power connector unless you opt for a partner card with a similar size cooler and I/O. We recommend checking your motherboard and CPU’s compatibility to avoid any potential bottlenecking, too.
Be on the look out for discounts
While the main criticism of the RTX 4080 is its pricing, the launch of the RTX 4080 Super means you may be able to score this one much cheaper. It’s not guaranteed, but looking out for good deals may make all the difference.
With Frame Generation, the RTX 4080 series cards set themselves up well for the future of demanding games in 4K as native rendering takes a backseat. However, there’s simply no reason to run out and get yourself this version when the Super exists for less unless you can get it at a heavy discount; that’s our best advice.
Buy the GPU if / don’t buy if…
- You can find it at a discount
- You want 16GB VRAM
- You primarily want to game in 4K
- You can buy the RTX 4080 Super
- You’re only interested in 4K gaming
Is the RTX 4080 worth it?
While the RTX 4080 is undeniably powerful for both gamers and creatives, it’s simply too expensive to wholeheartedly recommend in 2024, especially with the arrival of the cheaper and slightly better RTX 4080 Super now on the scene.
