Best RTX 4080 Graphics Cards Available Q4 2023

The GeForce RTX 4080 is NVIDIA‘s second-fastest GPU available in the market. Like the flagship RTX 4090, the RTX 4080 is based on NVIDIA’s latest Ada Lovelace architecture. With the new architecture, the RTX 4080 offers more than double the performance of its predecessor, the RTX 3080. It also provides unique features like DLSS 3 frame generation technology, dual AV1 NVIDIA Encoders, and many more. So, if you are in the market for some of the best RTX 4080 available in the market, check out our list below.

best rtx 4080 cards 2023

UPDATE: The latest GeForce RTX 4080 Super graphics cards are now out. It’s only slightly faster than the vanilla RTX 4080, but it’s cheaper. The price reduction is what makes the RTX 4080 Super super. See here the best GeForce RTX 4080 Super cards.

Which Is The Best RTX 4080 To Pick?

Listed here are the best GeForce RTX 4080 graphics cards to choose from. Just a quick summary, the RTX 4080 is based on NVIDIA’s Ada Lovelace architecture. It uses an AD103 GPU that is based on TSMC’s 4N NVIDIA custom process, which is basically a customized 5nm process. The GeForce RTX 4080 has 9,728 CUDA cores, providing 49 Shader-TFLOPS of power for traditional rasterized graphics; 304 Fourth Generation Tensor Cores offering 780 Tensor-TFLOPS (with Sparsity) for AI processing and DLSS; and 76 Third Generation Ada RT Cores capable of 113 RT-TFLOPS for powering next-generation ray-traced graphics, and 16GB of GDDR6X memory.

All RTX 4080 graphics cards listed below are some of the best in the market, and you simply can’t go wrong with any of them. They will also perform similarly regardless if it’s an OC or non-OC, premium or not-so-premium design. Why? Because NVIDIA controls how these graphics cards perform, and they have set a limit. You can get a few FPS from the premium card, but their difference is negligible and unnoticeable while gaming.

What’s more important is their respective prices and their design. All of these graphics cards have great cooling performance. Just look at the size of these things. The heatsink alone is massive and chunky, perhaps unnecessarily too big. So get whichever card suits your taste or your budget. For benchmark results, you can find some at the bottom of this article.

Best GeForce RTX 4080 Cards Summary

PhotoModelVRM (GPU+Mem)Boost ClockDimensionWeight (Approx.)Link (#ad)
Asus Strix RTX 4080 OC18+3 phase2625 MHz357.6 x 149.3 x 70.1mm2.4 KgAmazon.com
Asus TUF RTX 4080 OC15+3 phase2595 MHz348.2 x 150 x 72.6 mm???Amazon.com
Gigabyte RTX 4080 Gaming OC18+3 phase2535 MHz342 x 150 x 75 mm2 KgAmazon.com
MSI RTX 4080 Gaming X Trio16+3 phase2595 MHz337 x 140 x 67 mm1.9 KgAmazon.com
Zotac RTX 4080 AMP Airo24+3 phase2565 MHz355.5 x 149.6 x 72.1 mm2 KgAmazon.com
Zotac RTX 4080 Trinity OC???2520 MHz356.1 x 150.1 x 71.4 mm???Amazon.com
PNY RTX 4080 XLR814+3 phase2505 MHz331.7 x 136.9 x 71.1 mm1.9 KgAmazon.com
ZOTAC GeForce RTX 4080 AMP Extreme AIRO

ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 4080 Trinity OC or AMP Extreme AIRO

Currently one of the cheapest RTX 4080 graphics card so far

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The Zotac GeForce RTX 4080 Trinity OC is one excellent performing graphics card and is usually the cheaper priced too. It runs cool and silently, as you can see from our review here. Unlike most graphics cards in the market with a block-type design, Zotac decided to give their cards a curvy design.

The Zotac RTX 4080 Trinity OC has a curvy design with RGB lighting on its front side. The cooler shroud is entirely made of plastic. But the back plate is all-metal.

On the other hand, the Zotac RTX 4080 AMP Extreme Airo has, in my opinion, a better design and RGB lighting than the Trinity OC. One look at the card in action, and you’ll know what I mean. It is slightly more expensive than the Trinity OC, but it looks better, in my opinion. So if looks matter to you, you might want to consider the AMP Extreme Airo variant.

ZOTAC GeForce RTX 4080 Trinity OC is available on Amazon here.
ZOTAC GeForce RTX 4080 16GB AMP Extreme AIRO is available on Amazon here.

Gigabyte GeForce RTX 4080 16GB GAMING OC side view

Gigabyte GeForce RTX 4080 Gaming

Also one of the cheapest RTX 4080 cards

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Aside from being included in the best RTX 4080 category, Gigabyte’s RTX 4080 Gaming OC is perhaps one of the thickest RTX 4080 in this list. I’m not referring to its overall size since the ROG Strix RTX 4080 is slightly larger. When I said thickest, this graphics card will occupy 4 PCI slots, with a thickness of 75mm.

Similar to the TUF RTX 4080, the Gigabyte RTX 4080 Gaming OC has a more industrial look. However, it does have more RGB lighting; specifically, the fans on its cooler shroud have RGB lighting on its edges. Gigabyte’s RTX 4080 Gaming OC might not be the best-looking graphics card on this list, but it is certainly one of the cheaper or closer to MSRP.

Gigabyte GeForce RTX 4080 Gaming (OC) is available on Amazon here.

pny rtx 4080 xlr8 gaming side view

PNY GeForce RTX 4080 16GB XLR8 Gaming VERTO EPIC-X RGB OC

It has a long name, but it’s usually the cheaper option

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While PNY’s RTX 4080 graphics cards’ name is a mouthful, this model is one of the cheapest RTX 4080 I have seen so far. It features an all-black color scheme with minimal RGB lighting. Only on the XLR8 logo on the front-side portion, and the cooler shroud has RGB lighting, making an X pattern when lit. The OC variant has a boost clock speed of 2505 MHz and a 14+3 power phase design. Its thick heatsink is sure to keep the GPU’s temperature at bay. While the cooler shroud is primarily made of plastic, its backplate is all-metal, with a nice “arrow” cutout design.

Personally, I haven’t tested or used a PNY card for this and the previous generation. But so far, based on the feedback I read and from the videos I have watched, PNY’s graphics cards seem to work well. Performance-wise, this should be on par with the Founders Edition model. It’s not the fastest RTX 4080 or the top-of-the-line model, but at least it’s usually cheaper.

PNY GeForce RTX 4080 XLR8 Gaming is available on Amazon here.

MSI GeForce RTX 4080 Gaming X Trio Side View

MSI GeForce RTX 4080 Gaming X Trio

Overall all a nice-looking gaming card, and not that expensive compared to a premium RTX 4080

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The Gaming X Trio variant is MSI’s top-tier graphics card. It’s not the flagship; that’s the SUPRIM. But the Gaming Trio is a tried and tested graphics card with an excellent cooling solution and performance. By the way, the “Gaming Trio” is a mildly overclocked variant, with a boost clock speed of 2505MHz, while the “Gaming X Trio” has a boost clock speed of 2595 MHz out of the box. Nevertheless, get whichever is cheaper since these cards will eventually boost higher thanks to NVIDIA Boost technology.

Just like the SUPRIM variant, the MSI RTX 4080 Gaming X Trio also features dual BIOS, where you can switch from silent to gaming mode. This graphics card runs silently already, thanks to its Tri Frozr 3 thermal design. So just keep it on gaming mode.

MSI GeForce RTX 4080 Gaming (X) Trio is available on Amazon here.

ASUS TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 4080 OC Side View

ASUS TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 4080 OC

Also a semi-premium RTX 4080 card, built like a tank!

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Unlike other brands, Asus has only two variants for its RTX 40 series. These are the TUF Gaming and the ROG Strix. The TUF Gaming is not a base model per se. Still, it is definitely better than an entry-level or base-model graphics card design.

The Asus TUF RTX 4080 has an industrial vibe or design. It features a “metal exoskeleton”, “military-grade capacitors”, and a triple Axial-tech fan design with dual ball bearings. The middle fan spins in the opposite direction to minimize turbulence and maximize airflow. It doesn’t have any RGB-bling like the Strix. But there is a small RGB lighting on the rear-front-side for the TUF Gaming logo. Performance-wise, it is similar to the more expensive (but premium) ROG Strix variant, making the TUF RTX 4080 better in terms of value than the ROG Strix RTX 4080.

Asus TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 4080 is available on Amazon here.

ASUS ROG Strix GeForce RTX 4080 OC Front Side

ASUS ROG Strix GeForce RTX 4080 OC

The Best Premium RTX 4080 Graphics Card

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Aside from being one of the best RTX 4080 graphics cards, the Asus ROG Strix RTX 4080 is also one of the best-looking and premium graphics cards. When people saw the new design, some didn’t like how it looked. The ROG Strix RTX 4080 is huge, has a blocky rectangular shape, and has an all-black finish with a blue and red accent.

Some said that the previous ROG Strix RTX 30 series has better aesthetics. However, as I looked at more PC builds with an ROG Strix RTX 4080 card, I started to appreciate its design. True, it may not fit all sorts of a PC build, but it does look nice, especially if you are building a gaming PC with an aggressive or gamer vibe.

The Asus ROG Strix RTX 4080 features a 3.5-slot design; however, it is a bit longer and wider than other RTX 4080 cards. It measures 357.6mm in length and 149.3mm in width. It also features a new patented vapor chamber, diecast shroud, frame and backplate, digital power control, and Asus’ axial-tech fans.

Asus also released a white version of the ROG Strix RTX 4080. So if you are planning to build a white-themed gaming PC, the Asus ROG Strix RTX 4080 White OC is also available.

Asus ROG Strix GeForce RTX 4080 OC is available on Amazon here.
White Asus ROG Strix RTX 4080 OC is available on Amazon here.

These are the best GeForce RTX 4080 graphics cards available in the market. Again, I would like to emphasize that if you ever spot a non-OC variant of an RTX 4080 card that you like and is cheaper than the OC version, you better get that one instead. It doesn’t matter if it’s OC or non-OC since the GPU will eventually boost higher thanks to NVIDIA boost technology. Also, if you really want or need to, you can manually apply a (mild) overclock.

FAQ About The RTX 4080 Graphics Cards

How Fast Is The GeForce RTX 4080?

The GeForce RTX 4080 is a fast graphics card, even surpassing the previous flagship GPU. It’s an excellent GPU for 1440p, ultrawide 1440p, and 4K monitors. It’s capable of driving games at maximum graphics settings, even at 4K.

When it comes to performance, the RTX 4080 is around 40% to 50% faster, on average, than the RTX 3080 in traditional rasterization. Meanwhile, the RTX 4080 is about 25% faster than the RTX 3080 Ti and approximately 15% faster than the previous flagship RTX 3090 Ti in traditional rasterization. Compared to the current flagship GPU, the RTX 4080 is about 20% to 30% slower than RTX 4090, depending on the scenario.

Below are some benchmarks of the RTX 4080 graphics cards from our reviews.

RTX 4080 Call of Duty Modern Warfare II 4K Benchmarks
RTX 4080 Forza Horizon 5 4K Benchmarks
RTX 4080 Horizon Zero Dawn 4K Benchmarks
RTX 4080 Shadow of the Tomb Raider 4K Benchmarks
RTX 4080 Spider-Man Remastered 4K Benchmarks

These numbers are based on traditional rasterization alone. With the Ada Lovelace architecture, these RTX 40 series GPUs have a unique feature called AI Frame Generation technology or DLSS 3. With the feature enabled, the frame rate increases substantially since the GPU produces extra frames and inserts them between two actual frames. Some are not happy about “fake frames”, but while I was playing Hogwarts Legacy with DLSS 3 enabled, it helped increase the frame rate and smoothen the gameplay.

Here are some DLSS 3 results from our reviews:

RTX 4080 Cyberpunk 2077 Ray Tracing 1440p Benchmarks
RTX 4080 Cyberpunk 2077 Ray Tracing 4K Benchmarks
RTX 4080 A Plague Tale 1440p Benchmarks
RTX 4080 A Plague Tale 4K Benchmarks

What RTX 4080 is the best brand?

The brands that I have listed above are all reputable and have been in the graphics card market for quite some time. Of course, some brands are more popular than others. However, even though these are some of the “best brands”, these companies and their products are not infallible. Buying an Asus ROG Strix graphics card doesn’t guarantee that it’s 100% fault-free. Sometimes, you may get a bad card. In that case, you will have to RMA it.

What is the best CPU for the RTX 4080?

If you plan to get the fastest graphics card today, it’s only reasonable to pair the RTX 4080 with the best CPU. Honestly, any mid-range to high-end CPU of the current and previous generation would do well for the RTX 4080, especially if you are playing at 4K UHD since it is mostly GPU bound.

However, if you are playing at 1440p, some of the best CPUs you can pair with the RTX 4080 are the Ryzen 7 7800X3D or Ryzen 9 7950X3D from AMD. And from Intel, the Core i5 13600K(F), i7-13700K(F), or i9-13900K(F) would be ideal. Or their newer 14th gen Intel Core Raptor Lake Refresh counterpart. Again, don’t limit yourself to these CPUs. There are a lot of CPUs released in this generation. Depending on your budget and use, any mid-range to high-end CPUs would do.

What is the best PSU for the RTX 4080?

The minimum power supply requirement for the RTX 4080 is a 750W PSU. However, some models, like the RTX 4080 SUPRIM X, require at least an 850W PSU. And if you have many peripherals installed, 850W to 1000W would be ideal.

If you need to upgrade your PSU or buy a new one, you should get the latest ATX 3.0 and PCIE 5-ready PSUs. These PCIE5 PSUs are built and support the latest 16-pin 12VHPWR connector. So you don’t need to use that ugly adapter that requires 3x 8-pin PCI-E power. You only need one 16-pin 12VHPWR connector native to these PCIE5 PSUs.

I currently use MSI’s PCIE5 PSUs – the MSI MPG A1000G PCIE5 (pReview here) and the more feature-rich MEG Ai1300P PCIE5. Both PSUs work well, and I have not encountered any issues yet.

What case could support the RTX 4080?

There are plenty of chassis or cases that can support the RTX 4080. Some mid-tower cases may support these chunky and beefy graphics cards, but not all. Since most RTX 4080 cards are huge, you will likely have a clearance issue with a mid-tower’s side panel.

Take note of the dimensions of the graphics card you plan to get. The safest case that would fit an RTX 4080 card is a full-tower chassis. However, full tower cases are big and heavy. 

Here are some chassis that not only support an RTX 4080 card but also look nice and have plenty of features: the MSI MEG Prospect 700RHYTE Y60, and Corsair iCUE 5000T. These three are all excellent cases with unique looks and sets of features.

Finally…

Which RTX 4080 card do you think is best suited for your gaming rig? Again, you can’t go wrong with any of these. Just pick which card looks best with your (current) setup and/or fits your preference and budget.

Speaking of budget, if you are torn between an RTX 4080 and the cheaper RTX 4070 Ti, check out our review comparison here. It may help you decide which one to get.

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Author
Peter Paul
Peter is a PC enthusiast and avid gamer with several years of hands-on experience in testing and reviewing PC components, audio equipment, and various tech devices. He offers a genuine, no-nonsense perspective, helping consumers make informed choices in the ever-changing world of technology.

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