Best RTX 4080 Graphics Cards in 2024
The graphics card market recently underwent a decent price drop. So this is the best time to get your hands on the RTX 4080 graphics cards. The RTX 4080 cards have dominated the market for quite a while now. They have been dealing with some competition from their younger brother, the RTX 4070 TI, but the 4080 still clearly comes out ahead.
So now you have decided to go for an RTX 4080! Congratulations! Woohooo! Now what? You must be wondering which card to buy and if only there were a review that told me everything I needed to know. Well, itâs your lucky day, for you are at the right place. In this article, I will show you some of the best options out there for the RTX 4080 and their pros and cons.
So let us begin, shall we-
5 Best RTX 4080 Graphics Cards
For testing these cards, my setup consisted of an Intel i7-13700k processor with an Asus Rog Strix Z790-E Gaming motherboard. Additionally, I got 32GB (2x16GB) DDR5 RAM to ensure I can push these cards to their limits and give you the best possible review. Iâve run heavy games such as GTA V, Forza Horizon, and Cyberpunk 2077 and tested out the cards on various performance tests.
In the end, I will provide you with a collated list based on performance, price, cooling system, and looks so you can choose which one best suits your needs.
Image
Product Name
Price
Asus TUF Gaming RTX 4080 OC
Overall Best RTX 4080
ASUS TUF Gaming family of gaming cards has produced a line of awesome gaming cards. With the Asus TUF Gaming RTX 4080 OC, it seems the list is about to get even longer.
Before we talk about anything else, I want to address the best aspect of the Asus TUF Gaming, its overclocking capabilities. It comes with a factory setting of 2595Mhz but can be overclocked to a massive 2950MHz, occasionally hitting 3000+MHz.
Apart from that, It showed great thermal performance keeping the temps down and under control even during bouts of heavy gaming.
It comes with a steep price tag, but it justifies the high price with its performance. The lack of DisplayPort 2.1 connectivity is a disappointment, but you can use HDMI 2.1 for better output. The Asus TUF Gaming RTX 4080 OC ranks as the overall best choice among all the Graphics Cards on my list.
MSI RTX 4080 Gaming X Trio
Best Silent RTX 4080
The new MSI GeForce RTX 4080 GAMING X TRIO is an upgrade in MSIâs Gaming X Trio family and continues the proud tradition of excellent performance. It is currently one of the best options on the market for the 4080.
The new bold look and RGB design make it an eye-catcher. However, you canât tell the difference between the high-end SUPRIM X and the TRIO when discussing performance.
The TRIO comes with factory clock settings at 2745Mhz and a bit shaky performance lacking consistency. But once we overclock it to its max settings, it can reach 2975MHz, and what’s more, it delivers stable performance.
The patented TRI FROZR 3 design and three efficient fans keep it cool and perform at the max of its capabilities without lags. Even the creation of the fans is specifically engineered to maximize high-pressure airflow.
Thus the MSI GAMING X TRIO performs well, quietly making it the most noise-less RTX 4080 card on my list.
Gigabyte RTX 4080 Gaming OC
Best Cooling System
The Gigabyte RTX 4080 Gaming OC appears identical to the RTX 4090 from the surface, with similar aesthetics, but there are definite differences between them. The Gigabyte RTX 4080 Gaming OC has the best cooling system among all the options available on this list.
Over a couple of heavy-weight games, I tested in both the OC Bios and the Silent Bios, and the temperatures I recorded were ridiculously low. The cooling setup on this system is off the rails. However, the extra heat pipe works wonders for the Gigabyte RTX 4080 Gaming OC.
With overclocking, the Gigabyte RTX 4080 Gaming OC consistently outputs 2880Mhz on the core clock over a wide spread of games in 4K. But unfortunately, it can’t be clocked over the 2880MHz limit.
The price tag is again a bit high. However, if you are concerned with mainly cooling and want a graphic card with a highly effective cooling system, Gigabyte RTX 4080 Gaming OC is the way to go.
Zotac RTX 4080 Trinity OC
Best Designed RTX 4080
The new Zotac RTX 4080 Trinity OC is the most stylish and aesthetically pleasing RTX 4080 available in the market. In addition, it comes with great performance and technologies under the hood.
It comes with a factory-set clocking speed of 2520MHz, which is good enough for gaming. And it performed excellently even while I ran heavy games like GTA-V and Cyberpunk 2077.
The design is not just for aesthetics but a part of the GeForce RTX 4090 AMP Extreme AIRO technology that makes the cooling great. In addition, the aerodynamic style of the Zotac Trinity OC makes it a very cool and smooth-running GPU.
Again like others on this list, it does not come with a DisplayPort 2.1 connector which is a bummer. The overall look and design are great, but the RGB lights could have been a little better. Thus this makes the Zotac RTX 4080 Trinity OC the best-looking RTX 4080 Graphics Card on the list.
PNY RTX 4080 XLR8 VERTO EPIC-X
Best Budget RTX 4080
Lastly, for those with a tight budget to afford an RTX 4080 graphics card, the PNY RTX 4080 XLR8 VERTO EPIC-X is a perfect choice. Moreover, it is a superbly powerful card that has yet to increase its base prices.
The PNY card is slightly behind the others in this list regarding overclocking. With the base clock speed of 2205MHz, which can be overclocked to 2550 MHz, to get a 2% advantage. The minor differences will cause little to no problems while you are gaming or working.
It has a decent cooling system and provides a seamless and comfortable gaming experience. It is good for the eyes, too, with an aesthetically pleasing design.
Overall, the base price tag makes up for the little to no drop in performance, which is hardly noticeable in real life. While other cards have raised their price tags through the roof, you get this at a fair deal.
Thus the PNY RTX 4080 XLR8 VERTO EPIC-X is the best under-budget Graphics Card on my list.
Conclusion
Well, there you go, a detailed and informative review for you guys on which RTX 4080 graphics cards to buy and their pros and cons.
There are so many options to choose from in the RTX 4080 market, and I hope this list helps you make the correct choice. Given my personal experience, the Asus TUF Gaming RTX 4080 OC came out as the best of the ones I shortlisted with great performance and not too out an ordinary price.
Similarly, the MSI GAMING X TRIO impressed me with its noiseless performance. On the other hand, the Gigabyte RTX 4080 Gaming OC blew my mind with its outstanding cooling system and the low temperatures it produced even while running games like Forza Horizon and Cyberpunk 2077.
The Zotac RTX 4080 Trinity OC comes in as a good performing but the most stylish and cool card of the lot.
And if you are on a budget, I can wholeheartedly recommend the PNY RTX 4080 XLR8 VERTO EPIC-X to you. It comes with a great performance and overall decent looks and features.
FAQs
It’s a tricky question because you have the RTX 4090 available for a bit more price. However, if the budget limits you, then there is definitely a great performance upgrade from the 3080 to the 4080.
If you are on a budget, I recommend the PNY RTX 4080 XLR8 VERTO EPIC-X. It is not cheap, but compared to the other alternatives, it is the only one you would consider under budget.
No, the RGB lights in any piece of technology are purely for aesthetic purposes and have no actual function.