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The NVIDIA RTX 4080, priced at $1,199, is presented as an alternative to the more expensive RTX 4090, with a 16GB VRAM and 320-watt thermal design profile (TDP). It shares a design with the RTX 4090, occupying three PCI-e slots and featuring massive vapor chambers and pass-through fan design.
Despite its visual similarities to the RTX 4090, the RTX 4080 is fundamentally different, with 9,728 CUDA cores, 16GB of GDDR6X VRAM, a base clock speed of 2.21GHz (with boost speeds to 2.51GHz), and a 320-watt TDP. This makes it a powerful GPU, outperforming the RTX 3080 Ti by 50% in the 3DMark TimeSpy Extreme benchmark.
The RTX 4080 performed exceptionally well in 4K gaming, reaching around 130fps in Halo Infinite and 74fps in Cyberpunk 2077 with ultra ray tracing settings and DLSS 3. DLSS 3, NVIDIA's latest AI upscaling technology, proved effective in enhancing visual quality and framerate.
Compared to the RTX 4090, the RTX 4080 falls short in benchmarks, but its performance is still considered impressive and sufficient for 4K gaming. The reviewer notes that the RTX 4080's thermal performance leaves room for overclocking, with temperatures staying around 61 degrees Celsius during testing.
The dilemma for potential buyers is whether to settle for the RTX 4080 or aim for the RTX 4090 if available at its $1,599 launch price. The scarcity of the RTX 4090 at its original price makes the RTX 4080 an attractive option, offering a compelling performance-to-price ratio. However, the unpredictable market and potential price fluctuations could impact the appeal of the RTX 4080 over time.
Ultimately, the RTX 4080 is positioned as a successor to the RTX 3080 Ti, delivering improved performance and new features. While it might not be a necessary upgrade for current RTX 3080 owners, it presents a tempting choice for those looking for high-end GPU performance in the current market landscape.
