Best RTX 2080
Five Amazing RTX 2080 Graphics Cards for Your Next Build
Tech moves at an alarmingly fast rate this day and age. In one way, it’s awesome. We have constant access to cutting-edge gaming entertainment. On the other hand, it can be difficult and expensive to keep up.
To make matters worse, with newer titles and high resolutions putting more and more strain on our graphics cards, it won’t be long before our GTX favorites are well and truly out of the game. That build you spent your whole life developing can no longer support games in a playable fashion, but we’re not going to let that happen to you, friend!
In the wake of Nvidia’s 30-Series RTX cards, their 20-Series is finally more affordable, so we’ve done the leg work and gathered and reviewed all of the best RTX 2080 graphics cards for your viewing pleasure. Any one of these could be your ticket to the future of gaming.
OUR TOP PICK
If you’re looking for the best 2080 card on the market, this is it. Not only does this EVGA RTX 2080 look like some sort of awesome time machine component, it’s so future proof, you wouldn’t be surprised if it was actually a bit of future tech, lost in time.
The 1815MHz boosted clock speed outperforms even OC-edition RTX 2080 cards, maximizing frames per second, and it overclocks well too.
No matter what resolution you prefer for gaming, you can expect it to push out 60+fps. It may be a little overpowered for 1080p, but thanks to Nvidia G-sync technology, it opens up clear lines of communication with your monitor to deliver tear-free, buttery smooth gaming, always!
As you’ll see later in the list, it’s pretty common for 2080s to come with a tri-fan cooling system, and the EVGA only has two, but trust us, that’s a good thing. Utilizing the proprietary ICX2 heatsink fin system to shepherd air into critical locations, two fans are plenty for cool performance.
You should never record temperatures higher than 75°C. Of course, another symptom of fewer fans is lower running volumes, which is a huge bonus in our book!
Pros
- Hardware Ray Tracing - Witness the photorealistic lighting revolution in games that support it.
- 1815MHz Boosted Clock - You may get the same amount of CUDA cores as any other RTX unit, but none work this fast.
- Nvidia G-Sync Technology - Sync this GPU up to your monitor’s refresh rate to eliminate the chances of screen tearing.
- ICX2 Cooling System - A state-of-the-art thermal solution that vents heat more efficiently, even with a quiet dual-fan design.
- VR-Ready - This thing is primed for some mind-blowing virtual reality gaming.
Cons
- A Little Pricey - This is a super-powerful card, so it’s not exactly a budget-friendly option.
- Dim RGBs - Considering the translucent shroud, RGBs could have been spectacular on this card, but they’re a little dull, and customization can be difficult.
EDITORS CHOICE
With a 1770MHz boost clock, this factory-overclocked Strix isn’t quite as fast as our EVGA champion, but it offers a very well-rounded performance that many might prefer.
What’s immediately apparent about this RTX 2080 card is its sheer girth, so you’ll need to get the tape measure out and inspect your case, but the benefits of this gigantism far outweigh the negatives.
The heat sinks are so expansive, the fans don’t have to work as hard, amounting to an even quieter performance than our top dual-fan pick. Just be warned, If your case brackets are a little flimsy you may need to incorporate some sort of support brace to prevent sagging.
This epic thermal performance also means you’ve got an insane amount of wiggle room for some manual OC wizardry. Pre-OC cards often feature a larger thermal headroom, but the Strix’s potential is something else entirely.
We’d also be remiss if we didn’t briefly mention the RGB situation here. Asus has gone above and beyond this time. If you’ve always wanted to visit the Aurora Borealis, but never could, this GPU is a fitting substitute.
Pros
- Hardware Ray Tracing - RT cores take graphics to a whole new level.
- Factory Overclocked - You’ll be able to overclock this card like no other you’ve ever owned thanks to the tweaked thermal headroom and power capacity.
- Silent Performance - The heat sinks are more like heat canyons, so running volume during most games is whisper-quiet.
- Amazing RGBs - Bring the neon glow of midnight Tokyo to your case.
- Aerospace-Grade Alloy Components - This thing is built like a tank.
- VR-Ready - This card is fantastic for VR, especially when overclocked.
Cons
- It’s a BIG Card - Measuring 11.8” x 2.13” x 5.13”, you may need to pair this purchase with a new case.
BEST VALUE
We’ve gone even bigger for our third pick. This MSI RTX 2080 X Trio measures 12.79” x 5.51” x 1.89”, so it’s almost a certainty you’ll need a full tower or at least an expansive mid tower. Much like our silent second pick, this card runs insanely quiet.
Thanks to the huge array of copper contact pipes fitted into the fin matrix, thermals look great on this card before you even consider the X Trio fans waiting to blast any build-ups of heat with the power of a tropical storm. In light of this, it’s something of an overclocker’s dream; you won’t even need a custom loop to push some insane frequencies.
The one aspect of this MSI monster we felt was a little underwhelming was the build quality. It’s not that it’s brittle. The materials just don’t feel all that substantial in your hands, even though it weighs a hefty 3.27lbs. We’d recommend reinforcing your case brackets or investing in a brace to prevent the dreaded sag.
The RGBs are pretty fierce on this card as well, and we absolutely love MSI’s Mystic Light software. It’s intuitive, easy to use, and lets you control all RGB peripherals, whether they’re MSI or not.
Pros
- Hardware Ray Tracing - Witness the future of gaming via the RTX 2080’s 46 RT cores.
- Epic Thermals - The sheer size of the heatsink and numerous veins of copper contact piping keep this beastly card incredibly cool, opening the door for some serious OC-ing.
- Awesome RGB Software - Mystic Light is a great hub for customizing and syncing your light sequences.
- Comes with a Support Bracket - Your brackets will be very happy about this thoughtful inclusion; however, you may still need some extra support.
- VR-Ready - This MSI card also has the goods for some super smooth VR experiences.
Cons
- The Size - This thing is almost comically big, so make sure you have accurate case measurements.
- Build Quality - It feels a little flimsy compared to, say, the Strix.
RUNNER UP
Upon release, this Gigabyte RTX 2080 was actually considered the best budget option on the market, but it’s actually gone up in price. This speaks volumes about the quality of this card, but it’s infuriating all the same.
Featuring Gigabyte’s proprietary Windforce fan system in which the middle fan spins clockwise while the lateral fans spin anti-clockwise, air turbulence is greatly reduced, ensuring hyper-efficient cooling. Even when maxing out its 1830MHz boosted rate, you really don’t have to worry about thermals.
All this thermal headroom paves the way for some pretty adventurous manual overclocking should the feeling take you, but even running on stock specs, this thing blazes through 1440p resolutions on ultra settings, only falling below 60fps during demanding games such as Assassin’s Creed Valhalla.
Similar to the MSI card, one of our only caveats is that the build quality is a little lacking when compared to our top picks. Gigabyte has used a lot of plastics on the enclosure, which some will appreciate as it brings the weight down about, but for the price you’re paying, it sort of feels like you’re being a little shortchanged.
Pros
- Hardware Ray Tracing - Enables beautiful visuals in games that support it.
- Insane Clock Speeds - Thanks to some nifty factory overclocking, this is one of the fastest RTX 2080 cards in terms of fps.
- Windforce 3X Cooling - Fans spinning in opposite directions reduce turbulence and enhances airflow and cooling.
- VR-Ready - Fast enough for VR and connects up with only one cable.
Cons
- Build Quality - Lots of plastic gives it a little bit of a flimsy feel.
- Price - Price fluctuates a lot and it’s on an upswing at the minute.
RUNNER UP
Our final RTX 2080 GPU comes from Zotac who’s cards normally inhabit lower portions of the market, but make no mistake, the RTX 2080 AMP is a contender!. Consider the 1830MHz boost clock, for instance. That’s more than enough for some 60fps 4K gaming.
When left to their own devices, the tri-fan system can be pretty noisy, but the active fan control allows you to customize each fan’s RPM independently, which can drastically reduce running volume. Combined with the five 8mm copper pipes and deep aluminum fin stacks, they do a great job of keeping this card nice and cool.
It should, by every measure, be a pretty great card for overclocking, but due to Zotac’s poor Firestorm software, there’s a lot of wasted potential. On the bright side, it’s G-Sync compatible, so you’ll be able to use this card for silky smooth gaming in any resolution without having to worry about screen tearing.
With only one tweakable RGB zone, the lighting is a little lackluster, but that may be just as much a good thing for some. If you like RGBs, but you don’t want to put on a disco every time you game, the AMP offers a tasteful RGB middle ground.
Pros
- Hardware Ray Tracing - Featuring those awesome Turing RT cores, it’s prime for some hardware ray tracing.
- Factory OC - Comes boosted out the box for some uber-fast frames per second no matter the resolution.
- Icestorm 2 - Top-quality heatsinks and contact pipes dissipate heat really well, giving you decent headroom for manual overclocking.
- Active Fan Control - The ability to operate fans at different speeds can help keep volumes and temperatures down.
- VR-Ready - No nausea, no dizziness, just seamless, jitter-free VR experiences.
Cons
- Firestorm Software - The auto OC software just doesn’t work well with RTX 2080s.
- Beefy Dimensions - You’re gonna need a bigger case! It measures 12.13” x 4.45” x 2.24”
- Fan Volume - When pushed to the limit, the fans can get quite loud.
Best RTX 2080 Buying Guide
Investing in an RTX 2080 is a big deal, so before you dedicate yourself to a sizable purchase, let’s run over some things you might want to consider.
What Kind of Build Would an RTX 2080 Make Sense In?
Even though it has been superseded by the RTX 3080, the RTX 2080 is still considered a high-powered graphics card, and the only way to use it to its full potential is to pair it with other powerful gear.
As the RTX 2080 excels in 1440p and can even dominate in the 4K arena, you’ll need a good monitor to get your money’s worth. If you have a 144Hz 1080p monitor, you can still enjoy the benefits of the RTX 2080, but that’s really the baseline.
A 60Hz 1080p monitor isn’t worth pairing with the RTX 2080 as the 2080’s fps will far outweigh the refresh rate of the monitor which can lead to screen tearing.
You should also consider your CPU. An underpowered processor will bottleneck the frames per second your RTX 2080 is putting out, and wasted frames are essentially wasted money. That said, monitors with G-sync compatibility should be safe to use with overpowered GPUs.
Cooling
Efficient cooling should be a BIG focus when shopping around for an RTX 2080 graphics card as the cooler your card runs, the longer their service life will be, and the harder you’ll be able to push them.
Fans
The fan system is one-half of a GPU thermal solution. They push air through the card to dissipate heat. Triple fan systems are quite common, but a dual-fan and well-designed heatsink can be just as effective.
Heatsinks
Heatsinks are usually made up of aluminum fins that direct air from the fans, and copper contact pipes - fantastic thermal conductors that deliver heat away from the GPU. Many companies have proprietary heatsink designs that do an excellent job of protecting the die.
Factory OCs
Factory OCs are fantastic. Not only will your factory OC card have a subtle edge over standard cards right out of the box, it should also feature advanced cooling abilities and a much larger thermal headroom for some manual overclocking. They can be pricey, though.
Width and Length
The dimensions of graphics cards are pivotal. If a card doesn’t fit in your case or blocks too many expansion slots on your motherboard, it’s useless to you, but a big card isn’t always worse.
Generally speaking, the larger the card is, the further it will be able to spread out heat, and the quicker the heat can be dissipated by the fans. This means your graphics card will be cooler and quieter, which is a boon for some as noisy graphics cards can sound as if a plane is taking off in your room.
Weight
As RTX 2080 cards tend to be on the larger side of the GPU spectrum, you need to check if your case brackets will be able to shoulder their weight.
If your brackets are too flimsy, GPU sagging occurs, and it doesn’t just look messy, in some instances, it can put pressure on and warp the PCB. There’s also a risk of the thermal solution becoming dislodged.
FAQ's
How Does the RTX 2080 Compare with the GTX 1080 Ti?
If you compare the fps benchmark performance of the RTX 2080 and the GTX 1080 Ti, you might be quite shocked at how similar they are, but there are a couple of key differences.
The RTX 2080 has an advanced GDDR6 memory configuration that helps it perform at a higher level in demanding resolutions, therefore, the RTX card is much more suited to 1440p and 4K gaming.
The RTX 2080’s Turing microarchitecture also allows for hardware ray tracing and advanced DLSS AI learning, vastly improving visuals and frame rates.
How Many Watts Does an RTX 2080 Use?
The RTX 2080 reference spec states that it will pull 215 watts just to power itself. This means that you’ll need a PSU that can dish out between 600 and 650 watts.
500-watt PSUs probably won’t have enough juice to boot an RTX 2080, and even if it does, you’re likely to experience crashes mid-game.
Is RTX 2080 Still Good?
The RTX 2080 is a very high-end GPU, which is why they can still carry a hefty price tag.
Short of 8K, the RTX 2080 offers beautiful graphics and incredible frames per second averages in any resolution, and they’re primed for some silky smooth VR gaming too.
Which is the Best RTX 2080?
The best RTX 2080, based on gaming performance alone, is our top pick, the EVGA RTX 2080 XC Ultra Gaming 8GB. It has massive OC potential, fantastic clock speeds, and stays nice and cool.
The best all-rounder RTX 2080 is definitely the Asus Rog Strix RTX 2080 Advanced OC. With stacked clock speeds, silent fans, and loads of thermal headroom for overclocking, it’s not just good, it’s great!
What is the RTX 2080 MSRP, and How Much More Should I be Spending?
When the RTX 2080 was first released, Nvidia labeled it with an MSRP of around $700. For the best third-party manufacturer’s editions, you should expect to pay between $250 - $350 more.
Final Thoughts
This is an exciting time for you! Upgrading your GPU is one of the best ways to see an immediate jump in gaming quality, creating an even more enjoyable and immersive experience.
The RTX 2080 is a fantastic choice, and thanks to some awesome future-proofing, it will be for years to come. With any of these cards by your side, you’re in for an amazing time, so sit back, enjoy, and get to work on that W/L ratio.
