GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 5080 GAMING OC 16G review

The GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 5080 GAMING OC 16G is a flagship graphics card built upon the latest NVIDIA Blackwell architecture. As part of the GeForce RTX 5000 series, it brings a new level of graphical performance, offering gamers and content creators the tools they need to take on the most demanding games and applications. However, as with any high-end graphics card, the real question is whether its performance and features justify the steep price tag. After using the card for gaming as well as working, and after benchmarking it thoroughly, I’d like to share with you everything I’ve found about the GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 5080 GAMING OC 16G. Let’s get straight into it:

GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 5080 GAMING OC 16G: Who is it good for?

This graphics card is built for enthusiasts who want the best of the best:

• Gamers looking for a future-proof graphics card
• Content creators who need the muscle power necessary to run AI tasks
• Those who do video editing, 3D rendering, and other GPU-accelerated tasks
• Tech enthusiasts who crave the latest technology and don’t mind paying for top-tier performance

Pros and cons

Here’s what I like about the GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 5080 GAMING OC 16G:

• Exceptional gaming performance at 4K and 1440p resolutions
• Ray tracing and DLSS 4 integration for a top-notch visual experience
• Generous amount of video memory (16GB of GDDR7)
• Efficient cooling solution, with minimal noise even under high load
• Power-efficient for its performance class, drawing around 360 watts under peak load
• Beautiful design, as well as robust build quality

However, there are a few drawbacks:

• The card’s price is higher than the MSRP (which feels like a lie nowadays)
• Its large size might not fit in smaller PC cases
• The 16-pin power connector makes cable management a bit tricky

Verdict

The GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 5080 GAMING OC 16G is a performance monster. It easily handles everything from the most visually complex games at 4K resolution to demanding creative workloads. While it does come with a high price tag, the performance it delivers in return makes it a suitable choice for gamers and content creators who want to future-proof their systems for years to come. However, in case you’re on a tighter budget, it might be worth waiting for the end of the year sales or considering a previous-gen GeForce RTX 4000 series card if you’re looking for high-end performance at a better value.

Unboxing the GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 5080 GAMING OC 16G

The packaging of the GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 5080 GAMING OC 16G features a large cyber G logo on top of a more subtle Gaming text in the background. The box also clearly shows the manufacturer’s name, the product name, and its most essential features.

The neat packaging features a cyber-looking Gigabyte logo

The first thing you see inside the box is the massive GPU, wrapped in an anti-static bag. Once you remove it from the packaging, you discover that the card is not just heavy, but also feels solid and well built. GIGABYTE keeps the number of accessories to a minimum, but everything you need is there. There’s a quick start guide, a warranty information leaflet, a power adapter, and a modular system for sustaining the card’s weight and keeping it from bending.

The contents includes everything you need for the GPU

Unboxing the GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 5080 GAMING OC 16G proved quite satisfactory. You can tell this is a high-end product right out of the box.

Design and hardware specifications

This graphics card is built on NVIDIA’s latest Blackwell architecture, designed to improve not just raw performance, but also energy efficiency and AI acceleration. GIGABYTE ships this card with a factory-overclocked core clock of 2730 MHz, up from the 2617 MHz reference speed, and it includes no less than 10,752 CUDA cores along with 16 GB of ultra-fast GDDR7 memory. The memory runs on a 256-bit bus, offering the bandwidth needed to handle anything from modern 4K games to large 3D rendering workloads or even 8K video timelines.

Specifications for the GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 5080 GAMING OC 16G

For gaming, the GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 5080 is equipped with 5th-generation Tensor Cores that power DLSS 4, NVIDIA’s next-gen upscaling technology. DLSS 4 is capable of enhancing frame rates and improving image quality by intelligently upscaling lower-resolution images. This is an important asset when gaming at higher resolutions like 4K. The card also comes with 4th-generation Ray Tracing Cores that allow for more realistic lighting, reflections, and shadows in games. Ray tracing is a massive game-changer for in-game visuals, and the GeForce RTX 5080 is fully capable of providing a smooth, beautiful gaming experience even with ray tracing turned on.

GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 5080 GAMING OC 16G come with the latest NVIDIA technologies

For display output, the GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 5080 GAMING OC 16G is equipped with one HDMI 2.1b port and three DisplayPort 2.1b ports, letting you drive up to four monitors at resolutions up to 7680 x 4320. This is a nice step up from the previous generation, especially for anyone running multiple high refresh rate displays or ultra-wide monitors.

There are three DisplayPort 2.1b and one HDMI 2.1b on the card

Cooling is handled by GIGABYTE’s WINDFORCE system, which includes three large fans with alternate spinning, composite copper heat pipes, a large vapor chamber, and a generous amount of thermal conductive gel. This setup does an excellent job of keeping the card cool under load while staying fairly quiet. Even during extended gaming sessions, fan noise stays low, and temperatures remain under control.

The cooling system is massive

A large metal backplate covers the rear of the card, which helps with heat dissipation and also reinforces its structure. That’s important because this card is big and heavy, weighing about 1.8 kg (almost 4 lbs) and measuring 340 mm in length, 140 mm in width, and 70 mm in height (roughly 13.39 x 5.51 x 2.76 inches). It will take up three full slots in your case, and you’ll want to use the bundled solid mounting bracket to avoid long-term stress on your PCIe slot.

The backplate reinforces the GPU structure and also looks good

The card performs well, and it looks great too. GIGABYTE added what it calls RGB HALO lighting: three RGB-lit fan rings that offer customizable lighting effects and subtle animations. There’s also a sliding side plate that lets you choose whether to highlight the GIGABYTE logo or just have a more minimal look, depending on how you want your build to look through the side panel. It’s a nice touch for those who care how their machine looks. 🙂

The GPU includes RGB lighting

One thing that might be inconvenient is the power connector. Like other high-end GeForce RTX 5000 cards, the GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 5080 uses a single 16-pin (12VHPWR) power connector. If your power supply unit doesn’t already have one, you’ll need an adapter. That can complicate cable management, especially in smaller cases with more crowded configurations. For a card this big and powerful, that’s not a dealbreaker, but it’s something to keep in mind when planning your build.

The card requires a 16-pin power connector

If you want more details about this graphics card’s hardware specs and features, visit this webpage: GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 5080 GAMING OC 16G.

The GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 5080 GAMING OC 16G is a monster of a GPU that promises to deliver top-tier 4K performance, efficient cooling, and cutting-edge features. If you can afford it, it seems like an option that’s very hard to beat.

Using the GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 5080 GAMING OC 16G

Installing this graphics card in my PC was straightforward, and the system I used for testing featured the following hardware:

• Motherboard: ASUS ProArt X870E-CREATOR WIFI
• Processor: AMD Ryzen 9 9900X
• Cooler: Cooler Master MasterLiquid ML360R RGB
• Memory: Kingston Fury Renegade RGB DDR5-8000
• Storage: Kingston FURY Renegade G5 SSD (4TB)
• Monitor: ASUS ROG Strix XG32UQ (4K UHD)
• PSU: Seasonic Focus GX-1000

From the moment I powered on my system, the performance jump was obvious. Whether I was gaming or handling productivity tasks, the GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 5080 delivered top-notch results. Fun before work, I say, so I started by playing God of War Ragnarök. 🙂 On ultra settings, the GeForce RTX 5080 handled it with ease: frame rates were smooth at 4K resolution, and even without DLSS, the average stayed around 100 fps. There were no stutters or slowdowns, even during fast-paced action scenes.

Playing God of War Ragnarök on the GeForce RTX 5080 GPU

The card was equally impressive in day-to-day tasks. Whether I was working with large media files, running virtual machines, or simply multitasking with lots of applications, the GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 5080 showed no signs of slowing down. It’s clear that this graphics card isn’t just for gamers; it’s a perfect fit for any demanding task.

GIGABYTE's GeForce RTX 5080 is overkill for most daily casual activites

The cooling solution also impressed me. Even under load, the fans remained quiet, and the temperatures stayed well within safe limits. The card did a great job of maintaining a cool operating temperature, even during long gaming sessions or work hours.

Overall, the GeForce RTX 5080 feels like a serious upgrade that delivers excellent performance in both games and demanding workloads, without breaking a sweat. But let’s see what kind of performance you get from it. 🙂

Performance in games and benchmarks

To see what the GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 5080 GAMING OC 16G can actually do, I ran it through a long list of demanding titles and a few synthetic benchmarks. I tested everything at Ultra graphics settings, and in games that support it, ray tracing was turned on. DLSS was disabled for all tests to better compare raw performance between GPUs.

For each resolution (1080p, 1440p, and 4K), I recorded the average framerate and compared the results with three other cards: the ASUS PRIME GeForce RTX 5070 Ti, the GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER WINDFORCE 16G, and the GIGABYTE Radeon RX 9070 XT GAMING OC 16G. Let’s take a closer look at the numbers:

In Starfield at Ultra settings, the GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 5080 GAMING OC 16G reigns supreme at every resolution. At 1080p, it manages 119 FPS, which is about 23% faster than the GeForce RTX 5070 Ti. However, at 1440p, its lead over the Radeon RX 9070 XT shrinks to just 1%. In 4K resolution, it holds roughly 75 FPS and is still far ahead of the GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER by 44%!

Benchmark results in Starfield

In Cyberpunk 2077 at RT Ultra visual quality settings, the GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 5080 GAMING OC 16G leads at every resolution. At 1080p, it runs at roughly 100 FPS, getting ahead of its peers by at least a few percent. At 1440p, its performance (around 67 FPS) translates into about a 10% advantage over the GeForce RTX 5070 Ti. Even at 4K, it holds 35 FPS, maintaining roughly a 13% lead on both the GeForce RTX 5070 Ti and the GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER.

Benchmark results in Cyberpunk 2077

In The Callisto Protocol at Ultra with ray tracing enabled, the GIGABYTE RTX 5080 GAMING OC 16G hits about 106 FPS at 1080p. That’s roughly 10% faster than the GeForce RTX 5070 Ti, though it still trails the Radeon RX 9070 XT. At 1440p, it manages around 100 FPS, 9% more than the GeForce 5070 Ti, but remains just shy of the Radeon card. At 4K, it climbs to the top, delivering about 64 FPS, 3% ahead of its closest competitor.

Benchmark results in The Callisto Protocol

In The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Next‑Gen Update at RT Ultra settings, the GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 5080 GAMING OC 16G is the absolute leader in every resolution. At 1080p, it reaches an average of 102 FPS, about 12% faster than the GeForce RTX 5070 Ti. At 1440p, it maintains 72 FPS, and at 4K, it still manages 40 FPS, roughly 14% ahead of the GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER. This performance gap underscores the strength of the GeForce RTX 5080 in demanding ray‑traced workloads.

Benchmark results in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Next‑Gen Update

Total War: WARHAMMER III is a strategy game that loves GPU horsepower. Here too, the GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 5080 GAMING OC 16G dominates at every resolution. At 1080p, it obtains an average of 244 FPS, roughly 25% faster than the RTX 5070 Ti and 16% ahead of the GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER. At 1440p, it’s about 26% faster than the GeForce 5070 Ti and 16% above the GeForce 4080 SUPER. In 4K, it outpaces the GeForce 5070 Ti by over 25% and the GeForce 4080 SUPER by more than 20%.

Benchmark results in Total War WARHAMMER III

In Assassin’s Creed Mirage at Ultra High settings, the GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 5080 GAMING OC 16G delivers excellent results in all situations. At 1080p, it turns in about 176 FPS, more than any of the other NVIDIA options, yet roughly 8% behind the Radeon RX 9070 XT. At 1440p, it reaches 165 FPS, outmatching that same Radeon card by around 3%. And at 4K, it pushes 112 FPS, enjoying an approximate 11% advantage over its closest rival.

Benchmark results in Assassin's Creed Mirage

In Resident Evil Village at Max settings with ray tracing on, the GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 5080 GAMING OC 16G delivers about 237 FPS at 1080p. It’s behind the GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER by just 2% while outpacing the GeForce RTX 5070 Ti by roughly 3%. At 1440p, it sustains around 229 FPS, about 12% faster than the GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER. At 4K, it manages approximately 158 FPS, maintaining more than a 16% advantage over its nearest NVIDIA rival.

Benchmark results in Resident Evil Village

F1 22’s high-speed racing benefits from fast GPUs, and the GeForce RTX 5080 doesn’t disappoint. On the Ultra High graphics quality preset with ray tracing on, the GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 5080 GAMING OC 16G hits 216 FPS at 1080p, within 5% of the Radeon RX 9070 XT’s 227 FPS. At 1440p, it climbs to 168 FPS, roughly 11% faster than the GeForce RTX 5070 Ti and about 10% ahead of the Radeon RX 9070 XT. At 4K resolution, it holds a solid 85 FPS, approximately 8% above the nearest rival.

Benchmark results in F1 22

Moving on to 3DMark’s synthetic benchmarks, in Time Spy Extreme, the GeForce RTX 5080 scores about 14,850 points, which means it’s roughly 15% better than the GeForce RTX 5070 Ti and 8% faster than the Radeon RX 9070 XT. In the Speed Way test, it reaches around 8800 points, delivering a 15% uplift over the GeForce RTX 5070 Ti and a nearly 20% gain on the GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER. And in Port Royal, the GeForce RTX 5080’s roughly 22430 points represent about a 17% advantage over the GeForce RTX 5070 Ti and a 23% lead on the GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER. These synthetic benchmarks underline the GeForce RTX 5080’s overall performance headroom.

Benchmark results in 3DMark

Even with all this power, the GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 5080 GAMING OC 16G stays impressively cool. It peaked at just 67°C (152°F), tying with the Radeon RX 9070 XT and running cooler than both the GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER (77°C or 171°F) and GeForce RTX 5070 Ti (73°C or 163°F). This proves without any shadow of a doubt that GIGABYTE’s triple-fan cooling solution and its large heatsink design are extremely effective.

Maximum temperatures recorded

As expected, the card draws a lot of power. At full load, it hit 360 Watts, around 8% more than the GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER and 19% more than the GeForce RTX 5070 Ti. While this might sound high, it’s reasonable considering the performance it delivers, especially when paired with high-end CPUs and 4K displays. Just make sure your power supply unit is up to the task and your case has good airflow.

Maximum power draw recorded

The GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 5080 delivers clear performance gains in every game and benchmark I tried, both in traditional rendering and with ray tracing enabled. It stays cooler than expected for such a high-end GPU, and while power draw is on the higher side, the results more than justify it.

What’s your take on the GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 5080 GAMING OC 16G?

If you’re looking to upgrade your gaming rig or start working on demanding creative projects, the GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 5080 is a strong contender. However, as always, make sure to keep an eye on availability and pricing, especially considering how expensive the GPU market can be. Would you upgrade to it, or are you sticking with a previous-gen card? Let me know what you think in the comments section below.