Review: MSI RTX 4080 Suprim X 16GB

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The last word:

NVIDIA’s smackdown continues?

With the RTX 4090, NVIDIA has slapped the competition and even its previous generation in terms of raw performance. So, what about this RTX 4080 and especially, what is the performance/price ratio worth compared to the RTX 4090?

Let’s start with the performance, which is where we expected it to be. Compared to the RTX 3080 Ti, the gains are well over 30% and they are more than 16% compared to the top of the range of the previous generation, the RTX 3090 Ti. At this level, we have no remarks to make, knowing moreover that the card is compatible with DLSS 3. As we have seen, DLSS 3 brings a real gain compared to version 2. Now let’s be honest, this is still a card that is intended for 2160p. If you play in lower resolutions, other models will be more interesting.

To understand the pricing strategy, let’s first go back to the price announced by NVIDIA for its Founders Edition and go further than just saying: “But what is NVIDIA doing, it’s shameful and way too expensive! So, indeed the prices of computer components are soaring and not only those of graphics cards. This is unfortunately a generalization since the covid crisis, which is a good thing in this case. To come back to the RTX 4080 Founders Edition, its price is displayed on the NVIDIA website at $1199 or 1469 euros. According to our gaming tests, it is 27% less powerful than the RTX 4090. If we apply a rule of three to the price of the RTX 4090 FE which is 1959 euros, we arrive at 1 430 euros, which is not far from the official price.

To get another view, we looked for the price for an RTX 3090 Ti Founders Edition which is still listed at 1329 euros at LDLC. Again, with the performance gap, the price of the RTX 4080 is perfectly justified. So, be careful, we did not say that these prices were convenient for us but we compare them to the current ones of other models. Indeed, we are fully aware that setting up a configuration has become unaffordable.

And this MSI RTX 4080 Suprim X:

So, what about our MSI RTX 4080 Suprim X. Regarding the price, MSI announces a price of 1649 euros, a difference of 180 euros compared to the Founders Edition. Even if this price can be justified by the use of high-end components for this series, the price of our sample is less competitive. You should know that MSI also offers its Gaming X Trio version at 1559 euros. No doubt that the price of the design of this RTX 4080 Suprim X costs MSI and that this cost must be reflected in the final price. For years we have always had different prices for different series and for all brands. We can wonder if the future of some series is not simply threatened by the Founders Edition models.

On the design side, nothing to complain about on this model. MSI remains faithful to what it usually offers on this superb “Suprim X” series: a superb design, a perfectly cooled card that is totally silent. We are on the best of MSI. Finally, and to conclude, we will insist on one more point. Ask yourself, depending on the rest of your configuration, if you will be able to take full advantage of the potential of an RTX 4080? Personally, a recent Intel or AMD CPU as well as DDR5 seems more and more mandatory to us as well as a 4K display for this new generation. The idea is to keep a balance between the components. Don’t forget that many models of the RTX 3000 are still available for sale and that there might be some good deals during Black Friday. Feel free to ask questions and share your thoughts on our Discord.

We liked:

  • A card to take full advantage of 2160p
  • Performance is way up compared to the RTX 3080 Ti
  • The most powerful RTX 4080 of the three tested
  • A very good factory overclocking but also a very good overclocking potential
  • The GDDR6X memory is still very docile when overclocking
  • Excellent cooling system combined with low noise levels
  • The very reliable noise pollution
  • Power consumption has improved significantly!
  • The quality of the card’s design
  • The presence of two BIOS

We would have liked :

  • A much lower price when you know that the Founders Edition RTX 3080 was available at its launch at $699 (759 euros)
  • A less bodybuilt version

médaille award OMF or goldIn terms of performance, this MSI RTX 4080 Suprim X fulfills its objectives perfectly, ensures the transition with the previous generation and deserves a gold award. Our sample, which we would have liked to see with smaller proportions, proved to be quiet and able to keep the graphics chip and the power supply stages cool. Unfortunately, the price of this RTX 4080 is in the end the most expensive of the three tested cards but with the best basic overclocking, two BIOS and a perfectly balanced card. In the end, it’s your wallet that will decide whether or not you’ll go for this RTX 4080 Suprim X.

Thanks to MSI France for making this sample available.