Gigabyte RTX 3080 Gaming OC Graphics Card Review

The RTX 3000 series has been with us for a little while now, and it's safe to say it's one of the most incredible gaming chipsets ever seen. Sure, the RTX 3090 is a monster too, but you're mostly paying for the colossal amount of VRAM than anything else. The RTX 3080 is the sweet spot, offering next-gen 4K performance for the modern enthusiast gamer. Gigabyte has equipped the card with their latest Windforce 3X cooling system, given is a nice performance boost right out of the box and thrown it to the hungry games. But is it any good? Gigabyte RTX 3080 Gaming OC The card is certainly well equipped, and we already know the RTX 3080 chipset is no slouch. However, while the Nvidia reference cards sport a 11710 MHz core clock speed, the Gigabyte RTX 3080 Gaming OC 10G sports a speedy 1800 MHz core clock speed. The addition of their Windforce 3X cooler, RGB Fusion 2.0 lighting tech, a durable metal backplate and their reassuring 4-year warranty certainly add up to an attractive package. Features Nvidia Ampere Streaming Multiprocessors2nd Generation RT Cores3rd Generation Tensor CoresPowered by GeForce RTX™ 3080Integrated with 10GB GDDR6X 320-bit memory interfaceWINDFORCE 3X Cooling System with alternate spinning fansRGB Fusion 2.0Protection metal back plate4 Years Warranty (Online registration required) What Gigabyte Had to Say "Prepare yourself for an unforgettable gaming experience with the Gigabyte RTX 3080 Gaming OC GPU, powered by the all-new NVIDIA GeForce Ampere architecture boasting 2nd Generation RT cores and 3rd Generation Tensor Cores to bring you the biggest graphical performance leap of the modern era. The RTX 2080 Gaming OC features the renowned WindForce 3x cooling system to keep all that power in check with its alternate spinning unique bladed fans to give you whisper quiet unprecedented high efficiency heat dissipation. A protective metal backplate not only enhances the aesthetics of the card but also enhances the structure to provide full protective coverage and with support for RGB Fusion 2.0 you have access to 6.7M customisable colour options and numerous lighting effects, you can choose lighting effects or synchronise with other AORUS devices. Welcome to the future of gaming with GeForce 3080." - Gigabyte A Closer Look One thing I like about Gigabyte is that they keep things as simple as possible, and it's one of the reasons they have such a solid warranty policy too. They use the same cooler on multiple cards, making only minor changes to ensure compatibility. That may not seem that great, but it is in this case. This is the same cooler they use on the RTX 3090, and if it can cool a more powerful card with ease, it'll have no issues with a mere RTX 3080. I must admit, their new Windforce design looks so much better than the old one. Then again, we saw that same cooler for a good few years, and it was starting to get a little boring. This new angular design is much more aggressive, but also allows for a much wider heatsink too. The cooler design uses their triple fan design, with two 90mm fans and one 80mm fan. What's unique is that the middle fan spins clockwise, while the outer fans spin anti-clockwise. This creates a vortex that improves the overall airflow and cooling. Of course, all of the fans are PWM controlled and independent, so any or all of the fans can completely stop in lower loads and temperatures to keep things nice and quiet. The card features 7 composite copper heat pipes, running though their direct touch heat plate, and two massive heatsinks. On the back of the card, you'll find a fantastic looking metal backplate, which features added ventilation to keep the card cool. I love that bit at the back, it literally allows the GPU to blow heat right out the back. There's a BIOS switch here, allowing for OC or silent mode switching. Default is OC, but if you crazy silence and lower power usage, it's nice to have the option. Down the side of the card, there's a small Gigabyte logo and a small strip below it which are RGB lit. It's not a lot, but it's just enough to stand out without going too crazy on the lighting. Finally, we have the rear of the card, which features dual HDMI and triple DisplayPorts. It's nice to see dual HDMI most of all, it's so often limited to just one. Remove the backplate, you can see that lovely PCB. And since YouTube viewers think they're electrical engineers these days, you'll be happy to see 470µF rated hardware, when the Nvidia reference spec is only 220µF. How We Test We continue to update our testing methods around once per year. As such, we re-test older hardware to reflect changes over time. These can be driver updates, Windows updates, game patches, and more; all of which have an impact on performance figures. Furthermore, we update our test bench to newer and more relevant hardware. This means that our new reviews aren’t always comparable to those of older reviews, so please compare the testing methodology on older reviews should you be trying to compare them with newer ones. Replicate Our Results When it comes to our benchmarks in our reviews, the benchmarks are pretty self-explanatory and kept as simple as possible, although there are a few exceptions. Remember that your choice of a graphics card, CPU, the silicon lottery, and other factors can yield different numbers, and there’s always a margin for error when using any software. Links are provided below, as well as the settings we use. We encourage you to not just look at how one product compares to any other, but how it compares to your own. If you’re looking to build a new system, you should benchmark your current PC using the benchmarks available to you. You should then look at the percentage improvement from your current hardware to the hardware tested here to give you a ballpark figure of how much of an upgrade this will provide you with. Graphics Card Test System MotherboardASUS Crosshair VIII Hero (Wi-Fi)ProcessorAMD Ryzen 9 3900XTRAMTEAMGroup DarkZa 16GB 3600MHz (2x8GB)CPU CoolerNoctua NH-D15SPower SupplyPhanteks Revolt Pro 850StorageSeagate FireCuda 520 2TBChassisOpen BenchtableMonitorDell UP3218KOSWindows 10 Pro Version 2004 Additional Hardware Killawatt style electricity usage meter wall plugPrecision Gold N05CC Decibel meter Gaming To gauge performance levels which are easily reproduced time after time, by both ourselves and our readers, we now stick strictly to games default profiles. We now use the “High” profiles for all games or their respective equivalent at all resolutions. V-Sync is always disabled in our testing, as are FreeSync and G-Sync technologies or similar. Graphics card power usage is set to optimised or balance, and the system power mode set to High Performance within Windows and the available GPU driver software. Identical settings are used for all resolutions unless otherwise stated. Games Deus Ex: Mankind DividedShadow of the Tomb RaiderFinal Fantasy XVDoom EternalBorderlands 3Metro ExodusBattlefield VApex LegendsControlGears of War 5FarCry New DawnGhost Recon WildlandsWolfenstein Youngblood Resolutions Tested 1080p (Full HD)1440p (2K)2160p (4K)4320p (8K) Some tests will also include features such as Nvidia DLSS and Ray Tracing. However, these will be clearly labelled and may only appear in reviews for graphics cards that support those features. Software Used 3DMark Fire Strike (download)FireStrikeFireStrike UltraPort Royal DXRTimeSpyTimeSpy ExtremeUnigine Superposition (download)4K Optimised BenchmarkHWMonitor (download)GPU-Z (download)MSI Afterburner (download) Noise Everyone has a reasonable noise level preference when it comes to components on a computer. Some can handle all fans at 100% load to keep temperatures down; some want an entirely silent computer. To accurately gauge the noise output of a graphics card, we position a Precision Gold N05CC one meter above our open-air test bench and take an average reading at idle and load. Power Consumption We take power readings during the idle state with no background applications running. Then again at 50% completion of the Unigine Superposition benchmark, using the average as the final published result. Temperatures We take temperature readings after 10 minutes of desktop idle with no background programs running, then take the recorded maximum delivered from Unigine Superposition after a 4K optimised run, confirming the numbers are accurate with HWMonitor. Furthermore, the ambient temperature is always kept +/- 1c from 21c. Synthetic Benchmarks 3DMark FireStrike - 285643DMark FireStrike Ultra - 106983DMark TimeSpy - 159903DMark TimeSpy Extreme - 83283DMark Port Royal (DXR) - 11145Unigine Superposition 4K Optimised - 14245 3DMark FireStrike 3DMark FireStrike Ultra 3DMark TimeSpy 3DMark TimeSpy Extreme 3DMark Port Royal (DXR) Unigine Superposition 4K Optimised Now an experienced covert operative, Adam Jensen is forced to operate in a world that has grown to despise his kind. Armed with a new arsenal of state-of-the-art weapons and augmentations, he must choose the right approach, along with who to trust, in order to unravel a vast worldwide conspiracy. Available now on Steam. Deus Ex: Mankind Divided Performance 1080p Deus Ex Mankind Divided - 137.91440p Deus Ex Mankind Divided - 125.32160p Deus Ex Mankind Divided - 77.4 Experience Lara Croft’s defining moment as she becomes the Tomb Raider. In Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Lara must master a deadly jungle, overcome terrifying tombs, and persevere through her darkest hour. As she races to save the world from a Maya apocalypse, Lara will ultimately be forged into the Tomb Raider she is destined to be. Available now on Steam. Shadow of the Tomb Raider Performance 1080p Shadow of the Tomb Raider - 1401440p Shadow of the Tomb Raider - 1332160p Shadow of the Tomb Raider - 96 For the first time, players take control of Noctis's greatest foe in this brand-new episode of FINAL FANTASY XV! Delve into the dark tale of scorned saviour Ardyn Lucis Caelum and unravel the secrets surrounding his mysterious past. Available now on Steam. Final Fantasy XV Performance 1080p Final Fantasy XV - 137.91440p Final Fantasy XV - 125.32160p Final Fantasy XV - 77.4 Experience Aloy’s entire legendary quest to unravel the mysteries of a world ruled by deadly Machines. An outcast from her tribe, the young hunter fights to uncover her past, discover her destiny… and stop a catastrophic threat to the future. Unleash devastating, tactical attacks against unique Machines and rival tribes as you explore an open world teeming with wildlife and danger. Horizon Zero Dawn™ is a multi-award-winning action role-playing game – and this Complete Edition for PC includes the huge expansion The Frozen Wilds, featuring new lands, skills, weapons and Machines. Available now on Steam. Horizon Zero Dawn Performance 1080p Horizon Zero Dawn - 1451440p Horizon Zero Dawn - 1302160p Horizon Zero Dawn - 82 Hell’s armies have invaded Earth. Become the Slayer in an epic single-player campaign to conquer demons across dimensions and stop the final destruction of humanity. The only thing they fear... is you. Available now on Steam. Doom Eternal Performance 1080p Doom Eternal - 339.1121440p Doom Eternal - 310.0912160p Doom Eternal - 182.617 The original shooter-looter returns, packing bazillions of guns and a mayhem-fueled adventure! Blast through new worlds and enemies as one of four new Vault Hunters. Play solo or with friends to take on insane enemies, score loads of loot and save your home from the most ruthless cult leaders in the galaxy. At the hard edge of the galaxy lies a group of planets ruthlessly exploited by militarized corporations. Brimming with loot and violence, this is your home—the Borderlands. Now, a crazed cult known as The Children of the Vault has emerged and is spreading like an interstellar plague. Play solo or co-op as one of four unique Vault Hunters, score loads of loot and save the galaxy from this fanatical threat. Available now on Epic Games Store. Borderlands 3 Performance 1080p Borderlands 3 - 122.171440p Borderlands 3 - 115.662160p Borderlands 3 - 75.9 Metro Exodus is an epic, story-driven first-person shooter from 4A Games that blends deadly combat and stealth with exploration and survival horror in one of the most immersive game worlds ever created. Flee the shattered ruins of dead Moscow and embark on an epic, continent-spanning journey across post-apocalyptic Russia in the greatest Metro adventure yet. Explore the Russian wilderness in vast, non-linear levels and follow a thrilling story-line inspired by the novels of Dmitry Glukhovsky that spans an entire year through spring, summer and autumn to the depths of nuclear winter. Available now on Epic Game Store. Metro Exodus Performance 1080p Metro Exodus - 123.321440p Metro Exodus - 114.062160p Metro Exodus - 76.32 Enter mankind’s greatest conflict with Battlefield™ V in the most intense, immersive, and innovative Battlefield yet. Lead your squad to victory in all-new multiplayer experiences like the multi-map Grand Operations. Fight for survival in Firestorm – battle royale, reimagined for Battlefield. Witness a never-before-seen portrayal of WW2 in the single-player War Stories campaign. Assemble your Company of customized soldiers, weapons, and vehicles – then take them on an expanding journey where every chapter brings a new battlefield. You will never be the same. Available now on Origin. Battlefield V Performance 1080p Battlefield V - 166.7391440p Battlefield V - 159.4652160p Battlefield V - 108.197 Conquer with character in Apex Legends, a free-to-play Battle Royale shooter where legendary characters with powerful abilities team up to battle for fame & fortune on the fringes of the Frontier. Master an ever-growing roster of diverse Legends, deep tactical squad play and bold new innovations that level up the Battle Royale experience—all within a rugged world where anything goes. Welcome to the next evolution of Battle Royale. Available now on Steam. Apex Legends Performance 1080p Apex Legends - 143.7861440p Apex Legends - 143.7742160p Apex Legends - 143.598 A corruptive presence has invaded the Federal Bureau of Control…Only you have the power to stop it. The world is now your weapon in an epic fight to annihilate an ominous enemy through deep and unpredictable environments. Containment has failed, humanity is at stake. Will you regain control? Winner of over 80 awards, Control is a visually stunning third-person action-adventure that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Blending open-ended environments with the signature world-building and storytelling of renowned developer, Remedy Entertainment, Control presents an expansive and intensely gratifying gameplay experience. Available now on Steam. Control Performance 1080p Control - 151.3061440p Control - 116.82160p Control - 61.642 Squad up with Dom Santiago in Operation 4 Brothers in Arms, available now. Play today with new heroes, new maps and new rewards. From one of gaming’s most acclaimed sagas, Gears is bigger than ever, with five thrilling modes and the deepest campaign yet. Available now on Steam. Gears of War 5 Performance 1080p Gears of War 5 - 113.11440p Gears of War 5 - 110.42160p Gears of War 5 - 85.6 Seventeen years after a global nuclear catastrophe, civilization re-emerges from the chaos to find a world dramatically changed. In Hope County, Montana, the remaining populace has gathered into different groups, each with their own rules for survival. In this new world order, the vicious Highwaymen, led by twin sisters Mickey and Lou, travel from place to place bleeding people dry of all available resources. As the Survivors try to defend their lands against the Highwaymen's relentless onslaught, it's up to you to come to their aid and lead the fight. In the latest instalment of the award-winning Far Cry franchise, you are the last line of defence in a transformed, post-apocalyptic Hope County. Help the community of Survivors grow stronger, craft a makeshift arsenal through Turf Wars and cross-country Expeditions, and form unexpected alliances to fight for survival in a dangerous new frontier. Available now on UPlay. Far Cry New Dawn Performance 1080p Far Cry New Dawn - 1201440p Far Cry New Dawn - 1092160p Far Cry New Dawn - 68 The Ghosts, an elite US Special Forces team, are sent behind enemy lines to wreak havoc, destabilize, and eventually break the alliance between the cartel and the corrupted government. Facing an almighty enemy in a massive and hostile environment, the Ghosts will need to make critical moral choices and engage in tough battles to complete their mission – their grittiest and most dangerous operation to date. Available now on UPlay. Ghost Recon: Wildlands Performance 1080p Ghost Recon Wildlands - 154.711440p Ghost Recon Wildlands - 137.532160p Ghost Recon Wildlands - 87.01 Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Breakpoint puts you in the boots of the Ghosts, an Elite US Special Operations Unit stranded behind enemy lines. This time there is no briefing. All contact has been lost with Auroa. This archipelago is home to Skell Technology, a high-tech company. You are sent there with your unit for a recon mission, but your helicopters are shot down: Skell Tech has fallen into the wrong hands. The Wolves, a lethal ex-US military unit gone rogue, have taken over the island. Led by your ex-brother-in-arms, Colonel Cole D. Walker, they have reprogrammed Skell’s drones into killing machines and are ready to use them, no matter the casualties. Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Breakpoint is a military shooter set in a diverse, hostile, and mysterious open world that you can play entirely solo or in four-player co-op. Injured, without support, and hunted down by ex-Ghosts, you must fight to survive while lost in Auroa. Choose the right alliances and decide how to take down your toughest enemy. Available now on UPLAY. Ghost Recon: Breakpoint 1080p Breakpoint - 1811440p Breakpoint - 1732160p Breakpoint - 127 Wolfenstein: Youngblood is the first modern co-op Wolfenstein adventure. Nineteen years after the events of Wolfenstein II, BJ Blazkowicz has disappeared after a mission into Nazi-occupied Paris. Now, after years of training from their battle-hardened father, BJ’s twin daughters, Jess and Soph Blazkowicz, are forced into action. Team up with a friend or play alone. Level up, explore, and complete missions to unlock new abilities, weapons, gadgets, cosmetics, and more to complement your playstyle and customize your appearance. Wolfenstein: Youngblood features the most open-ended Wolfenstein experience to date. From a new base of operations located deep in the heart of the Paris catacombs, plan how and when to attack and dismantle the Nazi regime. Available now on Steam. Wolfenstein Youngblood Performance 1080p Wolfenstein Youngblood - 3711440p Wolfenstein Youngblood - 2722160p Wolfenstein Youngblood - 161 It's time to separate the weak from the strong, as this test is all about punishment. The issue with this, it's 4 x the resolution of 4K, and that means it's going to put a frankly appalling strain on VRAM, even on flagship cards. However, it's fun, and we're doing this. Any result showing a zero either would not run or typically failed during the run and wouldn't complete. Ray tracing is the true next-gen feature that many of us have been watching develop over the last couple of years. However, with more and more cards, as well as next-gen consoles supporting the feature, it's expected to take off in a big way now. Obviously, AMD cards are omitted from this test right now, but we're certain it won't be long before we see some competition in these benchmarks. Power Consumption Temperatures Acoustics How Much Does It Cost? Unfortunately, the stock issues still persist. However, you can check for up to date price and stock on Amazon UK here and Amazon US here. I will update this page is the situation changes, but otherwise, card should be pretty close to the Nvidia MSRP. Overview Sometimes a card is the fastest or the cheapest, but this time it's right in the middle. It's a little more expensive than the basic RTX 3080 cards, but that little overclock right out of the box does make a nice difference. The Gigabyte RTX 3080 Gaming OC is right in the middle of the other RTX 3080's in terms of price and performance. Albeit, I'll admit the difference between even the most affordable and expensive models is pretty small anyway. Power Just like the other RTX 3080 cards we've tested, this card is an absolute beast. It's one of the most incredible gaming experiences that have been available in years. 4K gaming is no longer the reserve of the extreme gaming PC market and enthusiasts. You can hit 3840 x 2160 and still score above 60 FPS, even in the latest games. The card even managed 49 FPS at Doom Eternal at 8K, long story long, it's a fast card. You get all those lovely RTX benefits too, of course. Finally you can enjoy games like Metro Exodus, Battlefield V, Control and many others with those ray tracing settings maxed out. Build Quality Gigabyte doesn't just stick a four-year warranty on this thing and hope for the best. They're confident they've built a reliable and durable card. The same cooler is used on their RTX 3090 model, and if it's good enough for those expensive monster, it'll certainly do the trick on the RTX 3080. The new metal backplate looks fantastic, but it's also adding a lot of rigidity to the card, as well as extra ventilation for the PCB and the heatsink. Overall, it's great to see Gigabyte upgrade their Windforce design for 2020 and beyond, it's a big improvement. Should I Buy One? While stock issues may be keeping your money in your wallet, they won't persist. When this card is back in stock, I expect it'll be one of the most popular options. It's very competitively in terms of price, while still offering a great range of features and very competitive performance.