MSI SuprimX RTX 3080 12GB LHR Graphics Card Review

MSI is one of the biggest names in the PC gaming market, and they have many of the best gaming products on the market today! From award-winning motherboards to extremely fast graphics cards. However, today, it’s all about the latest graphics cards, and it looks like there’s still plenty of life in the Nvidia RTX 3080 chipset yet, as this latest revision aims to push the card to new heights. The changes are not particularly significant though, with a few tweaks to the overall speeds of the card. The main upgrade here is that the card now has a couple of extra gigabytes of VRAM, which should improve high-resolution gaming performance. Of course, there’s also the fact that this chipset has been with us a while now, and as platforms mature, manufacturing improvements in the chipset, cooling design, and driver improvements can have a big impact in taking things to the next level.

MSI SuprimX RTX 3080 12GB

It’s certainly a well-equipped card though. The stock Nivida RTX 3080 that originally launched is still a very potent graphics card and well suited to high resolution and high framerate gameplay with little compromise. So pushing the performance up a little bit should help keep this card fresh for 2022 and beyond. Of course, as with a lot of gaming hardware, graphics cards are really dominated by their price and their stock availability these days, with many gamers simply having to buy what they can find and afford. With that in mind, this card is likely to be very popular, and it’s unlikely to be particularly cheap. However, with that in mind, I am hoping to see some rather tasty performance figures today. Rather than benching all our GPUs together though, this one is going to be a little more laser-focused; we’re pitting it against the card it is destined to replace!

Features

• PCIe Gen 4
• DirectX 12
• GDDR6X Graphics Memory
• DisplayPort 1.4a
• HDMI 2.1
• Variable Refresh Rate and G-Sync
• LHR (light hash rate)

For in-depth features and specifications, please visit the official product page here.

CPU-Z RTX 3080 10GB (The Old One)

CPU-Z RTX 3080 12GB (The New One)

A Closer Look

There’s no doubt about it, the new MSI SuprimX RTX 3080 12GB graphics card certainly looks awesome. It’s not a whole new design for MSI, and really just an evolution of their current RTX 3000 series cards. Of course, that makes absolute sense, as this isn’t a fully new graphics card launch, and more just a revision anyway. That being said, the cooler looks pretty hardcore, with a triple fan configuration that’s sure to keep things exceptionally cooled.

The fans are their latest TORX Fan 4.0 design. These have fan blades that are joined into pairs at the tips, which helps them push more air pressure down into the GPU. The interior structure of the cooler has been improved too, allowing air to be funnelled through like an exhaust system to where it is needed most. Of course, all the fans are PWM, and can each shut themselves off when the card is cooler, improving overall noise levels. The shroud design looks stunning though, with a multi-tone design that also mixes up a brushed metal look with a sandblasted look. Overall, it looks very stylish and premium.

One thing that does raise an eyebrow is that this card is a bit thirsty. It requires three 8-pin PSU headers, which is a huge amount of power input. I suspect it doesn’t really need that much, but it’ll have a VRM configuration that can use the extra input to balance the load and just give more stable voltages overall. Either way, the card shouldn’t have any trouble sitting at its higher boost clocks with this level of power input and that robust cooler design.

The side profile does look cool too. There’s a mirror-like panel with the SUPRIM logo, and that’s RGB lit when the card is powered on. The card is 2.5 slots thick, and as you can see, that space is not wasted. There’s a seriously hefty radiator in this card, with very tightly packed fins and some hefty heatpipes. The passive cooling capabilities alone should be pretty impressive.

That’s an important detail. The LHR branding is “Light Hash Rate” which means the card has been electronically crippled to prevent it from being of (much) value to crypto mining. It’s just the scalpers you’ve gotta watch out for now!

The backplate is a full metal design, with a lovely milled and polished edge that gives it a more premium look and feel.

Much like the front of the card, it has a two-tone texture, with a brushed aluminium finish that goes in two directions. It’s a really cool design and looks really classy. I just wish they didn’t stamp the word SUPRIM in the middle, as it’s already on the side and feels over branded as a result.

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

Additional Hardware

• Killawatt style electricity usage meter wall plug
• Precision 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. Given how powerful most modern cards are getting, we’ve began using more demanding profiles for most games, but will otherwise state on a per game basis if we use other profiles beyond High, Ultra, Maximum or their respective equivalent at all resolutions. V-Sync is always disabled in our testing, as are FreeSync and G-Sync technologies or similar. We also exclude brand exclusive texts in tests that compare AMD/Nvidia, such as DLSS only testing as that’s a one sided battle. Graphics card power usage is set to optimised or balanced, and the system power mode is set to High Performance within Windows and the available GPU driver software. Identical settings are used for all resolutions unless otherwise stated.

Games

• Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
• Borderlands 3
• Dirt 5
• Forza Horizon 5
• Godfall
• Horizon Zero Dawn
• Metro Exodus Enhanced Edition
• Shadow of the Tomb Raider
• Watch Dogs Legion

Resolutions

• 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. 8K testing will only appear in reviews of flagship cards that we consider capable.

Software Used

• 3DMark Fire Strike (download)
  • FireStrike
  • FireStrike Ultra
  • Port Royal DXR
  • TimeSpy
  • TimeSpy Extreme
• HWMonitor (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

3DMark Firestrike Ultra

3DMark Timespy

3DMark Timespy Extreme

3DMark Port Royal

Become Eivor, a legendary Viking raider on a quest for glory. Explore England’s Dark Ages as you raid your enemies, grow your settlement, and build your political power.

• Lead epic Viking raids against Saxon fortresses throughout England.
• Dual-wield powerful weapons and relive the visceral fighting style of the Vikings.
• Challenge yourself with the most varied collection of enemies ever found in Assassin’s Creed.
• Shape the growth of your character with every choice you make and carve your path to glory.
• Explore a Dark Age open world, from the harsh shores of Norway to the beautiful kingdoms of England.
• Personalize your experience by growing your clan’s settlement.

Available now on UPlay.

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla Performance

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

DIRT 5 is a fun, amplified, off-road racing experience created by Codemasters. Blaze a trail on routes across the world, covering gravel, ice, snow and sand, with a roster of cars ranging from rally icons to trucks, to GT heroes. With a star-studded Career, four-player split-screen, innovative online modes, livery editor and more new features, DIRT 5 is the next generation of extreme racing.

Available now on Steam.

Dirt 5 Performance

Aperion is on the precipice of ruin. You are the last of the Valorian knights, god-like warriors able to equip Valorplates, legendary armor sets that transform wielders into unstoppable masters of melee combat. Tear through foes as you climb through the elemental realms and challenge the mad god, Macros who awaits you at the top. Ascend in Godfall, the first-of-its-kind, looter-slasher, melee action-RPG.

Available now on EPIC.

Godfall Performance

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

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

Build a resistance from virtually anyone you see as you hack, infiltrate, and fight to take back a near-future London that is facing its downfall. Welcome to the Resistance. Recruit and play as anyone in the city. Everyone you see has a unique backstory, personality, and skill set.

Hack armed drones, deploy spider-bots and take down enemies using an Augmented Reality Cloak. Explore a massive urban open world featuring London’s many iconic landmarks and fun side activities. Take your recruits online and team up with your friends as you complete missions and challenging endgame content.

Available now on UPlay.

Watchdogs Legion Performance

Available now on Steam.

Dirt 5 Ray Traced Shadows Performance

Your Ultimate Horizon Adventure awaits! Explore the vibrant and ever-evolving open-world landscapes of Mexico with limitless, fun driving action in hundreds of the world’s greatest cars.

Available now on Xbox/PC

Forza Horizon 5 Ray Tracing Performance

Available now on EPIC.

Godfall Ray Traced Shadows Performance

Available now on Epic Game Store.

Metro Exodus Ray Tracing & DLSS Performance

Build a resistance from virtually anyone you see as you hack, infiltrate, and fight to take back a near-future London that is facing its downfall. Welcome to the Resistance. Recruit and play as anyone in the city. Everyone you see has a unique backstory, personality, and skill set.

Hack armed drones, deploy spider-bots and take down enemies using an Augmented Reality Cloak. Explore a massive urban open world featuring London’s many iconic landmarks and fun side activities. Take your recruits online and team up with your friends as you complete missions and challenging endgame content.

Available now on UPlay.

Watchdogs Legion Ray Tracing Performance

Power Consumption

Temperatures

Acoustics

How Much Does It Cost?

At the time of writing, I don’t have any retail links for this graphics card. However, you can check for up to date pricing and stock information on Amazon UK here, or Amazon US here. Of course, we fully expect stock to be sporadic, and prices to be inflated at many retailers.

Overview

This card is quite a conundrum in so many regards. On a technical level, it is an upgrade of an older model, but I’m not sure why it’s really upgraded either. In many regards, the original RTX 3080 is still a very competitive card, and the main crippling factor would be stock availability. It’s not that Nvidia isn’t making lots of GPUs, they certainly are, but between mining and scalping, and just huge consumer demand, it feels like there’s nothing out there. Thankfully, this card is one of the LHR cards, so it’s less appealing to mining operations, but even that is just one small battle in the larger GPU wars right now.

Why?

Perhaps with this new revision, it’s bringing in their improved manufacturing techniques, so not only is the card performing a little better, but it’s also possible to manufacture more easily too. However, Nvidia and the brands that release their cards, such as MSI, ASUS, Gigabyte, and many more, have all been pretty quiet about this launch. There are no early previews, there likely won’t be many reviews, and few details about the card prior to launch. This lack of fanfare makes the launch feel either rushed or hushed. Is something kept quiet to cover a negative aspect? Most likely the price vs the performance not really pushing the limits like new launches used to, or just simply how many will or won’t be available.

New and Improved

Don’t get me wrong though, the RTX 3080 is a fantastic card. This new version isn’t really much different, but it is still technically better. It has rock-solid performance throughout, and you’ll not be left wanting more when it comes to high-end gaming. It’ll game at 4K, it’ll do high refresh rate gaming, and you’ll be able to enjoy ray tracing on your favourite games. It’s a bloody rock-solid gaming card. However, it’s just not the big leap in the price to performance ratio we really would like to see.

Should I Buy One?

MSI will sell this card at a premium, as the SUPRIM is one of their most high-end models. That means bigger power delivery, bigger boost clocks, and most notable, a freaking massive cooler. It’s a sexy cooler though, and the sheer amount of raw materials used to create it doesn’t come cheap. However, it looks great, it keeps it cool and quiet, and I can’t really argue with that.

If the price isn’t too different from the normal RTX 3080, then absolutely, this is the one to get. It’s got a little more VRAM, it’s a little bit better tuned, and it benefits from improved manufacturing overall. It’s a very powerful and stylish graphics card that’s sure to complement any high-end PC build. The only question is, can you buy one? LHR keeps the miners away, but stock vs demand will be the main focus. I really hope those who want this card find one at a price they can live with. Price aside though, I can’t really fault the card, it’s a sound revision to an already solid foundation.