NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Super is a buffed-up model of simpler RTX 2080, although the improvement is not as much as you would see in the RTX 2060 Super or the RTX 2070 Super. There is an increase in Streaming Multiprocessors by 2, leading to a total of 48 from 46. The boost core clocks are increased from 1710 MHz to 1815 MHz while the memory clocks are increased from 1750 MHz to 1937 MHz. The TDP numbers are noted at 250W (TDP, not TGP or TBP). All these minor differences might seem too little but combining all of these you get a graphics card that is sufficiently better-performing than the RTX 2080, but a little less than the Best RTX 2080 Ti. It is surely worth it, therefore, to pick out the top RTX 2080 Super variant that you can afford in order to enhance your experience down the line.
Our Picks For Best RTX 2080 Super In 2021
While the ongoing stock situation of graphics cards does not seem to be improving as of the time of writing, it certainly shouldn’t prevent us from discussing some of the all RTX 2080 Super variants out there. Nvidia themselves have refrained from giving a statement or a prediction about the ongoing situation and when it’s expected to improve, so potential buyers should get ready for a long wait still. Without any further wait, let’s look at our RTX 2080 Super Recommendations. ASUS is among the top brands among the graphics card vendors and there are a lot of reasons for going with an ASUS GPU. ASUS ROG STRIX GeForce RTX 2080 Super OC is the company’s flagship mainstream variant for the RTX 2080 Super, which comes with a tri-fan design, a lot of RGB lighting; even on the backplate, which looks nice. However, if you are looking for a more mid-range graphics card to start with, check out our recommendations for the best RTX 2060 graphics cards.
The 2080 Super variant, overall, got those beastly looks, which attract a lot of users and that is why it feels very premium as well. The front of the graphics card also provides various zones for RGB lighting and whether you install the graphics card horizontally or vertically, it will look awesome in both ways, although, those who have used the ROG STRIX variants in the 10-series graphics cards might find the design somewhat repetitive. Again, the shroud is rather long so case compatibility in mini-ITX cases or even some micro-ATX cases may be an issue. The graphics card comes with 1890 MHz of boost core clocks which are the best among all variants. The cooling performance of the graphics card is also very impressive and it runs considerably cooler than most of the other variants, especially those that are priced close to the MSRP. As you can see, the axial fans are one of the improvements they achieved from the 10-series ROG STRIX design, and this results in cooler and quieter operation. The heat sink of the graphics card is also quite thick, which, overall, leads to temperatures around 65-degrees during full load. Related Read: Best RTX 2060 SUPER Graphics Cards The overclocking capabilities of the graphics card are not huge because it comes fairly overclocked out of the box. As for the clock rates are concerned, the graphics card achieves around 2050 MHz average clocks after overclocking. The memory, on the other hand, did fairly well and we were able to see up to 2300 MHz of clocks, which is pretty awesome. The overclock leads to a performance increase of around 7-8 %, which is not bad. Overall, the graphics card presents itself as one of the best RTX 2080 Super variants and we see no reason to not check this out apart from the fact that it is among the higher-priced variants of the RTX 2080 Super. GIGABYTE completely changed their design of the AORUS-series variants when it comes to 16-series or 20-series graphics cards. The previous AORUS models weren’t pleasing for many, however, the latest design is really eye-catching. The fan-shroud feels elegant and covers the front of the fan too. Speaking of fans, the graphics card features a tri-fan design and uses fans having RGB rings. The overall looks are so futuristic that can have anyone in awe. Gigabyte’s WindForce cooler made an appearance in our roundup of the best RTX 3060 graphics cards, which is also a helpful read.
Like the ROG STRIX variant, the RGB lighting is also present at the backplate, where it lights up the AORUS logo. One can clearly notice that the central fan is not at the same level as that of the other two fans, which is why the graphics card is not as lengthy as other tri-fan variants. Most of the material of the shroud is plastic though, which feels a bit low-end. A great advantage of buying the AORUS variant is that you get tons of I/O ports, although the graphics card still supports only four displays at max and the extra ports are just for the ease of use for multiple-monitor setups. The boost core clocks of the graphics card are not the best but still quite impressive at 1860 MHz, out of the box. The cooling solution of the graphics card is quite different from the rest, though. It uses seven heat pipes of 6 mm which are in direct contact with the GPU chip. Also, the fans of the graphics card are not at the same level, as mentioned and in fact, rotate in opposite directions as well. This leads to a noisier operation than other graphics cards but the cooling performance of the graphics card is quite good due to these design factors. Upon overclocking, the graphics card reaches clock rates of around 2050 MHz, which is the same as the previously mentioned card. Related Review: Palit Gaming Pro RTX 3070 Review Conclusively, the GIGABYTE AORUS GeForce RTX 2080 Super is a great alternative to the ROG STRIX version and if you want something with a completely new design, it might even be worth over the ASUS variant. MSI graphics cards have always been one of the shiniest graphics cards in the market and their latest GAMING X TRIO design from the 10-series graphics is somewhat changed. Instead of the smallest fan in the center, MSI has placed the fan at the left-most area due to the NVLINK being there as well. This makes the look of the graphics card a bit odd, however, the graphics card provides such bright LEDs at the front that this gets forgotten. We would be glossing over some of the highlights of this card today, but if you want the full rundown, check out our detailed review of the MSI Gaming X Trio RTX 2080.
There is RGB lighting at the top of the graphics card as well, which is why it looks fantastic in both the horizontal and vertical ways, although the backplate is not RGB at all. Of course, the lighting can be controlled by using Mystic Light. The backplate provides a brushed aluminum texture and these backplates really are a great improvement over the previous generation graphics cards. The features of the graphics card are quite similar to the previously mentioned ASUS STRIX and AORUS variant, although it is available at a $20 lower price which makes it stand out. The boost clock of the graphics card is a tad bit slower than the other overclocked variants, at 1845 MHz, although the real-time clock rates are not very different. The graphics card runs slightly warmer, roaming around 70 degrees, although these temperatures are perfectly safe, even for overclocking. Speaking of overclocking, the graphics card ran at maximum clock rates of 2050 MHz, as expected and the memory did fine in overclocking too, being at slightly higher than 1750 MHz. A similar variant from MSI was also included in our roundup of the best RTX 3070 graphics cards, which is also a worthy read for you. All-in-all, you cannot go wrong with this graphics card, as it provides a great balance between price and performance while the looks are among the best RTX 2080 Super variants as well. ZOTAC lineup is not as attractive as other brands when it comes to RTX 20-series graphics cards, however, their graphics cards from the 10-series were quite good already, which is why there should not be many problems if one cannot spot much of an improvement. The ZOTAC GAMING GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER AMP edition is not the flagship variant by the vendor, however, the performance it provides is just fantastic. A similar Zotac variant was also included in our roundup of the best RTX 3090 graphics cards, which you should definitely check out.
The graphics card features a solid build quality, thanks to the Exo armor, which has been present in the ZOTAC cards since the 9-series cards. If not much, ZOTAC could have provided a couple of RGB lights at the front to make the card attractive. The minimal RGB lighting can be controlled using Zotac’s software, of course. Moreover, despite providing a dual-fan design, the graphics card is fairly long, which is why one shouldn’t worry about the thermals. The boost clock of the graphics card is set at 1845 MHz, just like the MSI GAMING X TRIO. The temperatures of the graphics card roam around 70 degrees, although, with a 50% fan speed, we noticed up to degree drop. A custom fan curve can definitely help with the thermal performance here. Sadly, the fans of the graphics card are not as optimized as other variants, which is why the graphics card gets somewhat noisier as well. A particular thing to note here is that the graphics card despite being dual-fan is longer than the tri-fan AORUS variant, which seems such a strange fact. So, we recommend you to buy this graphics card if you want the performance of high-end variants while keeping the price lowest as possible. The reason for putting the EVGA GeForce RTX 2080 Super XC Hybrid is not that it is the worst card of all of these but that the graphics card is pricier than all of these variants and yet it does not look as good as the previously mentioned cards. We also went with an EVGA variant in our recommendations for the best RTX 2070 graphics cards, but the case is a little different here. Although the risk of liquid cooling is reduced a lot in the last couple of years, one cannot be too sure about it. The design of the graphics card is still, much better than the past EVGA Hybrid cards, especially the pre-10-series graphics cards.
You should certainly take a look at our selection of the best cases for water cooling if you are going to go down this route. There is a very nice thing about this graphics card that it comes with a power link, which greatly reduces the headache of PCIe power cables. EVGA has used its latest design of the fan in the graphics card while the fan with the radiator is somewhat different. The backplate seems very airy but it is not aesthetically pleasant at all. The biggest advantage of liquid-cooled graphics cards is that you can just stop worrying about the temperatures of the graphics card. The temperatures stay under 50 degrees most of the time and rise up to 52-55 degrees when the graphics card is put under extreme stress. This gives it a big advantage when it comes to GPU Overclocking. As far as the clock rates are concerned, the graphics card is set at low boost clock rates of 1830 MHz, although it can be overclocked with an offset of 70-90 MHz easily, taking the graphics card close to 2050 MHz. You may be interested in our picks for the best RTX 2070 SUPER Graphics Cards as well. Overall, EVGA GeForce RTX 2080 Super XC Hybrid is a unique variant and if you own a case with relatively lower airflow, this graphics card will do wonders for you. It definitely competes for the title of the best RTX 2080 Super when it comes to thermals, but its price knocks it down a bit in our selection.
Factors To Consider Before Buying
The 2080 Super is a high-end card even by 2021 standards that can run any RTX-enabled 4K title without breaking a sweat. Especially since it supports Nvidia’s Deep Learning Super Sampling technology, the card handles high resolutions like a breeze. The Super is a step up from the regular 2080 and is a great option since the ti models have an enormous price gap. Either way, it’s still an expensive GPU and you don’t buy GPUs every day. Many AIB’s offer this card at varying price tags which may end up in doubtful purchases. Most of us beginners judge our purchase solely on the features and gimmicks listed on the box or manufacturer’s website. Sadly, AIB’s aren’t transparent with critical information such as power phases, performance, and thermal testing. Most of us don’t even tend to look into these aspects. Not every GPU is manufactured equally as reviewed in our top picks. For this reason, you should know your priorities and which factors to consider in order to pick the best RTX 2080 Super for your build. On the contrary, If you want more GPU power and have a beefy wallet to buy that amount of power, check out our guide on the Best RTX 3080
Thermal Performance
A good GPU should have a beefy heatsink with good quality thermal pads and thermal paste that increases surface contact for better heat transfer. Fans are specially designed to channel air through heat sink fins to the exhaust of your PC. Cooling powerful GPUs can get very noisy which is why manufacturers are coming up with 0db fans that only turn on during resource-intensive loads. If thermals are your priority, consider going for the EVGA Super XC 2080 since it has a much smaller form factor and is water-cooled.
Aesthetics
Depending on your personal opinion, aesthetics might be important for you. We have those who want the bang for buck products that were never made with the best design language in mind. While others will pay extra for fancier ones that have more cool-looking fan cases decorated with shiny RGB lighting effects. If you’re an RGB enthusiast you will love GPUs such as the MSI Gaming X Trio and Gigabyte Aorus. No, RGB lighting has no correlation with performance but will certainly lighten your setup, making it stand out against most gaming PCs. You may also opt for vertical GPU mounts whose demand is on the rise. Vertical mounts require PCIe riser cables and a myth about riser cables reducing gaming performance is untrue. And so concludes our roundup of the top reviewed RTX 2080 Super variants available to buy on the market. Do let us know about your choice in the comments section and if you think a variant deserves to be in the top 5 roundup for the RTX 2080 Super in your opinion.
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