Gigabyte RTX 3080 Ti Gaming OC | Review
After months of leaks and rumors, corroborated by registrations with organizations such as ECC, finally we got our hands on the Gigabyte GeForce RTX 3080 Ti Gaming OC, a video card that should be positioned between the RTX 3080 and RTX 3090 models launched last year (and still rather unobtainable) and which also tries to stem the phenomenon of the purchase race from part of cryptocurrency miners thanks to the implementation of a system that limits the hash rate when the execution of specific algorithms for Ethereum is detected. This, according to Nvidia, should discourage miners from buying them, so that the cards reach only their true recipients: gamers.
Design and technical specifications
From the point of aesthetic view, the Gigabyte RTX 3080 Ti Gaming OC is very similar to its little sister GeForce RTX 3080 Gaming OC, of which you can find our review at this address. Once again we are faced with a rather voluminous product capable of occupying 2.7 expansion slots and characterized by the triple fan cooling system "Windforce 3X", consisting of two 90mm fans accompanied by a third 80mm take care of expelling the heat from the voluminous heatsink, to which seven heatpipes are connected that originate from the large copper plate in contact with the GPU.The use of an alternating rotation system aims to reduce the turbulence of the adjacent fans and increase the air pressure to maximize efficiency. In addition, the “3D Active Fan” feature ensures low overall noise, since when the GPU is running light loads or idle, the fans will have the ability to stop completely. To protect the back we find a metal backplate, while the RGB Fusion 2.0 system allows you to customize the lighting of the Gigabyte logo on the side and synchronize it with other devices in the Aorus line. The use of high quality components and extreme care in manufacturing have made Gigabyte confident enough to offer a full four year warranty (upon registration).
Video Card RTX 3090 FE RTX 3080 FE Gigabyte RTX 3080 Ti Gaming OC RTX 2080 Ti FE GPU GA102 GA102 GA102 TU102 Production process Samsung 8nm Samsung 8nm Samsung 8nm TSMC 12nm Transistor (billions) 28.3 28.3 28.3 18.6 Die size (mm ^ 2) 628.4 628.4 628.4 754 Cuda core 10496 8704 10240 4352 Streaming Multiprocessor 82 68 80 68 Tensor Core 328 272 320 544 RT Core 82 68 80 68 Base frequency (MHz) 1395 1440 1365 1515 Boost frequency (MHz) 1695 1710 1710 1635 Memory speed (Gbps) 19.5 19 19 14 Memory amount (GB) 24 10 12 11 Bus 384 320 384 352 Bandwidth (GB / s) 936 760 912 616 TDP (watt) 350 320 350 260 The GeForce RTX 3080 Ti Gaming OC is undoubtedly one of the most powerful graphics cards around, relying on 10 240 Cuda core with 320 third generation Tensor cores and 80 R. Second generation T core. The GPU has a base frequency of 1365MHz but is able to reach 1710MHz in Boost, it is accompanied by 12GB of GDDR6X memory with a speed of 19Gbps on a 384-bit bus, for an overall bandwidth of 912GB / s. The TGP is the same as the Founders Edition model, equal to 350W.
Obviously, a device of this type must be adequately powered and, for this reason, there are two eight-pin auxiliary connectors on the board and Gigabyte recommends using a power supply of at least 750W. As for the video outputs, the GeForce RTX 3080 Ti Gaming OC can count on three Display Port 1.4a and two HDMI 2.1. Finally, the card is equipped with a double BIOS, which allows you to choose between OC Mode or Silent Mode, modes that respectively offer greater performance or greater silence. The benchmarks were run in OC Mode for maximum performance.
Performance
We compared the Gigabyte RTX 3080 Ti Gaming OC with the latest mid-range Nvidia and AMD GPUs -high, including the Radeon RX 6000 series, the Nvidia RTX 3000 range and some models of the 2000 series. In the benchmark suite we have included games that use DX11, DX12 and Vulkan, also in titles where both RT and DLSS are supported we have run the test also with Ray Tracing but without DLSS, so as to be able to compare the results obtained from Nvidia's new proposal with those of AMD Radeon cards.To perform our benchmarks we used a test platform with AMD Ryzen 9 processor 5900X, matched with G.Skill DDR4-3200 CL14 RAM, EK-XLC 240mm heatsink and X570 chipset motherboard. The version of Windows 10 used is 21H1, while for the drivers we used 466.54 for Nvidia GPUs and 21.5.2 for AMD GPUs.
Metro Exodus
For the benchmark of Metro Exodus we set the quality to Ultra both for the graphic detail and for the Ray Tracing, we enable the DLSS in the dedicated tests and we disable Nvidia PhysX and Hairworks. In rasterization tests, the RTX 3080 Ti is 12% faster than the RTX 3080, reaching framerates comparable to those of the RTX 3090 in Quad HD and Full HD and only 3% lower in 4K. The situation does not change neither in the benchmarks with Ray Tracing nor in those with RT and DLSS: the Gigabyte RTX 3080 Ti Gaming OC always obtains results in line with those of the RTX 3090 FE. Control In the control test we choose the “High” preset for both graphic quality and Ray Tracing and enable DLSS. In the rasterization benchmarks the Gigabyte RTX 3080 Ti Gaming OC is equivalent to the RTX 3090, while in those with RT and DLSS it lags slightly behind, with differences between 3% and 6% depending on the resolution. Even in the benchmarks with only Ray Tracing active the RTX 3090 achieves better results, detaching the RTX 3080 Ti by about 4% in both a QHD and FHD.
Metro Exodus Enhanced Edition
By Metro Exodus Enhanced Edition we only performed tests on RT and DLSS active, set the graphics quality and Ray Tracing on Ultra, the DLSS on quality, the Variable Rate Shading on 2x and the shadows on the “Raytraced” item. In the benchmarks, the Gigabyte RTX 3080 Ti Gaming OC delivers between 8% and 14% better performance than the RTX 3080 and again virtually identical to that of the RTX 3090.
Shadow of the Tomb Raider
In the Shadow of the Tomb Raider benchmark we select the highest graphics quality available, enabling DLSS when possible (in Full HD the option is not selectable with this card) and setting Ray Tracing to Ultra. In 4K the performance is 20% higher than that of the RTX 3080 and goes just beyond the RTX 3090, but the situation changes with RT and DLSS where the Gigabyte RTX 3080 Ti Gaming OC offers 6% lower performance in QHD than the RTX 3090. With only active Ray Tracing, the RTX 3080 Ti guarantees excellent performance, resulting even faster than the RTX 3090 by 5.5% in Quad HD and 3.5% in Full HD.
Watch Dogs Legion
Also for Watch Dogs Legion we select the Ultra preset for both graphic detail and Ray Tracing, while for DLSS we choose the Quality option. The Gigabyte RTX 3080 Ti offers classic rasterization performance in line with expectations, higher than that of the RTX 3080 but slightly lower than that of the RTX 3090. Both in tests with RT and in those with RT and DLSS, the card always guarantees performance superior to those of the RTX 3080, while in some cases it is slightly inferior to the RTX 3090, especially at higher resolutions.
F1 2020
In the F1 2020 benchmark we set the maximum graphics quality and select how TAA or DLSS antialiasing, depending on the test. To measure the performance we use the integrated benchmark, choosing Monaco as the circuit and "heavy rain" as the weather condition.
Here the Gigabyte RTX 3080 Ti falls slightly behind the RTX 3090 in 4K (-5%), while in QHD and in FHD offers equivalent performance. In tests with active DLSS the two cards are comparable at all resolutions, while the gap with the RTX 3080 ranges from 6% to 12%.
Doom Eternal
To run the benchmark of Doom Eternal we select the “Ultra” graphic preset, then we play for a few minutes in an area full of enemies. Again, the Gigabyte RTX 3080 Ti Gaming OC convincingly outperforms the RTX 3080, but a handful of FPS remains behind the RTX 3090.
Microsoft Flight Simulator
For the test of Microsoft Flight Simulator we set the graphic quality to Ultra, then we fly from Malpensa airport to Bresso airport selecting “cloudy” in the weather conditions. The flight takes place aboard a Cessna 172 fully managed by the game's artificial intelligence, and before take-off we set the camera view to "external".
In FHD and QHD RTX 3090, RTX 3080 and RTX 3080 You are all very close to each other. At 4K resolution, however, we notice more marked differences, with Nvidia's newcomer reaching a framerate 6% higher than that of the RTX 3080 but 9% lower than that of the RTX 3090.
Assassin's Creed Valhalla
In Assassin's Creed Valhalla we use the integrated benchmark, setting the maximum graphics quality. Here the Gigabyte RTX 3080 Ti Gaming OC offers excellent performance, surpassing the RTX 3080 by 17% in 4K and obtaining results equivalent to those of the RTX 3090. In the last chapter of the Ubisoft saga the Radeons remain the best cards, however, with the RX 6900 XT which does better than Gigabyte's RTX 3080 Ti in both Full HD and Quad HD, while achieving the same framerate in 4K.
Forza Horizon 4
Also to measure the performance of Forza Horizon 4 we use the built-in benchmark, setting the graphics quality to Ultra and unlocking the framerate. The Gigabyte RTX 3080 Ti Gaming OC outperforms the RTX 3080 in 4K by 13% and does slightly better than the RTX 3090 at all resolutions, however in QHD and FHD the best cards remain the RX 6900 XT and RX 6800 XT.
Horizon Zero Dawn
In the Horizon Zero Dawn benchmark we select the highest graphic preset, then we start the internal test. Again the biggest differences between the cards are seen in 4K, where the Gigabyte RTX 3080 Ti Gaming OC outperforms the RTX 3080 by 22%. The gap narrows in Quad HD and Full HD, but Nvidia's new proposition always remains superior. Compared to the RTX 3090, on the other hand, the performances are practically equivalent, with a difference between 1% and 2%.
Consumption, temperature and noise
To measure temperature, noise and consumption at full load of the video cards we decided to run a benchmark loop of Metro Exodus at 4K resolution, so as to simulate a game session and have real data on which to base our evaluations. To read the temperature and consumption values we relied on the GPU-Z software.
Consumption
The Gigabyte RTX 3080 Ti Gaming OC achieves good results in our consumption test, recording a 346.2 watts maximum power draw, slightly lower than the Founders Edition model (with a lower boost frequency) and in line with the card's TGP of 350W.
Temperature
During the Metro Exodus benchmark loop the Gigabyte RTX 3080 Ti Gaming OC reached a maximum temperature of 66.9 ° C, lower than that of the Founders Edition model by around 6 ° C. The value measured in idle of 45.3 ° C is instead the highest among those of the cards in the graph, but it is not a problematic temperature for the card.
Noise
To measure the noise we placed the sound level meter at 15cm from the center of the board, in a perfectly perpendicular position. The values obtained are not absolute, as we have not carried out our measurements inside an anechoic chamber, but they help us to understand how noisy the card is compared to the others we have tested.
With a noise level maximum of 42.1dB, the Gigabyte RTX 3080 Ti Gaming OC is positioned approximately in the middle of the table, a sign that you will hardly hear it once it is inside your case. The value of 33.1dB recorded in idle refers to the test platform, as the card stops the fans below a certain temperature.
Verdict
As we told you in the review dedicated to the Founders Edition, this new RTX 3080 Ti aims to be the new reference point for gamers, as were the "Ti" of the previous series. In fact, the card succeeds in its intent: given the starting price of 1199 euros, lower than that of the RTX 3090, in our opinion it is an excellent option for those who want maximum performance in the game, but do not need the 24GB of memory. videos present on the RTX 3090 and wants to spend a few hundred euros less.
Speaking specifically of the Gigabyte RTX 3080 Ti Gaming OC, the customization of the Taiwanese house does everything that is expected from this type of cards: offers slightly higher performance than the Founders Edition, while ensuring lower operating temperatures thanks to a more effective cooling system and consumption in line with those expected.
Taking an average of all our tests, the Gigabyte RTX 3080 Ti Gaming OC outperforms the RTX 3080 by 10%, scoring + 13% in 4K. Compared to the RTX 3090, however, the card only reaches 1% lower framerates, so we can safely say that the two cards are equivalent in terms of performance in the game. Finally, comparing the results with those of the RTX 3080 Ti Founders Edition, the Gigabyte model guarantees about 1% more performance and the two solutions can, even in this case, be considered equally powerful.
Not we still have precise information regarding the selling price of the Gigabyte RTX 3080 Ti Gaming OC, but according to some indications we have received, it should be around 2000 euros. Taking into account the fact that the RTX 3090 Gaming OC is sold for € 1969, it is difficult to believe that the new RTX 3080 Ti will have a higher price: it is more likely that it will be offered at a figure between 1800 and 1900 euros, in order to differentiate from the higher-end model.
Summing up, who should buy this Gigabyte RTX 3080 Ti Gaming OC? From our point of view, it is a valid solution for those who want the most powerful video card to play currently on the market, do not need the 24GB of VRAM present on the RTX 3090 and are looking for a good level of customization, with more outputs. video of the standard model and a cooling system capable of maintaining low temperatures. If you find yourself in this description, you should consider purchasing the Gigabyte RTX 3080 Ti Gaming OC; if you want similar performance, temperatures are not a problem for you and you want to save a few hundred euros, we recommend that you try to buy the Founders Edition model, or take a look at the lower-end custom models.
Metro Exodus Enhanced Edition
By Metro Exodus Enhanced Edition we only performed tests on RT and DLSS active, set the graphics quality and Ray Tracing on Ultra, the DLSS on quality, the Variable Rate Shading on 2x and the shadows on the “Raytraced” item. In the benchmarks, the Gigabyte RTX 3080 Ti Gaming OC delivers between 8% and 14% better performance than the RTX 3080 and again virtually identical to that of the RTX 3090.Shadow of the Tomb Raider
In the Shadow of the Tomb Raider benchmark we select the highest graphics quality available, enabling DLSS when possible (in Full HD the option is not selectable with this card) and setting Ray Tracing to Ultra. In 4K the performance is 20% higher than that of the RTX 3080 and goes just beyond the RTX 3090, but the situation changes with RT and DLSS where the Gigabyte RTX 3080 Ti Gaming OC offers 6% lower performance in QHD than the RTX 3090. With only active Ray Tracing, the RTX 3080 Ti guarantees excellent performance, resulting even faster than the RTX 3090 by 5.5% in Quad HD and 3.5% in Full HD.Watch Dogs Legion
Also for Watch Dogs Legion we select the Ultra preset for both graphic detail and Ray Tracing, while for DLSS we choose the Quality option. The Gigabyte RTX 3080 Ti offers classic rasterization performance in line with expectations, higher than that of the RTX 3080 but slightly lower than that of the RTX 3090. Both in tests with RT and in those with RT and DLSS, the card always guarantees performance superior to those of the RTX 3080, while in some cases it is slightly inferior to the RTX 3090, especially at higher resolutions.F1 2020
In the F1 2020 benchmark we set the maximum graphics quality and select how TAA or DLSS antialiasing, depending on the test. To measure the performance we use the integrated benchmark, choosing Monaco as the circuit and "heavy rain" as the weather condition.Here the Gigabyte RTX 3080 Ti falls slightly behind the RTX 3090 in 4K (-5%), while in QHD and in FHD offers equivalent performance. In tests with active DLSS the two cards are comparable at all resolutions, while the gap with the RTX 3080 ranges from 6% to 12%.
Doom Eternal
To run the benchmark of Doom Eternal we select the “Ultra” graphic preset, then we play for a few minutes in an area full of enemies. Again, the Gigabyte RTX 3080 Ti Gaming OC convincingly outperforms the RTX 3080, but a handful of FPS remains behind the RTX 3090.Microsoft Flight Simulator
For the test of Microsoft Flight Simulator we set the graphic quality to Ultra, then we fly from Malpensa airport to Bresso airport selecting “cloudy” in the weather conditions. The flight takes place aboard a Cessna 172 fully managed by the game's artificial intelligence, and before take-off we set the camera view to "external".In FHD and QHD RTX 3090, RTX 3080 and RTX 3080 You are all very close to each other. At 4K resolution, however, we notice more marked differences, with Nvidia's newcomer reaching a framerate 6% higher than that of the RTX 3080 but 9% lower than that of the RTX 3090.
Assassin's Creed Valhalla
In Assassin's Creed Valhalla we use the integrated benchmark, setting the maximum graphics quality. Here the Gigabyte RTX 3080 Ti Gaming OC offers excellent performance, surpassing the RTX 3080 by 17% in 4K and obtaining results equivalent to those of the RTX 3090. In the last chapter of the Ubisoft saga the Radeons remain the best cards, however, with the RX 6900 XT which does better than Gigabyte's RTX 3080 Ti in both Full HD and Quad HD, while achieving the same framerate in 4K.Forza Horizon 4
Also to measure the performance of Forza Horizon 4 we use the built-in benchmark, setting the graphics quality to Ultra and unlocking the framerate. The Gigabyte RTX 3080 Ti Gaming OC outperforms the RTX 3080 in 4K by 13% and does slightly better than the RTX 3090 at all resolutions, however in QHD and FHD the best cards remain the RX 6900 XT and RX 6800 XT.Horizon Zero Dawn
In the Horizon Zero Dawn benchmark we select the highest graphic preset, then we start the internal test. Again the biggest differences between the cards are seen in 4K, where the Gigabyte RTX 3080 Ti Gaming OC outperforms the RTX 3080 by 22%. The gap narrows in Quad HD and Full HD, but Nvidia's new proposition always remains superior. Compared to the RTX 3090, on the other hand, the performances are practically equivalent, with a difference between 1% and 2%.Consumption, temperature and noise
To measure temperature, noise and consumption at full load of the video cards we decided to run a benchmark loop of Metro Exodus at 4K resolution, so as to simulate a game session and have real data on which to base our evaluations. To read the temperature and consumption values we relied on the GPU-Z software.Consumption
The Gigabyte RTX 3080 Ti Gaming OC achieves good results in our consumption test, recording a 346.2 watts maximum power draw, slightly lower than the Founders Edition model (with a lower boost frequency) and in line with the card's TGP of 350W.Temperature
During the Metro Exodus benchmark loop the Gigabyte RTX 3080 Ti Gaming OC reached a maximum temperature of 66.9 ° C, lower than that of the Founders Edition model by around 6 ° C. The value measured in idle of 45.3 ° C is instead the highest among those of the cards in the graph, but it is not a problematic temperature for the card.Noise
To measure the noise we placed the sound level meter at 15cm from the center of the board, in a perfectly perpendicular position. The values obtained are not absolute, as we have not carried out our measurements inside an anechoic chamber, but they help us to understand how noisy the card is compared to the others we have tested.With a noise level maximum of 42.1dB, the Gigabyte RTX 3080 Ti Gaming OC is positioned approximately in the middle of the table, a sign that you will hardly hear it once it is inside your case. The value of 33.1dB recorded in idle refers to the test platform, as the card stops the fans below a certain temperature.
Verdict
As we told you in the review dedicated to the Founders Edition, this new RTX 3080 Ti aims to be the new reference point for gamers, as were the "Ti" of the previous series. In fact, the card succeeds in its intent: given the starting price of 1199 euros, lower than that of the RTX 3090, in our opinion it is an excellent option for those who want maximum performance in the game, but do not need the 24GB of memory. videos present on the RTX 3090 and wants to spend a few hundred euros less.Speaking specifically of the Gigabyte RTX 3080 Ti Gaming OC, the customization of the Taiwanese house does everything that is expected from this type of cards: offers slightly higher performance than the Founders Edition, while ensuring lower operating temperatures thanks to a more effective cooling system and consumption in line with those expected.
Taking an average of all our tests, the Gigabyte RTX 3080 Ti Gaming OC outperforms the RTX 3080 by 10%, scoring + 13% in 4K. Compared to the RTX 3090, however, the card only reaches 1% lower framerates, so we can safely say that the two cards are equivalent in terms of performance in the game. Finally, comparing the results with those of the RTX 3080 Ti Founders Edition, the Gigabyte model guarantees about 1% more performance and the two solutions can, even in this case, be considered equally powerful.
Not we still have precise information regarding the selling price of the Gigabyte RTX 3080 Ti Gaming OC, but according to some indications we have received, it should be around 2000 euros. Taking into account the fact that the RTX 3090 Gaming OC is sold for € 1969, it is difficult to believe that the new RTX 3080 Ti will have a higher price: it is more likely that it will be offered at a figure between 1800 and 1900 euros, in order to differentiate from the higher-end model.
Summing up, who should buy this Gigabyte RTX 3080 Ti Gaming OC? From our point of view, it is a valid solution for those who want the most powerful video card to play currently on the market, do not need the 24GB of VRAM present on the RTX 3090 and are looking for a good level of customization, with more outputs. video of the standard model and a cooling system capable of maintaining low temperatures. If you find yourself in this description, you should consider purchasing the Gigabyte RTX 3080 Ti Gaming OC; if you want similar performance, temperatures are not a problem for you and you want to save a few hundred euros, we recommend that you try to buy the Founders Edition model, or take a look at the lower-end custom models.
