MSI has updated its Expert GPU design for the GeForce RTX 5080

MSI introduced its new Expert series GPU design last year with the MSI GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER EXPERT (check out our full review here). Outside of the striking RGB-free all-metal shroud, what made the Expert stand out from the pack, including MSI's other cards, was that it incorporated a push-and-pull cooling design modeled after NVIDIA's Founders Edition cards for the RTX 30 and RTX 40 Series.

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The push-and-pull design puts a large fan on either side of the GPU to increase airflow and cooling in a traditional horizontal orientation. And when you pair that with the MSI Expert brushed metal finish and metallic vents, you've got a GPU that still looks unlike anything else.

Fans of the Expert design will be pleased to know that it's set to return with the new GeForce RTX 5080 16G EXPERT OC, which was announced and showcased at Computex 2025.

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At first glance, the design looks similar to the previous model but has some key differences. The GeForce RTX 5080 Expert features a black backplate for a two-tone look for the aluminum-die casting. Also, it's thinner than the previous model but taller. This means the fans are a bit bigger, upgraded to MSI's new STORMFORCE fans seen across its GeForce RTX 50 Series line-up.

The new MSI GeForce RTX 5080 16G EXPERT OC is expected to be released sometime later this year, and we'll have to wait to find out about pricing. Although much of the thermal design sounds very similar to last year's model, MSI notes that it has made optimizations to improve cooling efficiency for its take on the classic Founders Edition design.