MSI GeForce RTX 5080 SUPRIM SOC Review - Overclocked and Ready for 4K Gaming

With exceptional cooling and faster clock speeds, the MSI GeForce RTX 5080 SUPRIM SOC is faster than the reference design and is a 4K gaming beast.

MSI GeForce RTX 5080 SUPRIM SOC - Overclocked and Ready for 4K Gaming
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Manufactured by MSI with an MSRP of $1249.99
19 minutes & 45 seconds read time
TweakTown's Rating: 91%
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The Bottom Line

MSI's flagship SUPRIM SOC design brings improved performance over the GeForce RTX 4080 Founders Edition, but it's still not a massive leap over the RTX 4080. That said, it's still a 4K gaming powerhouse that benefits from the arrival of DLSS 4 and Multi Frame Generation.

Pros

  • 4K 120 FPS performance
  • MSI's SUPRIM runs cool and quiet
  • It is faster than NVIDIA's Founders model
  • DLSS 4 is a game-changer for image fidelity and performance
  • Multi Frame Generation is impressive when paired with the right game

Cons

  • Only 22% faster than the GeForce RTX 4080 for 4K gaming
  • MSI's flagship RTX 5080 carries a higher price tag than the $999 MSRP

Should you buy it?

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Introduction

When it comes to generational performance leaps, the GeForce RTX 5080 is the first 80-class GeForce RTX GPU that hasn't surpassed the previous-gen flagship. This means that the GeForce RTX 5080 is not as powerful as the GeForce RTX 4090, which is disappointing and a little underwhelming. Even though NVIDIA confirmed this at CES, we still wanted to see more from the RTX 5080 when we benchmarked the Founders Edition model. Thankfully, MSI has given us a little more with its flagship MSI GeForce RTX 5080 SUPRIM SOC.

A quick look at the MSI GeForce RTX 5080 SUPRIM SOC

In SUPRIM SOC form tested across 14 different games, which features a generous out-of-the-box overclock, the GeForce 5080 is 22% faster than the GeForce RTX 4080, 17% faster than the GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER refresh, and 14% slower than the GeForce RTX 4090.

When you look purely at 4K DLSS Super Resolution performance using the 'Quality' preset and the new DLSS 4 Transformer model in select titles, which is a game changer for both image quality and performance, the MSI GeForce RTX 5080 SUPRIM SOC is on average, only 10% slower than the GeForce RTX 4090 Founders Edition, and only 25% slower than the $2000 GeForce RTX 5090 Founders Edition. It also uses 40% less power than the GeForce RTX 5090, so it's an excellent showcase for RTX Blackwell's efficiency when it isn't drawing over 500W.

As we mentioned in our review of the GeForce RTX 5080 Founders Edition, the GeForce RTX 5080 offers the best value for enthusiasts looking for a 4 K gaming GPU that can play cutting-edge titles with Full Ray Tracing. It is also an excellent choice for those with a GeForce RTX 3080 or GeForce RTX 3090 looking to upgrade.

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With an MSRP that is half of the GeForce RTX 5090, it's a far more viable option for PC gamers, creators, and AI enthusiasts looking for something with enough power to last them several years. Likewise, MSI's new GeForce RTX 5080 SUPRIM SOC flagship is over $1,000 USD cheaper than the RTX 5090 SUPRIM OC we reviewed. And it's an absolute beast, with excellent build quality and incredible thermal performance. It's also one of the largest GPUs we've ever encountered, so you'll need a decent-sized case to fit it in. In fact, the size and complexity of the cooler might be overkill, as we saw temperatures sit comfortably in the 45-50-degree range in certain gaming workloads.

Of course, this talk about pricing and performance gains doesn't tell you the whole story. RTX Blackwell and the arrival of the MSI GeForce RTX 5080 SUPRIM SOC marks a notable shift in how we perceive (and review) a GPU because AI-enhanced gaming is not only everywhere, but it's better than ever - and moving beyond upscaling and Frame Generation. DLSS 4, which includes new features that will work on all GeForce RTX GPUs, is a genuine leap forward for PC gaming. And, although we've only been able to test a small part of RTX Neural Rendering with the impressive RTX Mega Geometry in Alan Wake 2 - there's no doubt it will be a game changer soon.

RTX Blackwell - NVIDIA's Gaming Architecture for the AI Era

Below is a summary of NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 50 Series and RTX Blackwell architecture, applicable to all models.

NVIDIA describes 'Neural Rendering,' which includes all previous versions of DLSS and the brand-new DLSS 4, as the 'next era for computer graphics.' They're not alone; the Lead System Architect for the PlayStation 5 Pro console, Mark Cerny, recently said that ray-tracing is the future of games and that AI will play an integral role in making that happen. DOOM: The Dark Ages developer id Software shared a similar sentiment, adding that the arrival of DLSS was an 'inflection point' for PC game visuals and performance and on par with the arrival of dedicated GPUs and programmable shaders.

With the arrival of the Blackwell generation and the GeForce RTX 50 Series, AI is now being used to accelerate programmable shaders with the brand-new RTX Neural Shaders. Yes, these are actual neural networks that use live game data, and the power of Tensor Cores to do everything from compress textures, render lifelike materials with a level of detail impossible to match using traditional rendering methods, and even use AI to partially trace rays and then infer "an infinite amount

of rays and bounces for a more accurate representation of indirect lighting in the game scene."

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RTX Mega Geometry is incredible in its own right; it essentially increases a scene's geometry detail and complexity (triangles or polygons) by up to 100x. 100 times the detail, it's hard to wrap your head around - but the added benefit in a game like Alan Wake 2 is dramatically improving the performance of the game's Full Ray Tracing or Path Tracing mode. With DLSS 4 and RTX Neural Shaders, NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 50 Series and RTX Blackwell architecture (which includes the same AI optimizations as data center Blackwell) can be viewed as the turning point for PC gaming - the moment when AI becomes integral to everything from designing a game to programming and then finally rendering it on a 4K display to play.

DLSS 4 includes more goodies than NVIDIA's highly touted new Multi Frame Generation technology, but let's start there. DLSS 3's version of Frame Generation has evolved with DLSS 4, powered by Blackwell hardware and software, and an innovative use of AI to generate frames 40% faster while using 30% less VRAM. Switching to a new model also means that Frame Generation and Multi-Frame Generation could soon come to GeForce RTX 20, 30, and RTX 40 Series owners. DLSS 4 benefits all GeForce RTX gamers.

However, with the 5th Generation of Tensor Cores in the GeForce RTX 50 Series delivering 2.5X more AI performance, NVIDIA's latest GeForce RTX 50 Series GPUs can execute five complex AI models - covering Super Resolution, Ray Reconstruction, and Multi Frame Generation in a couple of milliseconds. Part of the reason it happens so quickly is the addition of hardware Flip Metering, which shifts frame pacing to the Blackwell display engine - the result is frame rates of up to 4K 240 FPS and higher without stuttering issues. With up to 15 of every 16 pixels generated by AI, the result is up to 8X the performance when compared to native rendering or rasterized performance.

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DLSS Super Resolution and Ray Reconstruction are also switching to a new 'Transformer' model, with over double the parameters and four times the compute requirement. This is one of the most exciting aspects of the GeForce RTX 50 Series, as it pushes DLSS into a new realm of image quality and performance. The best part is that it will work on all GeForce RTX GPUs; however, there will be a performance hit compared to running it on an RTX 50 Series GPU. Already available in games, DLSS 4's Transformer model is another DLSS 2.0-like moment for the technology, and the results speak for themselves.

Even better, DLSS 4 is being integrated into the NVIDIA App with a new 'DLSS Override' feature that allows users to experience the latest tech without waiting for a path or game update. DLSS 4 is built to be backward compatible, with 75 games and apps supported.

It doesn't stop there, as the new AI Management Processor (AMP) allows AI models to share the GPU with graphics workloads. As a result, expect to see digital humans in games alongside AI assistants like NVIDIA's Project G-Assist become more prevalent in the coming years. This filters down to the creator side, with AI assistants for streamers, who will also benefit from the GeForce RTX 50 Series' expanded creator features.

RTX Blackwell introduces 4:2:2 chroma-sampled video encoding and decoding. The ninth-generation NVENC encoder also improves AV1 and HEVC quality. The flagship GeForce RTX 5090 supports up to three encoders and two decoders to deliver a 50% gen-over-gen improvement in speed compared to the GeForce RTX 4090. The GeForce RTX 5080 adds a second decoder compared to the GeForce RTX 4080. The RTX Blackwell is a game changer for creators and editors, especially with the new low-voltage and cutting-edge GDDR7 memory that dramatically improves memory bandwidth and speed.

Specs and Test System

Specifications

Here's a look at the specs for the flagship GeForce RTX 50 Series GPUs, the GeForce RTX 5080 and GeForce RTX 5090, compared to the previous Ada generation.

GPU SpecsGeForce RTX 5090GeForce RTX 4090GeForce RTX 5080GeForce RTX 4080
ArchitectureBlackwellAda LovelaceBlackwellAda Lovelace
ProcessTSMC 4NTSMC 4NTSMC 4NTSMC 4N
CUDA Cores2176016384107529728
Tensor Cores (AI)680 (5th Gen)512 (4th Gen)336 (5th Gen)304 (4th Gen)
AI TOPS335213211801780
Ray Tracing Cores170 (4th Gen)128 (3rd Gen)84 (4th Gen)76 (3rd Gen)
GPU Boost Clock2407 MHz2520 MHz2617 MHz2505 MHz
Memory32GB GDDR724GB GDDR6X16GB GDDR716GB GDDR6X
Memory Interface512 Bit384 Bit256 Bit256 Bit
Bandwidth1792 GB/sec1008 GB/sec960 GB/sec716.8 GB/sec
TGP575W450W360W320W
Swipe / scroll right to see more ->

Compared to the GeForce RTX 4080, outside of the move to faster and more cutting-edge GDDR7 memory, the GeForce RTX 5080's specs look almost identical. Regarding numbers, you're looking at 11% more CUDA, Tensor, and RT Cores, with the RTX 5080 built on a similar custom TSMC 4N process. Typically, a brand-new GPU generation arrives with chips using more cutting-edge process nodes, which plays a significant role in determining gen-on-gen gains. A smaller node means more hardware and the ability to improve the overall architecture and facilitate optimization. The GeForce RTX 20 Series was built on a 12nm process, and the GeForce RTX 30 Series was built on an 8nm process, while the GeForce RTX 40 and 50 Series both use a 4nm process.

Like many, we were expecting the GeForce RTX 50 Series to use TSMC's 3nm process, which would have led to a more notable generational uplift - but it would have increased the cost, too. We haven't seen the end-of-process improvements for gaming GPUs, but we're getting close. The smaller you go now, the price increases dramatically. This is why NVIDIA's most substantial architectural improvements and changes for RTX Blackwell are focused on overall AI performance and ray tracing. DLSS 4's move to a more complex and computationally intensive 'Transformer' model for Super Resolution proves that performance is now a combination of raw power, AI capabilities, and innovative software.

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With Native FP4 support, the GeForce RTX 5080's AI performance is now that of the previous generation's GeForce RTX 4080. RTX Neural Rendering is not exclusive to RTX Blackwell; the new architecture will allow a long list of AI-enhanced features to run simultaneously. And a lot of it is groundbreaking. RTX Neural Texture Compression will dramatically reduce the VRAM requirement for ray tracing. RTX Neural Radiance Cache will use AI to turn a single ray being traced into an infinite number of rays bouncing around a scene. RTX Mega Geometry allows for a 100X increase in triangles or polygons in a scene. The list goes on.

But that's the near future. Today, the GeForce RTX 5080's most notable hardware addition is its 16GB of GDDR7 memory clocked at 30 Gbps, even faster than the RTX 5090's memory. This offers 35% more memory bandwidth than the GeForce RTX 4080, which plays a role in some of the more significant performance gains we saw when testing the new MSI GeForce RTX 5080 SUPRIM SOC. Regarding OC models, the SUPRIM's +130 MHz out-of-the-box overclock sees its overall performance outshine the Founders Edition or reference design. Naturally, this premium to performance and cooling comes at a cost.

ItemDetails
GPUGeForce RTX 5080
GPU CodenameGB203
ModelMSI GeForce RTX 5080 16G SUPRIM SOC
InterfacePCI Express Gen 5
SMs84
CUDA Cores10752
Tensor Cores (AI)1801 AI TOPS (5th Gen)
Ray Tracing Cores171 TFLOPS (4th Gen)
Boost Speed2745MHz or 2760 MHz (MSI Center)
Memory16GB GDDR7
Memory Interface256-bit
Memory Speed30 Gbps
Memory Bandwidth960 GB/sec
L2 Cache Size65536 KB
TGP360W
Display3 x DisplayPort 2.1b with UHBR20, 1 x HDMI 2.1b
Display OutputUp to 4K 12-bit HDR at 480Hz, Up to 8K 12-bit HDR at 165Hz
Power Input16-pin PCIe (3 x 8-pin to 1 x 16-pin adaptor included)
Dimensions359 x 150 x 76 mm
Weight2614 grams

Kosta's Test System

ItemDetails
MotherboardASUS ROG CROSSHAIR X670E HERO
CPUAMD Ryzen 9 7950X
GPUNVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Founders Edition
DisplayMSI MAG 321UPX QD-OLED 4K 240 Hz
CoolerASUS ROG RYUO III 360 ARGB
RAM32GB DDR5-6000 Corsair DOMINATOR TITANIUM RGB
SSDSabrent Rocket 4 Plus-G M.2 PCIe Gen 4 SSD 4TB, Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus Plus M.2 PCIe Gen 4 SSD 8TB
Power SupplyASUS TUF Gaming 1000W Gold
CaseCorsair 5000D AIRFLOW Tempered Glass Mid-Tower ATX PC Case
OSMicrosoft Windows 11 Pro 64-bit

Physical Design and Cooling

There's not much separating the MSI GeForce RTX 5080 SUPRIM SOC from the MSI GeForce RTX 5090 SUPRIM SOC; the physical design is the same, with the only real difference being a slight change in the overall weight. And by slight, we mean it, with the MSI GeForce RTX 5080 SUPRIM SOC's 359 x 150 x 76 mm dimensions and 2614-gram weight (around 5.76 pounds) make it one of the largest and heftiest graphics cards out there - regardless of make or model. However, the sheer size gives you a premium build with excellent cooling.

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Aesthetically, we also think this is MSI's best-looking SUPRIM to date. The company leans into the SUPRIM name and logo with subtle white lighting and a brushed metal look. Although there's nothing "minimal" about a GPU this size, the angular flourishes deliver a more stylish and minimal aesthetic than some RGB-heavy flagship 3.5-slot+ designs. The new SUPRIM design from MSI sees improvements to all aspects of the build, from the company's advanced vapor covering the GPU and VRAM to the square-shaped core pipes and heatsink fins arranged in a specific way to improve airflow. You've also got MSI's new STORMFORCE fans, which are quieter than previous fans from the company and offer improved airflow.

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MSI GeForce RTX 5080 SUPRIM SOC's cooling is so efficient that it's essentially silent when you're not gaming, and even then, fan speeds are kept relatively low - even when using the 'Gaming' mode. Yes, like the GeForce RTX 5090 variant, there's a Dual BIOS option for 'Gaming' and 'Silent' modes, which changes how aggressive the fans are for cooling. The SUPRIM OC's 'Hyper Frozr Thermal' is ridiculously effective at cooling the GeForce RTX 5080, and part of the reason for this is that it was designed to cool a 600W overclocked GeForce RTX 5090. Is it overkill? Yes. But you'd be hard-pressed to find a faster RTX 5080, especially one that barely breaks a sweat.

The Games and Tests

PC gaming not only covers a wide range of genres and styles, from indie games with simple 2D graphics to massive 3D worlds lit by cutting-edge real-time ray tracing technology. With that, the needs and requirements of each gamer vary. High refresh rates and latency reduction become more important than flashy visuals or playing at the highest resolution possible for those who live and breathe fast-paced competitive games. For those who want to live in a cinematic world and become a key player in an expansive narrative, ray-tracing, and high-fidelity visuals are a stepping stone toward immersion.

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Our chosen benchmarks cover various games, engines, APIs, and technologies. For the GeForce RTX 5090, all tests are run at 4K and 1440p and include results for performance-boosting Super Resolution technologies like NVIDIA DLSS 4 - including Frame Generation and the new Multi Frame Generation. In many ways, DLSS numbers are more important in 2025 than native rendering - a title with ray tracing isn't meant to be played without Super Resolution. Also, DLSS technologies like Ray Reconstruction and the new RTX Mega Geometry dramatically improve visual fidelity and detail compared to native rendering. However, our benchmark results are still sorted using 'raw performance' or native rendering.

Here's the breakdown of games, settings, and what's being tested.

Games and Settings Benchmarked

GameDetails
Black Myth: WukongA high-impact Unreal Engine 5 test showcasing a detailed cinematic world. The in-game benchmark tool with the 'Very High' fidelity setting without ray-tracing and with DLSS and FSR.
Cyberpunk 2077Competitive multiplayer FPS test with DLSS and FSR. The in-game multiplayer benchmark tool is used with 'Ultra' quality settings.
Counter-Strike 2Competitive multiplayer FPS test running on Valve's Source 2 engine. A stress test mod map is used to showcase CS2 at its most demanding.
Cyberpunk 2077Cinematic open-world test with stunning visuals and DLSS and FSR. The in-game benchmark tool is used with 'Ultra' quality settings without ray-tracing.
Cyberpunk 2077 (RT)Cinematic open-world test with stunning visuals and DLSS and FSR. The in-game benchmark tool is used with the demanding 'Ray Tracing Ultra' quality setting.
DOOM Eternal (RT)Fast-paced single-player FPS gaming running on the id Tech and Vulkan with DLSS. The Mars Core campaign mission is used to benchmark.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard (RT)Cinematic RPG from veteran studio BioWare, benchmarking the action-packed introduction sequence with Ultra quality settings including ray-tracing with DLSS and FSR.
F1 24 (RT)Racing game with hardware-intensive in-race ray-traced visuals and DLSS and FSR. The in-game benchmark tool is used, with 'Ultra High' quality settings on a single lap of the Bahrain track.
Hogwarts Legacy (RT)Cinematic open-world game set in the iconic Harry Potter universe. The halls and rooms of Hogwarts used to benchmark, with 'Ultra' quality settings, ray-tracing, DLSS, and FSR.
Horizon Forbidden WestCinematic open-world test with stunning visuals and DLSS and FSR. The opening section is tested using the 'Very High' quality setting.
Marvel RivalsMultiplayer hero shooter set in the Marvel universe, in-game Practise Range map used to benchmark with 'Ultra' quality settings, DLSS and FSR.
Resident Evil 4 (RT)Capcom's visually impressive remake, Chapter 1 - The Village used to benchmark with 'Max' settings.
Total War: Warhammer IIIAction-packed real-time strategy with hundreds of on-screen characters. The in-game 'Battle' benchmark tool is used with the 'Ultra' quality setting.
Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2Cinematic third-person action game with impressive visuals. Opening mission tested using 'Ultra' quality setting with DLSS and FSR.

Path Tracing Games and Settings Benchmarked

GameDetails
Alan Wake 2Full Path Tracing tested in 4K using the new 'Ultra' setting with DLSS 4, Frame Generation, and Multi Frame Generation. Bright Falls town used to test.
Black Myth: WukongA high-impact Unreal Engine 5 test with DLSS 'Performance' and Frame Generation. The in-game benchmark tool with the 'Very High' setting and 'Full Ray Tracing.'
Cyberpunk 2077In-game benchmark tool used with the demanding 'RT Overdrive' or full Path Tracing mode, with DLSS 4 Performance, Frame Generation, and Multi Frame Generation.
Indiana Jones and the Great CircleFull Ray Tracing tested in this stunning first-person cinematic game, Marshall College walkthrough used to test with DLSS Performance and Frame Generation.
Star Wars OutlawsOpen-world Star Wars game with cutting-edge ray-traced visuals and DLSS 4 technologies tested, including Multi Frame Generation on Toshara.

Gaming Performance Analysis

Average Gaming Performance - 4K Results

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As mentioned in the introduction, the MSI GeForce RTX 5080 SUPRIM SOC is a powerful 4K gaming GPU, and with the out-of-the-box overclock (that you can tune higher), it's also 3-5% faster than the GeForce RTX 5080 Founders Edition. Across several games, covering competitive shooters, cinematic adventures, racing games, and ray-tracing, you're looking at a performance that is, on average, 22% faster than the GeForce RTX 4080 and 17% faster than the GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER. This makes it 14% slower than the GeForce RTX 4090 and 32% slower than the flagship GeForce RTX 5090.

4K is the resolution where DLSS Super Resolution using the Quality preset delivers exceptional results. With DLSS 4 improving this with the new Transformer model, the MSI GeForce RTX 5080 SUPRIM SOC's 4K DLSS performance offers a more realistic look at the expected performance. With its 118 FPS average, you're looking at more than enough of a baseline to take full advantage of Frame Generation or the new Multi Frame Generation.

Looking at individual game results, it's a mixed bag, which is probably why there will be a lot of variance in GeForce RTX 5080 reviews. On the low end, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is only 6% faster than the GeForce RTX 4080. DOOM Eternal and F1 24 run 11% and 12% faster on the MSI GeForce RTX 5080 SUPRIM SOC than on the GeForce RTX 4080. However, the high-end Cyberpunk 2077 'RT Ultra' is 24% faster on the MSI GeForce RTX 5080 SUPRIM SOC, while Dragon Age: The Veilguard is 27% faster, and Counter-Strike 2 runs 28% faster.

And if you're considering upgrading from the GeForce RTX 3080 to the MSI GeForce RTX 5080 SUPRIM SOC, the 88% faster 4K gaming performance is a massive improvement. And that doesn't even factor in Frame Generation, which the GeForce RTX 30 Series doesn't support.

Average Gaming Performance - 1440p Results

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Dropping the resolution to 1440p causes the MSI GeForce RTX 5080 SUPRIM SOC to encounter a few bottlenecks, which also applies to the GeForce RTX 4080, 4090, and the new RTX 5090. This is why the differences between these cards shrink - the MSI GeForce RTX 5080 SUPRIM SOC is only 10% faster than the GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER and only 9% slower than the GeForce RTX 4090. There are titles where having a beefier GPU makes a big difference, even at 1440p, especially those with many ray-tracing effects. The MSI GeForce RTX 5080 SUPRIM SOC isn't wasted at this resolution; however, the difference between it and the GeForce RTX 4080 is primarily felt in titles that fully use the new RTX Blackwell architecture.

Benchmarks - 3DMark Synthetic Tests

3DMark offers a suite of synthetic benchmarks built to test GPUs in various scenarios. 3DMark Steel Nomad is a cutting-edge DirectX 12 benchmark with newer, modern rendering techniques designed to push GPUs to their limit. The 'Light' version tests at 1440p, while the main Steel Nomad benchmark tests pure native 4K rendering. Port Royal is a benchmark focusing exclusively on real-time ray tracing for lighting effects like reflections, shadows, and more.

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The 3DMark Steel Nomad Light synthetic benchmark focuses on modern rendering techniques seen in things like Unreal Engine 5, running in 1440p. It's the official 3DMark Time Spy replacement, and as such, it probably provides a better look at the performance we can expect to see for the GeForce RTX 5080 in the future than a more unified look at PC gaming's past, present, and future. For the 1440p Steel Nomad Light and the 4K Steel Nomad test, the MSI GeForce RTX 5080 SUPRIM SOC delivers scores 19% and 26% higher than the GeForce RTX 4080, respectively. This aligns with some of the more significant gains we saw with our gaming benchmarks, which also happened to be more modern titles with more advanced visuals.

Regarding the 3DMark Port Royal synthetic ray tracing benchmark, we see a similar uplift to non-ray tracing workloads, with the MSI GeForce RTX 5080 SUPRIM SOC scoring 26% higher than the GeForce RTX 4080. This is similar to what we saw when gaming; the RTX 50 Series improvements to ray tracing are in line with non-ray tracing improvements. This probably stems from the fact that RTX Neural Rendering isn't a thing yet.

Benchmarks - 4K Gaming

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Benchmarks - 1440p Gaming

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DLSS 4, Frame Generation, and the new Multi-Frame Generation

DLSS 4 and Multi Frame Generation are impressive bits of technology, thanks mainly to the overall improvements to performance and latency on the Frame Generation side and the new 'Transformer' model for Super Resolution and Ray Reconstruction. We used the DLSS 'Quality' mode preset for these benchmarks, often delivering better-than-native image quality.

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With a high enough base frame rate and the right sort of game, both Frame Generation and Multi Frame Generation deliver a massive boost to performance. Now, this performance comes with a few caveats, namely, the latency of Dragon Age running at 244 FPS with Multi Frame Generation is not the same as running the game natively with that level of performance - the overall feel, thanks to Reflex and the new RTX Blackwell 'Flip Metering' technology, is closer to 90 FPS, which is comfortable and great for a third-person action-RPG.

That said, running Dragon Age: The Veilguard at 244 FPS with Full Ray Tracing and Ultra quality settings is impossible in 2025 without Frame Generation, and the benefit you get from maxing out a 4K 240 Hz display is increased motion clarity and smoothness that is both immediate and impressive. Sure, the image isn't perfect, and if you look closely and check each frame, you'll notice artifacts and some general weirdness - but that's the trade-off. After spending a couple of weeks with the GeForce RTX 5090 and GeForce RTX 5080, it's clear that Frame Generation will be a big part of PC gaming's future. In games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Hogwarts Legacy, it's already working brilliantly.

Path Tracing Performance

Path Tracing, or Full Ray Tracing, arrived with the GeForce RTX 40 Series and DLSS 3 and is leveling up with the GeForce RTX 50 Series and DLSS 4. It's only possible thanks to AI technologies like DLSS Super Resolution, Ray Reconstruction, and RTX Neural Shader technology like RTX Mega Geometry. It's designed specifically for these technologies, and we're only including native or rasterized performance to highlight just how intensive it is on a GPU as powerful as the GeForce RTX 5080. In fact, outside of the massive increase in performance, these games also look notably worse without DLSS 4.

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Path Tracing isn't about delivering jaw-dropping visuals but what comes next - being fully immersed in a cinematic world that feels real. And that's not real in the sense of the visuals hitting some photoreal quality, but with accurate ray-traced lighting, shadows, reflections, and more, each environment, room, landscape, character, and object feels like it's part of a seamless and cohesive digital world. Path Tracing is also the realm of DLSS, Frame Generation, and the new Multi Frame Generation. It's so hardware intensive that you must use the DLSS Performance preset in 4K on the GeForce RTX 5080, meaning the game is being rendered internally at 1080p.

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MSI GeForce RTX 5080 SUPRIM SOC Review - Overclocked and Ready for 4K Gaming 54MSI GeForce RTX 5080 SUPRIM SOC Review - Overclocked and Ready for 4K Gaming 56

In Alan Wake 2, with DLSS 4, the new Transformer model for Super Resolution and Ray Reconstruction is so good that DLSS Performance now looks as good as DLSS 3's Quality mode. This is a game-changer because the DLSS 4 rendered Alan Wake 2 with Full Ray Tracing running at 67 FPS on the MSI GeForce RTX 5080 SUPRIM SOC looks significantly better than Alan Wake 2 running natively at 27 FPS. Add some Multi Frame Generation, and the 67 FPS becomes 200 FPS. Going from 27 FPS to 200 FPS with more detail and improved latency and performance is mind-blowing.

Temperature and Power Efficiency

MSI GeForce RTX 5080 SUPRIM SOC Review - Overclocked and Ready for 4K Gaming 59

Although the MSI GeForce RTX 5080 SUPRIM SOC is a 360W card, looking at the average power draw when gaming in 4K, that number drops to 285W - which makes the GeForce RTX 5080, even in OC form, a remarkably efficient 4K gaming GPU. MSI's SUPRIM SOC design is also exceptionally efficient at cooling NVIDIA's RTX 5080 GPU. With temperatures reaching 53 degrees Celsius in our stress test, it leaves plenty of room for an additional boost to clock speeds while also making it a silent beast for the most part.

Final Thoughts

With disappointing generational gains compared to the GeForce RTX 4080, there's no reason to upgrade unless you're okay with the 20% 4K gaming performance bump you can get from an OC model like the MSI GeForce RTX 5080 SUPRIM SOC, which is decent but not massive. That said, most gamers don't upgrade every GPU generation because it doesn't make sense. The GeForce RTX 5080 is significantly faster than the GeForce RTX 3080. So even though the Ampere-era 80-class GPU is still an excellent card for gaming, the promise of up to 88% more performance, with the faster DLSS 4 and Frame Generation, would be more than enough incentive to pick up a GeForce RTX 5080.

MSI GeForce RTX 5080 SUPRIM SOC Review - Overclocked and Ready for 4K Gaming 17

Even those with the GeForce RTX 3090 will get much more gaming performance out of the GeForce RTX 5080. Numbers and percentages like this give you an idea of what to expect. Still, they don't factor in features like DLSS 4, Multi Frame Generation, improved encoder and decoder performance, AI performance, and overall efficiency. DLSS 4's best features are compatible with all GeForce RTX GPUs, which is fantastic. With more advanced Tensor Cores and new AI architecture, DLSS 4 will run faster on a GeForce RTX 50 Series graphics card. But this isn't a reason for ditching an RTX 4090 for the new RTX 5090. No, it's more than that - DLSS 4 is now one of the main reasons you'd buy a GeForce RTX GPU over anything else. Whether that's a GeForce RTX 4070 or the MSI GeForce RTX 5080 SUPRIM SOC - it's that good.

Multi Frame Generation is another game changer in its own right. However, it works best with certain games as long as the base frame rate is around 80 FPS - so it'll be interesting to see how it performs on GPUs like the upcoming GeForce RTX 5070.

And as far as GeForce RTX 5080s go, the MSI GeForce RTX 5080 SUPRIM SOC is a beast - faster, cooler, and quieter than the Founders Edition model. However, as we're talking about MSI's flagship model, the $1249.99 price is a notable step up from the $999 MSRP. Still, you're getting impressive 4K gaming performance and a GPU that is tailor-made for the new AI era of gaming.

Performance

88%

Quality

94%

Features

96%

Value

87%

Overall

91%

The Bottom Line

MSI's flagship SUPRIM SOC design brings improved performance over the GeForce RTX 4080 Founders Edition, but it's still not a massive leap over the RTX 4080. That said, it's still a 4K gaming powerhouse that benefits from the arrival of DLSS 4 and Multi Frame Generation.

TweakTown award

Senior Editor

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Kosta is a veteran gaming journalist that cut his teeth on well-respected Aussie publications like PC PowerPlay and HYPER back when articles were printed on paper. A lifelong gamer since the 8-bit Nintendo era, it was the CD-ROM-powered 90s that cemented his love for all things games and technology. From point-and-click adventure games to RTS games with full-motion video cut-scenes and FPS titles referred to as Doom clones. Genres he still loves to this day. Kosta is also a musician, releasing dreamy electronic jams under the name Kbit.

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