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The RTX 2080 is Nvidia’s flagship card, providing Ray Tracing technology and high-end graphics performance for the latest AAA games. We think you’ll agree, that due to the almost overwhelming amount of card manufactures out there, buying GPU’s can be confusing. After research, the Gigabyte AORUS RTX 2080 (non Super) is our top pick, while stocks last (recently discontinued).
Perhaps one of the most powerful graphics card in the market, the ASUS Dual EVO OC DUAL-RTX2080S-O8G-EVO [1] performs extremely well as you’d expect from a top tier GPU. Excellent cooling, with a chop based on the Turing TU104, and GDDR6 graphics memory makes the ASUS Dual EVO OC worth every penny, if you have the budget.
We cannot deny how powerful the ASUS Dual EVO OC RTX 2080 Super DUAL-RTX2080S-O8G-EVO is. Straight out of the box, ASUS wants to show you nothing but the best graphics card available. The Dual EVO OC can overclock up to a maximum of 1830 MHz, display 3072 shader cores, and stores a memory frequency of 15.5 Gbps. [2]
The ASUS Dual EVO OC DUAL-RTX2080S-O8G-EVO is undeniably superior versus other video cards today – almost too superior at times that the Dual EVO OC provides too much for the average PC gamer. With all that power comes a high price (enough to make you buy 2 PS4 pros!). Also, be aware, the card is very heavy; you will need a sturdy case to house this ASUS GPU.
Related: Looking for the top RTX 2080 laptop? Check out our review of the best RTX 2080 gaming laptops for 2024.
If you want the best performance, buy the ASUS Dual EVO OC.
GPU Clock Speed: 1650 MHz [3]
Boost Clock: 1830 MHz
Memory Clock: 15500 MHz
IO: HDMI 2.0b, DisplayPort 1.4, HDCP
They say that the PC gamers of culture choose Gigabyte AORUS GV-N2080AORUS-8GC [4]. This AORUS RTX 2080 8G is one of, if not, the most superior RTX 2080 you will ever find. In fact, the Gigabyte GPU even outperforms the GTX 1080Ti.
Nothing sets the standard for a base RTX 2080 graphics card like the Gigabyte AORUS GV-N2080AORUS-8GC. Right out of the box, the AORUS [5] is overclock-ready, giving you a lot of convenient time to work on other aspects and adjustments. The AORUS has a maximum clock speed of 1845 MHz and is integrated with 8GB, GDDR6 graphics memory, and 16 PCIe 3.0 ports.
While the AORUS RTX 2080 is powerful, it does have some small issues. First is the power limit adjustment that is lower than its own Founder’s Edition; second is the heavy weight.
If you are a PC gamer that just wants to use the GPU right out of the box without adjusting, the AORUS RTX 2080 GV-N2080AORUS-8GC is the best option for you.
GPU Clock Speed: 1710 MHz [6]
Boost Clock: 1845 MHz
Memory Clock: 14000 MHz
IO: DisplayPort 1.4, HDMI 2.0b, USB Type-CTM(support VirtualLinkTM)
Behold, the EVGA FTW3 08G-P4-2287-KR [7]. If you are searching for the ideal AIO water-cooled RTX 2080, the FTW3 version should be on the top of your priority list. The card is as cool as it is quick the 08G-P4-2287-KR is the best bolt in RTX 2080 water-cooled GPU.
I loved everything about the EVGA FTW3: the silence as it runs, the constant low temperatures, the massive overclocking speeds and multiple DisplayPort compatibility.
For the FTW3 2080, you have two options: double fan and triple fan. Of course, triple-fan is good but the double fan itself is cheaper and still keeps the GPU cool.
EVGA FTW3 RTX 2080 08G-P4-2287-KR is a remarkable graphics card that only those with a high budget can afford. It has the best cooler among any RTX 2080 GPU.
GPU Clock Speed: 1650 MHz [7]
Boost Clock: 1860 MHz
Memory Clock: 14000 MHz
IO: PCIe 3.0 DisplayPort, HDMI DisplayPort, USB Type-C DisplayPort
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The EVGA GeForce RTX 2080 XC ULTRA GAMING 08G-P4-2183-KR [9] may not have the same speeds as others but its consistency in performance makes this a great GPU.
While the EVGA FTW3 is good as a water-cooled graphics card but if you need the best for gaming whether story-driven or competitive, you will want to buy the 08G-P4-2183-KR.
EVGA’s flagship includes two: the 08G-P4-2287-KR (FTW3) and the 08G-P4-2183-KR (XC Ultra Gaming). The XC ULTRA GAMING GPU speaks for itself: it is powered with multiple Nvidia features such as Ansel, GeForce Experience, G-Sync compatibility and Ray-Tracing. While its base clock speed is slower compared to other RTX 2080 in this list, the 08G-P4-2183-KR does have great overclocking speeds that are enough to play even Call of Duty Modern Warfare at Ultra settings with RTX on.
The only drawback in this wonderful card is the missing aux fan [10] which could greatly decrease its temperature issues.
But if you ignore the heat, the 08G-P4-2183-KR is a solid GPU that you should not miss.
GPU Clock Speed: 1500 MHz [11]
Boost Clock: 1815 MHz
Memory Clock: 14000 MHz
IO: PCI-E, DisplayPort, USB Type-C, HDMI
Solid, affordable and easy to use, the MSI Duke [12] focuses more on the substance over style. MSI Duke GeForce RTX 2080 may not be the prettiest of the bunch but for those who have enough money to get their hands on an expensive RTX 2080, this is the cheapest.
MSI always create easily digestible gaming hardware ever since and the Duke GeForce does not disappoint. While the MSI Duke GeForce RTX 2080 [13] may look edgy, its main feature is to show the prowess of what an RTX 2080 can do – nothing else. In short, the Duke performs all the essentials of the 2080 series without looking flashy.
Of course, with its affordable price comes some lackluster segments: it easily heats up and, since the Duke was made by MSI, do not expect this to be future-proof.
But if you are very desperate for an RTX 2080 and you can hardly wait, the MSI Duke gets the job done.
GPU Clock Speed: 1530 MHz
Boost Clock: 1845 MHz
Memory Clock: 2000 MHz
IO: DisplayPort, HDMI 2.0b, USB Type-C
This may not come as a surprise but we would purchase Gigabyte AORUS RTX 2080 8G GV-N2080AORUS-8GC in a heartbeat. Sure, we could just go for the ASUS DUAL-RTX2080S-O8G-EVO but is the 2080S necessary over the 2080?
If you are not an extremely meticulous PC gamer, the GV-N2080AORUS-8GC is a wise choice for many reasons: great cooling, consistent performance, and long-lasting.
The Gigabyte AORUS RTX 2080 is worth every penny and should be a priority list for you if you’re looking to buy the best that the 2080 series has to offer. It does have hiccups but remember: every other GPU does too.
