Gigabyte Aorus GTX 1080 Ti Graphics Card Review

Final Thoughts

Price

This is a tough one to cover, as GPU prices seem to really fluctuate right now, most likely due to the mining problem. At the time of writing, this GPU was £779.99 and that’s a lot for any graphics card. I’d suggest checking around for stock and deals, as you can pick up a range of other 1080 Ti’s from the likes of EVGA for about £750, and none of the other brands are pushing slow GTX 1080 Ti’s.

Overview

I must admit that I love pretty much a GTX 1080 Ti, as they’re the fastest consumer gaming graphics cards on the market today. I love gaming at 4K, I use HDR displays and high-frame rates, so it’s a no-brainer that if that’s what you seek in your gaming life, any GTX 1080 Ti is the choice for you.

The performance on this GPU is amazing, it’s not quite the fastest GTX 1080 Ti in the world, but it doesn’t have to be, as it’s pretty darn close, and is priced about the same as most factory overclocked models. Shop around for a deal though, they’re out there, and if you’re lucky you may find one much closer to £700.

Design

The aesthetics of this GPU are not for everyone, it’s a bit heavy on that “extreme gaming” gaudy vibe for my liking. The style is subjective though, and I always buy my hardware based on performance, not looks. If you’re eager to show everything off under RGB lighting and through tempered glass, you’ll already know if this is the look you want from your GPU or not.

The GPU is huge though, as are many flagship GPUs. If you’re wanting to SLI, be sure your motherboard has the appropriate PCIe slot spacing to house a 2.5 slot card and leave the correct amount of breathing room. Of course, make sure you’re packing a powerful enough PSU too, as a pair of 1080 Ti’s is going to put a dent in your electricity bill.

Should I Buy One

If you’re looking for one of the fastest gaming cards on the market, the latest from Aorus is one of the best around. However, the addition of that massive cooler, factory overclocks, unique aesthetics, and those extra VR HDMI ports certainly add to the overall value too.

Pros

• Exceptional performance
• Great for high frame rate gaming
• Ideal for 4K gaming
• VR HDMI ports on front and back
• Unique cooler design
• RGB lighting
• Cool and quiet
• Passive cooling at low load

Cons

• Huge cooler could limit SLI on some motherboards

Neutral

• The cooler shroud looks a little too “gamer-y” for my liking