MSI GeForce RTX 3080 Ti SUPRIM X Review

Fresh off the heels of the NVIDIA COMPUTEX announcement, we have our first GeForce RTX 3080 Ti review. MSI has been nice enough to send in their SUPRIM X variant which is an absolute beast of a card! Pete previously reviewed both the 3090 and 3080 models of the SUPRIM X cards and gave them our Editors Choice award stating the 3080 “Is a beast”. The 3080 Ti on review today is coming with a massive 12GB of GDDR6X memory and three 8-pin power connectors! Oh yes, this is definitely one beast of a card so let’s get moving along and take a proper look at what to expect should you be lucky enough to purchase one of these sometime soon!

MSI GeForce RTX 3080 Ti SUPRIM X

We have been hearing about it for a little while now and it is finally upon us, the NVIDIA RTX 3080 Ti. The MSI SUPRIM X variant we have comes with Micron GDDR6X memory, a 1365 MHz GPU clock and an 1188 MHz memory clock as standard. As we can see in the GPU-Z screenshot below, it also has a boost clock of 1830 MHz which is quite a big jump and should allow for some amazing performance. All in all, it looks like a good card on paper and in our hands but it is now time to see how it performs and compare it to the other GPUs already on the market!

Features

• TRI FROZR 2S Cooler
• TORX 4.0 Fans
• Addressable RGB lighting
• 3 x 8-pin PSU headers
• Full metal backplate

Inside the box, along with the GPU, we have a few manuals and such. One of which is actually an animated booklet with Lucky the Dragon showing you how to install your new GPU. Aside from this, we also have a rather nice mousemat and a GPU support! This support is going to definitely come in handy as this card weighs an absolute tonne and is sure to have a lot of sag if you install it without any support.

A Closer Look

The SUPRIM X is the top range from MSI and it is easy to see why! I mean, just look at it in all its glory! It comes with three monstrous fans that are going to keep this thing as cool as it needs to be to serve you as best possible in all your gaming sessions.

The dragon emblems on the fans are actually raised up a bit. This is an interesting choice as there was once a time when people would say this would throw off the balance and the fans wouldn’t rotate properly! Clearly, MSI knows something the rest of us have yet to discover as they went with it anyway!

With serious power comes serious responsibility for that power! MSI has gone with three 8-PIN power connectors for their 3080 Ti SPURIM X Graphics Cards. We already knew this would be a beast but this really just confirms it. Not only are these connectors going to allow for this card to efficiently get all the power it needs to run your favourite game, but they are also going to allow you to overclock this card as far as the cooling will allow!

As we would imagine, there is plenty of metal heatsink on this card to try and help keep it as cool as possible. Alongside its cooling prowess, this heatsink is also going to add quite a bit of weight to the card so good thing MSI has included the support in the box to go along with it.

On the side of the GPU, we can see this is the SUPRIM GeForce RTX card. There is also going to be a small bit of RGB here when the card is plugged in which can be fully customized to your own preferences.

The 3080Ti SUPRIM X comes with a full metal backplate that even features an RGB dragon emblem. Not only does this help to dissipate some of the heat from the card, but it also makes it look much better than just having a bare PCB in your build. I’m sure some of you can remember those days before backplates were a thing? There is definitely no denying that even if this didn’t serve a real benefit, it still looks much better!

This Dragon logo on the backplate looks nice on its own but when you plug the card in, it’s going to light up with RGB and make it look even better.

For inputs, we have three DisplayPort 1.4a inputs and a single HDMI 2.1 input. As always, these will allow us to connect multiple monitors up to a single GPU and as we all know, multi-monitor setups are the way forward! Not only are they great for having your chat up with streaming but they can also drastically help increase normal work performance.

Not a whole lot going on around the back. As we can see the shroud doesn’t completely cover it allowing for a decent amount of airflow to get in from all directions.

RGB

MSI has done a great job of implementing the RGB on their RTX 3080 Ti SUPRIM X. Similar to the other SUPRIM X cards we have seen of late, it has RGB in three different zones. There are a couple of RGB zones near the fans, one of the side of the card and finally, the backplate features an RGB dragon logo! All of which can be controlled through MSI’s own software!

How We Test

We continue to update our testing methods around once per year. As such, we re-test older hardware to reflect changes over time. These can be driver updates, Windows updates, game patches, and more; all of which have an impact on performance figures. Furthermore, we update our test bench to newer and more relevant hardware. This means that our new reviews aren’t always comparable to those of older reviews, so please compare the testing methodology on older reviews should you be trying to compare them with newer ones.

Replicate Our Results

When it comes to our benchmarks in our reviews, the benchmarks are pretty self-explanatory and kept as simple as possible, although there are a few exceptions. Remember that your choice of a graphics card, CPU, the silicon lottery, and other factors can yield different numbers, and there’s always a margin for error when using any software.

Links are provided below, as well as the settings we use. We encourage you to not just look at how one product compares to any other, but how it compares to your own. If you’re looking to build a new system, you should benchmark your current PC using the benchmarks available to you. You should then look at the percentage improvement from your current hardware to the hardware tested here to give you a ballpark figure of how much of an upgrade this will provide you with.

Graphics Card Test System

Additional Hardware

• Killawatt style electricity usage meter wall plug
• Precision Gold N05CC Decibel meter

Gaming

To gauge performance levels which are easily reproduced time after time, by both ourselves and our readers, we now stick strictly to games default profiles. We now use the “High” profiles for all games or their respective equivalent at all resolutions. V-Sync is always disabled in our testing, as are FreeSync and G-Sync technologies or similar. Graphics card power usage is set to optimised or balance, and the system power mode set to High Performance within Windows and the available GPU driver software. Identical settings are used for all resolutions unless otherwise stated.

Games

• Watch Dogs Legion
• Dirt 5
• Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla
• Godfall
• Shadow of the Tomb Raider
• Horizon Zero Dawn
• Final Fantasy XV
• Borderlands 3
• Metro Exodus
• Control
• FarCry New Dawn
• Ghost Recon Breakpoint
• Wolfenstein Youngblood

Resolutions

• 1080p (Full HD)
• 1440p (2K)
• 2160p (4K)
• 4320p (8K)

Some tests will also include features such as Nvidia DLSS and Ray Tracing. However, these will be clearly labelled and may only appear in reviews for graphics cards that support those features. 8K testing will only appear in reviews of flagship cards that we consider capable.

Software Used

• 3DMark Fire Strike (download)
  • FireStrike
  • FireStrike Ultra
  • Port Royal DXR
  • TimeSpy
  • TimeSpy Extreme
• Unigine Superposition (download)
  • 4K Optimised Benchmark
• HWMonitor (download)
• GPU-Z (download)
• MSI Afterburner (download)

Noise

Everyone has a reasonable noise level preference when it comes to components on a computer. Some can handle all fans at 100% load to keep temperatures down; some want an entirely silent computer. To accurately gauge the noise output of a graphics card, we position a Precision Gold N05CC one meter above our open-air test bench and take an average reading at idle and load. 

Power Consumption

We take power readings during the idle state with no background applications running. Then again at 50% completion of the Unigine Superposition benchmark, using the average as the final published result.

Temperatures

We take temperature readings after 10 minutes of desktop idle with no background programs running, then take the recorded maximum delivered from Unigine Superposition after a 4K optimised run, confirming the numbers are accurate with HWMonitor. Furthermore, the ambient temperature is always kept +/- 1c from 21c.

Synthetic Benchmarks

3DMark FireStrike Ultra

3DMark TimeSpy

3DMark TimeSpy Extreme

3DMark Port Royal (DXR)

Unigine Superposition 4K Optimised

DIRT 5 is a fun, amplified, off-road racing experience created by Codemasters. Blaze a trail on routes across the world, covering gravel, ice, snow and sand, with a roster of cars ranging from rally icons to trucks, to GT heroes. With a star-studded Career, four-player split-screen, innovative online modes, livery editor and more new features, DIRT 5 is the next generation of extreme racing.

Available now on Steam.

Dirt 5 Performance

Become Eivor, a legendary Viking raider on a quest for glory. Explore England’s Dark Ages as you raid your enemies, grow your settlement, and build your political power.

• Lead epic Viking raids against Saxon fortresses throughout England.
• Dual-wield powerful weapons and relive the visceral fighting style of the Vikings.
• Challenge yourself with the most varied collection of enemies ever found in Assassin’s Creed.
• Shape the growth of your character with every choice you make and carve your path to glory.
• Explore a Dark Age open world, from the harsh shores of Norway to the beautiful kingdoms of England.
• Personalize your experience by growing your clan’s settlement.

Available now on UPlay.

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla Performance

Aperion is on the precipice of ruin. You are the last of the Valorian knights, god-like warriors able to equip Valorplates, legendary armor sets that transform wielders into unstoppable masters of melee combat. Tear through foes as you climb through the elemental realms and challenge the mad god, Macros who awaits you at the top. Ascend in Godfall, the first-of-its-kind, looter-slasher, melee action-RPG.

Available now on EPIC.

Godfall Performance

Experience Lara Croft’s defining moment as she becomes the Tomb Raider. In Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Lara must master a deadly jungle, overcome terrifying tombs, and persevere through her darkest hour. As she races to save the world from a Maya apocalypse, Lara will ultimately be forged into the Tomb Raider she is destined to be.

Available now on Steam.

Shadow of the Tomb Raider Performance

For the first time, players take control of Noctis’s greatest foe in this brand-new episode of FINAL FANTASY XV! Delve into the dark tale of scorned saviour Ardyn Lucis Caelum and unravel the secrets surrounding his mysterious past.

Available now on Steam.

Final Fantasy XV Performance

Experience Aloy’s entire legendary quest to unravel the mysteries of a world ruled by deadly Machines. An outcast from her tribe, the young hunter fights to uncover her past, discover her destiny… and stop a catastrophic threat to the future.

Unleash devastating, tactical attacks against unique Machines and rival tribes as you explore an open world teeming with wildlife and danger. Horizon Zero Dawn is a multi-award-winning action role-playing game – and this Complete Edition for PC includes the huge expansion The Frozen Wilds, featuring new lands, skills, weapons and Machines.

Available now on Steam.

Horizon Zero Dawn Performance

The original shooter-looter returns, packing bazillions of guns and a mayhem-fueled adventure! Blast through new worlds and enemies as one of four new Vault Hunters. Play solo or with friends to take on insane enemies, score loads of loot and save your home from the most ruthless cult leaders in the galaxy.

At the hard edge of the galaxy lies a group of planets ruthlessly exploited by militarized corporations. Brimming with loot and violence, this is your home—the Borderlands. Now, a crazed cult known as The Children of the Vault has emerged and is spreading like an interstellar plague. Play solo or co-op as one of four unique Vault Hunters, score loads of loot and save the galaxy from this fanatical threat.

Available now on Epic Games Store.

Borderlands 3 Performance

Metro Exodus is an epic, story-driven first-person shooter from 4A Games that blends deadly combat and stealth with exploration and survival horror in one of the most immersive game worlds ever created. Flee the shattered ruins of dead Moscow and embark on an epic, continent-spanning journey across post-apocalyptic Russia in the greatest Metro adventure yet.

Explore the Russian wilderness in vast, non-linear levels and follow a thrilling story-line inspired by the novels of Dmitry Glukhovsky that spans an entire year through spring, summer and autumn to the depths of nuclear winter.

Available now on Epic Game Store.

Metro Exodus Performance

A corruptive presence has invaded the Federal Bureau of Control…Only you have the power to stop it. The world is now your weapon in an epic fight to annihilate an ominous enemy through deep and unpredictable environments. Containment has failed, humanity is at stake. Will you regain control?

Winner of over 80 awards, Control is a visually stunning third-person action-adventure that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Blending open-ended environments with the signature world-building and storytelling of renowned developer, Remedy Entertainment, Control presents an expansive and intensely gratifying gameplay experience.

Available now on Steam.

Control Performance

Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Breakpoint puts you in the boots of the Ghosts, an Elite US Special Operations Unit stranded behind enemy lines. This time there is no briefing. All contact has been lost with Auroa. This archipelago is home to Skell Technology, a high-tech company. You are sent there with your unit for a recon mission, but your helicopters are shot down: Skell Tech has fallen into the wrong hands. The Wolves, a lethal ex-US military unit gone rogue, have taken over the island.

Led by your ex-brother-in-arms, Colonel Cole D. Walker, they have reprogrammed Skell’s drones into killing machines and are ready to use them, no matter the casualties. Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Breakpoint is a military shooter set in a diverse, hostile, and mysterious open world that you can play entirely solo or in four-player co-op. Injured, without support, and hunted down by ex-Ghosts, you must fight to survive while lost in Auroa. Choose the right alliances and decide how to take down your toughest enemy.

Available now on UPLAY.

Ghost Recon: Breakpoint

Wolfenstein: Youngblood is the first modern co-op Wolfenstein adventure.

Nineteen years after the events of Wolfenstein II, BJ Blazkowicz has disappeared after a mission into Nazi-occupied Paris. Now, after years of training from their battle-hardened father, BJ’s twin daughters, Jess and Soph Blazkowicz, are forced into action.

Team up with a friend or play alone. Level up, explore, and complete missions to unlock new abilities, weapons, gadgets, cosmetics, and more to complement your playstyle and customize your appearance.

Wolfenstein: Youngblood features the most open-ended Wolfenstein experience to date. From a new base of operations located deep in the heart of the Paris catacombs, plan how and when to attack and dismantle the Nazi regime.

Available now on Steam.

Wolfenstein Youngblood Performance

Power Consumption

Temperatures

Acoustics

How Much Does It Cost?

So, the part of the review I have been dreading from the start, the price! Well, we have no official price for the SUPRIM X model but NVIDIA has stated that the 3080 Ti will start out at $1,199. Now, the SUPRIM X is going to be one of the top models so you can guarantee it will cost a few hundred more, say somewhere between $1,500-$1,600 during normal times! Now, with everything going on, should you actually see one of these available somewhere, we have a good feeling it will cost closer to around $2,000 which is a bit extortionate for a Graphics Card. This is all a bit of speculation at this point in time and it will be quite interesting to actually see what the price is when it releases, not that we think you will be able to buy one anyways.

Overview

The MSI GeForce RTX 3080 Ti SUPRIM X is a mouthful to say but it is also a beast of a card. The SUPRIM X range always has a lot to offer and the 3080 Ti SUPRIM X is no different. It comes with a triple-fan cooling solution to make sure the card stays as cool as possible! Throw in some RGB near the fans, on the side and a nice RGB dragon logo on the backplate and you also have one aesthetically pleasing GPU on your hands! MSI has been doing this for a long time now and knows what their fans want and with their SUPRIM X range, they are looking to be one of, if not the best GPU range currently available!

NVIDIA LHR

So, one of the bigger updates to the 3080 Ti range is the LHR or Low Hash Rate limiter. Simply, as it sounds, this is going to limit the hash rate of these new GPUs so that they are not quite as appealing to miners and hopefully, gamer’s may actually get to buy a couple of them when they release. As you can see in the above image, we loaded up Nicehash’s QuickMiner to go ahead and see just how the hash rate was! We saw an average of 56Mh/s. In comparison, the 3080 gets around 85 MH/s and the 3090 is around 105 MH/s so without a limiter, we would expect the 3080 Ti to be around 95Mh/s. However, NVIDIA has put the limiter on and it is doing a fair job and giving us only about 60% of the hash rate we would expect to see without the limit. This is pretty good and we can only hope NVIDIA doesn’t accidentally release any drivers that mess this up, again!

SUPRIM X 3080 Ti GO BRRRRRR

The performance on offer here is quite impressive and funnily enough, it even outperforms the Gigabyte RTX 3090 Gaming OC in a good few of our benchmarks. Does this mean the 3090 should’ve maybe been a Titan and not a Gaming GPU? Well, that is not for me to say but the results do speak for themselves! Either way, the MSI RTX 3080 Ti Suprim X offers some amazing gaming performance hitting more than 60FPS in every game we tested even at 4K. What’s even more impressive is that aside from control, the 3080 Ti SUPRIM X was hitting 80+ FPS in most games in 4K and some were easily over 100FPS meaning that this GPU will be able to handle any game you throw at it no matter your preferred gaming resolution. Users looking for one of the best gaming GPUs currently on the market need look no further, MSI’s RTX 3080 Ti SUPRIM X is here to stay and will definitely be one of the top-performing gaming GPUs on the market, should you actually be able to find one to purchase.

Should I Buy One?

If you can find one and find it close to MSRP then I have no problem recommending this GPU. The problem is going to boil down to availability and overly inflated prices, which has been the case for many months now. We can hope that one day you will be able to find GPUs such as this one at a decent price but who knows when that day will actually be. There seems to be more and more happening on a near-weekly basis that makes the whole picture not look so clear as it once did a few months back! Regardless, the MSI GeForce RTX 3080 Ti SUPRIM X is one hell of a GPU in both aesthetics and performance so as said, if you can find one at a half-decent price, don’t be afraid to scoop it up and put it right into your system as it really will be a great card for most anyone!