Palit RTX 3080 GameRock Graphics Card Review

There's no shortage of amazing looking graphics cards out there, but for the most part, a lot of them do look pretty similar. A grey or black slab with a bit of RGB down the side. Palit clearly took note of this and decided to do something a little more extreme. It's known as "The Dazzling Angel" and is built for those who "pursue maximum ARGB lighting environment." At its core, it's still a mighty RTX 3080, a very fast GPU, but on the surface, it's all about that more RG-Bling than RGB. No, seriously. Palit RTX 3080 GameRock Make no mistake though, this card is still a bit of a beast, rather than just a box of jewels. It features an 1860 MHz Boost Clock, with a TurboFan Blade design, as well as a zero RPM fan home. It comes with a dual BIOS design for performance (standard) or an optional silence mode which lowers the clocks a bit. Beyond that though, you get a boot full of lighting technology with Angel ARGB controllable through the Palit ThunderMaster software, as well as all that crystal bling on the top of the card. Make no mistake, this card is going to be colourful! Check out the video below, bring your sunglasses and an open mind. Features 10GB GDDR6X Memory @ 19 GHz1860 MHz Boost Clock8704 Cuda CoresAngel ARGBARGB LightingTurboFan BladeDual BIOS (Performance/Silence)0RPM Fan Mode What PALIT Had to Say "Palit New GameRock, also known as “The Dazzling Angel,” is specially designed for enthusiast gamers who desire to have ultimate gaming experience and pursue maximum ARGB lighting environment. GameRock series provide the best gaming features, ultimate thermal solution and premium graphics card quality, make you become a real game rocker without fear." - Palit A Closer Look Let's get right to it, this card looks freaking nuts. Instead of a matte black plastic shroud with a bit of RGB in it, it's ALL RGB with a bit of plastic shroud. That means a whopping 90% of the area is ARGB lit, which is pretty crazy, but certainly ups the game for the RGB enthusiasts out there. It's a unique look, make no mistake. They crystalline cut plastic is designed to catch, diffuse and reflect light, giving you some really funky lighting effects. Beyond that, you also have their triple fan cooler design. The fan blades are clear, allowing them to catch the light too. They offer up a zero RPM mode, allowing for complete silence in low loads. Of course, with three fans over a large heatsink, they should offer excellent cooling performance too. All of the fans are TurboFarn 3.0 dual bearing models. They're IP5X dust resistant and pretty great quality overall. The top of the card has a nice Game Rock logo which will look great if you mount the card vertically. There's also another logo down here. I love how over the top the font is, and it reminds me of the old Guitar Hero logo. Down the side of the card, you'll find not one, not two, but THREE GPU power connectors. This is a thirsty card, but all that extra power and stability is no bad thing on a high-end card like this. At the end of the card, you can see it's really packing in a huge heatsink too, as well as a great configuration of heat pipes. It's no wonder this card can run with the fans off. The back of the card looks just as mad, with a custom cut aluminium armoured plate. It looks amazing, and I love the custom decal on here too. There's some ventilation near the rear too, allowing even more airflow through the huge heatsink. Finally, at the rear of the card, we have a single HDMI and DisplayPort connections. The RGB is fully customisable, and we love the blue as it looks like ice. Red I'm not too keen on. Yikes, no thanks. This one, however, really works best. The rainbow cycle is our favourite for this card. 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 MotherboardASUS Crosshair VIII Hero (Wi-Fi)ProcessorAMD Ryzen 9 3900XTRAMTEAMGroup DarkZa 16GB 3600MHz (2x8GB)CPU CoolerNoctua NH-D15SPower SupplyPhanteks Revolt Pro 850StorageSeagate FireCuda 520 2TBChassisOpen BenchtableMonitorDell UP3218KOSWindows 10 Pro Version 2004 Additional Hardware Killawatt style electricity usage meter wall plugPrecision 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 Deus Ex: Mankind DividedShadow of the Tomb RaiderFinal Fantasy XVDoom EternalBorderlands 3Metro ExodusBattlefield VApex LegendsControlGears of War 5FarCry New DawnGhost Recon WildlandsWolfenstein Youngblood Resolutions Tested 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. Software Used 3DMark Fire Strike (download)FireStrikeFireStrike UltraPort Royal DXRTimeSpyTimeSpy ExtremeUnigine Superposition (download)4K Optimised BenchmarkHWMonitor (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 - 285253DMark FireStrike Ultra - 109213DMark TimeSpy - 162643DMark TimeSpy Extreme - 84903DMark Port Royal (DXR) - 11415Unigine Superposition 4K Optimised - 15020 3DMark FireStrike 3DMark FireStrike Ultra 3DMark TimeSpy 3DMark TimeSpy Extreme 3DMark Port Royal (DXR) Unigine Superposition 4K Optimised Now an experienced covert operative, Adam Jensen is forced to operate in a world that has grown to despise his kind. Armed with a new arsenal of state-of-the-art weapons and augmentations, he must choose the right approach, along with who to trust, in order to unravel a vast worldwide conspiracy. Available now on Steam. Deus Ex: Mankind Divided Performance 1080p Deus Ex Mankind Divided - 139.41440p Deus Ex Mankind Divided - 126.62160p Deus Ex Mankind Divided - 78 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 1080p Shadow of the Tomb Raider - 1371440p Shadow of the Tomb Raider - 1342160p Shadow of the Tomb Raider - 97 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 1080p Final Fantasy XV - 138611440p Final Fantasy XV - 119402160p Final Fantasy XV - 7643 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 1080p Horizon Zero Dawn - 1381440p Horizon Zero Dawn - 1302160p Horizon Zero Dawn - 83 Hell’s armies have invaded Earth. Become the Slayer in an epic single-player campaign to conquer demons across dimensions and stop the final destruction of humanity. The only thing they fear... is you. Available now on Steam. Doom Eternal Performance 1080p Doom Eternal - 346.21440p Doom Eternal - 313.2792160p Doom Eternal - 185.452 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 1080p Borderlands 3 - 120.931440p Borderlands 3 - 117.062160p Borderlands 3 - 75.51 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 1080p Metro Exodus - 124.221440p Metro Exodus - 115.092160p Metro Exodus - 77.26 Enter mankind’s greatest conflict with Battlefield™ V in the most intense, immersive, and innovative Battlefield yet. Lead your squad to victory in all-new multiplayer experiences like the multi-map Grand Operations. Fight for survival in Firestorm – battle royale, reimagined for Battlefield. Witness a never-before-seen portrayal of WW2 in the single-player War Stories campaign. Assemble your Company of customized soldiers, weapons, and vehicles – then take them on an expanding journey where every chapter brings a new battlefield. You will never be the same. Available now on Origin. Battlefield V Performance 1080p Battlefield V - 176.7111440p Battlefield V - 164.4632160p Battlefield V - 106.802 Conquer with character in Apex Legends, a free-to-play Battle Royale shooter where legendary characters with powerful abilities team up to battle for fame & fortune on the fringes of the Frontier. Master an ever-growing roster of diverse Legends, deep tactical squad play and bold new innovations that level up the Battle Royale experience—all within a rugged world where anything goes. Welcome to the next evolution of Battle Royale. Available now on Steam. Apex Legends Performance 1080p Apex Legends - 143.7971440p Apex Legends - 143.7992160p Apex Legends - 142.957 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 1080p Control - 165.2631440p Control - 116.7512160p Control - 60.513 Seventeen years after a global nuclear catastrophe, civilization re-emerges from the chaos to find a world dramatically changed. In Hope County, Montana, the remaining populace has gathered into different groups, each with their own rules for survival. In this new world order, the vicious Highwaymen, led by twin sisters Mickey and Lou, travel from place to place bleeding people dry of all available resources. As the Survivors try to defend their lands against the Highwaymen's relentless onslaught, it's up to you to come to their aid and lead the fight. In the latest instalment of the award-winning Far Cry franchise, you are the last line of defence in a transformed, post-apocalyptic Hope County. Help the community of Survivors grow stronger, craft a makeshift arsenal through Turf Wars and cross-country Expeditions, and form unexpected alliances to fight for survival in a dangerous new frontier. Available now on UPlay. Far Cry New Dawn Performance 1080p Far Cry New Dawn - 1121440p Far Cry New Dawn - 1132160p Far Cry New Dawn - 98 The Ghosts, an elite US Special Forces team, are sent behind enemy lines to wreak havoc, destabilize, and eventually break the alliance between the cartel and the corrupted government. Facing an almighty enemy in a massive and hostile environment, the Ghosts will need to make critical moral choices and engage in tough battles to complete their mission – their grittiest and most dangerous operation to date. Available now on UPlay. Ghost Recon: Wildlands Performance 1080p Ghost Recon Wildlands - 119.661440p Ghost Recon Wildlands - 113.832160p Ghost Recon Wildlands - 88.32 Note The card suffered a large drop in 1080p performance here. VRel "error" means the card was unable to step up to the next voltage limit on the boost curve to prevent instability. What caused it? We're not sure, but retesting needed similar results. This is the only game to have thrown us this issue. 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 1080p Breakpoint - 1801440p Breakpoint - 1752160p Breakpoint - 129 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 1080p Wolfenstein Youngblood - 3861440p Wolfenstein Youngblood - 2992160p Wolfenstein Youngblood - 171 It's time to separate the weak from the strong, as this test is all about punishment. The issue with this, it's 4 x the resolution of 4K, and that means it's going to put a frankly appalling strain on VRAM, even on flagship cards. However, it's fun, and we're doing this. Any result showing a zero either would not run or typically failed during the run and wouldn't complete. Deus Ex: Mankind Divided - 26.1Shadow of the Tomb Raider - 23Doom Eternal - 51.54Battlefield V - 16.344Apex Legends - 48.954Control - 56.038FarCry New Dawn - 33Ghost Recon Wildlands - 32.91Wolfenstein Youngblood - 50 Ray tracing is the true next-gen feature that many of us have been watching develop over the last couple of years. However, with more and more cards, as well as next-gen consoles supporting the feature, it's expected to take off in a big way now. Obviously, AMD cards are omitted from this test right now, but we're certain it won't be long before we see some competition in these benchmarks. Wolfenstein Youngblood RTX & DLSS - 180/99Control RTX/DLSS, RTX & DLSS - / 69.764/38.422/102.571Battlefield V DXR/DLSS & DXR - 76.726/63.794Metro Exodus RTX, DLSS & RTX/DLSS - 50.84/88.99/70.64Shadow of the Tomb Raider DLSS 4K - 110 Power Consumption Temperatures Acoustics How Much Does It Cost? Of course, we understand that there will be stock and supply issues in general around this launch. However, we do have some pricing information and the Palit RTX 3080 GameRock. the Nvidia MSRP cards come in at just £649.99, but that's purely the entry-level cards (1710MHz Boost). The GameRock is a much faster card with a custom cooler (1755MHz Boost, so that'll be around £759.99 and if you want the GameRock OC (1860MHz Boost) which is even faster, that'll be around £799.99. Overview Palit has a really interesting card here, there's no doubt about that. However, if I'm completely honest, I think it looks bloody awful, it's really not to my taste at all. Would I put one in my PC? Most likely not, I love a bit of RGB and I mean a bit. This is a LOT of RGB and I don't want to wear sunglasses at my desk just to play ESO... Then again... it does kind of grow on you and I must admit I am tempted to build a PC with this as the crowning jewel of ARGB madness. If you paired this with the G.SKILL Trident Royal and SilverStone Ice Gem series AIO, which both have that crystal look to them too it would look pretty nuts. I like a sleek and clean looking system, but if you did want to go glitzy, this GPU should be top of your list. Power I hate it when a product is all aesthetics and no performance. However, that's not the case here, as Palit knows how to make a competitive graphics card! Straight away we saw impressive performance in our benchmarks, and those modest factory overclocks helped push it ahead of a few other RTX 3080 models. It's not quite the fastest RTX 3080 or the slowest, but honestly, they all perform quite close to each other and cost about the same. There's no such thing as a slow RTX 3080, that's for damn sure. We're still not 100% what the issue was caused by at 1080 in Wildlands, but we'll let you know if we find a fix. Build Quality It's much better than I thought actually. The crystal stuff is more like an insert on the front of the card rather than part of the core structure. The card its self is incredibly robust, with a thick metal backplate, so it's not going to sag and bend. There is a large heatsink, and good ventilation around it to ensure the triple fan configuration can shift heat with ease. The fans are good quality, running fairly quiet when things get going, but the card is completely silent until it gets hot anyway. Should I Buy One? It's clearly a card that isn't for everyone, but that's actually the best thing about it. It's nice to see a brand taking a risk like this and doing something different from the competition. I hope more brands do the same in the future, as most cards are beginning to look the same. If you want to stand out from the crowd and have a PC that literally outshines the competition, the Palit RTX 3080 GameRock is where you start! Palit RTX 3080 GameRock