MSI GeForce RTX 3080 Ti SUPRIM X review

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Introduction

MSI GeForce RTX 3080 Ti SUPRIM X review

This review tests the MSI GeForce RTX 3080 Ti SUPRIM X; yes, this is a factory tweaked 3080 Ti that brings in an additional 5% extra performance whilst merged with a custom PCB and cooling design. It's a graphics card series that stays close to 3090 performance levels. Yeah, there's no denying it. It has been a bizarre year if we're talking computer components alone, silicon shortages, mining; it's been sour grapes for a long time now. Likely that won't even change soon. People are almost fighting to be able to grab a decently proceed graphics card, often running up to three times the MSRP pricing. NVIDIA is staying on its trajectory, though, implementing hash-rate limitations for consumer-grade GPUs and releasing refresh products pretty much as scheduled. Today, we see such a refresh product that positioned itself between the GeForce RTX 3080 and 3090. That product would be the GeForce RTX 3080 ti, and probably was the worst kept secret as of late in the history of NVIDIA. Armed with a shader core count of 10240 units, this card is paired with 12 GB of GDDR6X graphics memory running 19 Gbps. Much has been said, rumored, and spoken about this card, as with that libidinous shading core count, it is bound to be a bit of a beast in the enthusiast performance segment. You need to remember that it was less than a year ago that NVIDIA launched their Ampere GPU series, September 2020, in fact. A week before announcements, specifications of the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti, 3070, 3080, and 3090 took a twist; the shader core count mysteriously doubled up from what everybody expected, to date something massively important to this product range as yes, the competition has gotten fiercer as well. NVIDIA's GPUs are fabricated on an 8nm node derived from Samsung. This process further develops Samsung's 10nm process; no EUV is applied in production just yet. This second wave of announcements will see the GeForce RTX 3080 Ti and next week 3070 Ti (hey, come on, it's not a secret). The desktop product line of Ampere for consumers now entails the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti 8GB, 3070 8GB GDDR6, RTX 3080 10GB, RTX 3080 Ti 12GB, and RTX 3090; what we test today is a 12GB GDDR6X based close to premium flagship. Much like the 3080 and 3090, the 3080 Ti will base based on the existing 28 billion transistors based GA102 GPU from NVIDIA, obviously reconfigured. The card has an impressive 10240 Shader processors activated, and mind you; the 3090 has 10496. A big change is that the memory is halved from 24 towards 12 GB (which is an excellent number). 

RTX 3080 Ti SUPRIM X

This review will focus on the flagship 3080 Ti from MSI, the SUPRIM X series. The MSI RTX 3080 TI SUPRIM X boasts an 1845 MHz boost clock (applied through MSI software) and 1830 MHz out of the box. That’s a rather noteworthy bump seen from the reference 1665 MHz boost. The SUPRIM X model also features a TDP of 400W, which is 50W over reference specs. In return, you'll gain more performance, bringing the series even closer and sometimes passing 3090 performance. MSI equipped the card with a semi-passive design; the three fans start to spin and cool once the GPU warms up. The card is beefed up pretty extreme. As explained, it has a dual BIOS with gaming and silent mode. Make no mistake; both modes offer the same performance; just a marginal difference in temperatures and acoustics can be perceived. MSI increased the power allowance as well as the turbo clock frequency. This card has a clock speed of 1830 MHz out of the box. The memory runs stock at 19 Gbps effective. SUPRIM X has been fitted with a new TRI FROZR cooling solution with three TORX 4.0 fans. New in the design is that it has close quarters heat pipes around the VRM and a backplate (which is now made of metal). So that provides even better cooling.

The SUPRIM X RTX 3080 Ti also has a higher power allowance value. We measure this to be 410W (+40W optional). To juice up such hefty values, the cards have been fitted with 3x 8 (6+2) pins, creating an issue with some power supplies cables and power-wise. So it would be best if you had at least a proper 750 Watt PSU for this graphics card. Weighing in at 1862g, this baby has been sized quite big, 336 x 140 x 61mm. You'll receive a free mouse mat as well as an extra bracket to support the weight of the card should you want that. And we know it is a relative statement, but it is a thing of beauty, alright. Next page, please.


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