The Ada Lovelace architecture, introduced by Nvidia, features enhanced display connectivity options, including three DisplayPort 1.4a outputs and two HDMI 2.1a ports, consistent with previous generations such as Ampere and the non-Super Ada variants. A significant advancement with this architecture is the incorporation of dual NVDEC and NVENC codecs, enabling two independent hardware accelerators.

This dual setup allows for parallel processing of video streams, either by encoding and decoding two separate streams simultaneously or by doubling the frame rate of a single stream. The architecture also introduces the 8th Generation NVENC, which extends support to AV1 encoding in addition to the existing HEVC format. An optical flow accelerator is integrated to compute intermediate frames in video content, enhancing smoothness in playback and supporting frame generation in DLSS 3 technology.

Regarding power connectivity, the GeForce RTX 4080 and 4080 Super graphics cards utilize the 12+4 pin ATX 12VHPWR connector, with an adapter cable provided. Adjacent to the power input, a dual BIOS switch is available, allowing users to toggle between the standard operating mode and a secondary "quiet" mode, which operates with a less aggressive fan curve for reduced noise levels. This video card offers two fan profiles: Performance and Quiet. The Performance BIOS supports a higher power limit, allowing up to 360W compared to 320W in Quiet Mode. It hardly makes a difference performance wise though. And it has to be stated, performance mode is already totally silent. The card at the rear includes dual pulse-width modulation (PWM) fan connectors, known as Fan Connect II, which can be regulated via the GPU Tweak III software.

The card's I/O panel, constructed from stainless steel, features two HDMI 2.1 ports and three Display Port 1.4 outputs. For enhanced stability, a GPU bracket is employed between the die and heat spreader. The power supply requirements suggested by ASUS include a minimum 750W PSU, considering the video card's thermal design power (TDP) of 320W. It utilizes a 16-pin 12VHPWR power connector, and an NVIDIA three-headed adapter is provided in the package.

The video card's construction is based on ASUS's Auto-Extreme Technology, which ensures precise soldering in a single pass. As stated, the card looks beautiful in that dark design. It measures just over 34cm in length. The backplate, made from solid metal with a brushed matte-black finish, extends over the full length of the card, offering increased durability. This design also incorporates a compact PCB, allowing for extended coverage by the heatsink and backplate.