At CES 2024, MSI introduced new models to the Nvidia RTX 40 series, including the MSI GeForce RTX 4080 Super 16G Expert. This model is noteworthy for its design, which is inspired by Nvidia's Founders Edition. It features a unique push-pull airflow system for cooling, utilizing a vapor chamber and a specialized fan setup where one fan draws in cool air and the other expels warm air. The RTX 4080 Super 16G Expert also includes MSI's "Zero Frozr" technology, which keeps the fans off during light desktop activities. The design of its aluminium casing mirrors the sleek look of contemporary automotive radiator inlets. We do not have a final price for the card but MSRP it certainly won't be, this graphics card offers a bit more value and performance, it runs nearly reference aside from a 60 MHz increase (2610 MHz) on the boost frequency. This card distinguishes itself with an increased number of shader processors, resulting in slightly enhanced performance. Notably, the 4080 SUPER is priced lower than the standard 4080 model, retailing at $999. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER, a high-performance graphics card, was introduced on January 8th, 2024. This card, developed with a 5 nm manufacturing process, utilizes the AD103 graphics processor, particularly the AD103-400-A1 variant. It supports DirectX 12 Ultimate, enabling compatibility with contemporary and future gaming titles, including features like hardware-raytracing and variable-rate shading. The AD103 chip features a die area of 379 mm² and contains 45.9 billion transistors. Its architecture includes 10240 shading units, 320 texture mapping units, and 112 ROPs. The card integrates 320 tensor cores, which are instrumental in optimizing machine learning performance, along with 80 raytracing acceleration cores. Equipped with 16 GB of GDDR6X memory over a 256-bit memory interface, the GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER operates at a base frequency of 2295 MHz, boosting up to 2550 MHz. The memory clocks in at 1438 MHz, yielding an effective 23 Gbps.

The EXPERT edition, which is the focus of this review, operates at a GPU Boost frequency of 2610MHz and is equipped with 16GB of GDDR6X memory, operating at standard specifications. The  MSI GeForce RTX 4080 Super 16G Expert is fitted with that new NVIDIA AD103 GPU; it has a proper 10240 shader cores activated and is paired with 16GB GDDR6 graphics memory running effective at 23 Gbps. The card has a semi-passive design; the fans start to spin and cool once the GPU warms up. The card is rated with a 320W power draw. Weighing in at close to 1800g, this graphics card is sized on the significant side, it's almost 31cm in length. The out-of-the-box boost clock for this product is  2610 MHz (where 2550 MHz is the reference clock), and its memory is clocked at reference 23 Gbps (23 Gbps reference). It requires the new 16-pin power connector (converter cable included) and has a maximum power consumption of 320 W. Its display outputs include 1x HDMI 2.1 and 3x DisplayPort 1.4a. The card interfaces with systems through a PCI-Express 4.0 x16 connection.

MSI has adopted the push/pull fan design initially introduced by Nvidia in its RTX 30- and 40-series Founders Edition cards, applying it with a unique twist to its product. MSI respects the efficiency of Nvidia's design in moving air across the GPU and through the computer chassis, a strategy Nvidia has employed starting with its RTX 30-series and has expanded upon with the 40-series. This design has gained popularity for its effectiveness. While MSI has incorporated the fundamental airflow concept from the Founders Edition, it has differentiated its RTX 4080 Super 16G Expert with a distinct aesthetic. Unlike Nvidia's sleek, stealthy black theme seen in its Super cards—a highlight at CES—MSI has chosen a more refined appearance for its Expert series, aligning with its professional branding. Of course, it's all about performance and pricing, and in comparison to the founder's edition model, this version demonstrates a performance increase of approximately 1-2%. At the time of writing MSI did not share the SRP, but realistically we feel this product can't be too far away from FE pricing, perhaps $1049-$1099