The Asus GeForce RTX 5080 Noctua Edition is claimed to be the “quietest graphics card in its class” and I don’t doubt it’s in the running. Though upon first removing it from its box, I was sure it had earned itself at least one accolade: it’s easily the largest graphics card I’ve ever tested. Just a year or two ago, I would have laughed at sheer heft of the RTX 4080 Founders Edition—it looks practically pint-sized next to the Noctua Edition.
This colossus is the product of a partnership between Asus and Noctua. The cooling company is providing three of its NF-A12x25 120 mm fans for the shroud here, including a splash of brown that we don’t see on a GPU too often. I think it looks great, with an almost steampunk appearance on account of its massive heft and unusual colourway. It even sparkles a little in the light, which is a nice touch.
Though its powerful look is a limit on what you can pair with it. It’s very easy to clash given it’s sporting Noctua’s telltale brown, unless you pair it with more Noctua brown.
So that’s what I did. I paired the RTX 5080 Noctua Edition with the only kit I could think to: the Noctua NH-D15 G2 cooler and a couple NF-A14x25 G2 fans. All loaded into the Havn BF 360. A gorgeous combination, if I dare say myself.
RTX 5080 Noctua Edition specs
(Image credit: Future)
GPU: GB203CUDA cores: 10752Memory: 16 GB GDDR7GPU clock speed: 2700 MHz / 2655 MHz (Extreme profile)Memory speed: 30 GbpsDimensions: 303 x 121 x 49 mmWeight: 2.607 kg / 5.74 lbsPrice: $1700/£1560
But it’s also extremely easy to build an ugly PC with this card. I moved it over to our MSI/Cyberpower test system for benchmarking, which is all-white and bathed in RGB lights, and the RTX 5080 looks absolutely horrid. I had to avert my eyes for the remainder of the tests.
Weighing in at 2.607 kg—enough that I weighed it on my human scales, not my kitchen scales—this card features a huge heatsink riddled with heat pipes. Four of these heat pipes run the length of the card, which, at 385 mm, is only able to fit inside very spacious cases. The rest culminate near the vapour chamber that sits atop the GPU.
One of the less spoken about but important parts of a graphics card’s construction is the thermal interface material (TIM). This card offers a phase-change thermal pad to keep an even contact between the heatsink and GPU at all times, and ideally, over a long period of time. The card has a lapped contact plate atop of the GB203 GPU, a technique that Asus calls MaxContact. It reckons this alone knocks up to 2 °C off.
Future
Future
Future
Future
Future
For I/O, this card includes two HDMI 2.1 ports (one above the other) alongside three DisplayPort 2.1 ports, which run the remaining length of the two-slot bracket. It’s absolutely a four-slot card, however, measuring 388 x 80 x 138 mm by my own measurements
The graphics card offers two BIOS modes: Performance and Quiet. These are switched via a tiny switch near the 16-pin connector. The Quiet mode keeps the clock speed at 2,700 MHz. The Performance mode sets it to 2,730 MHz.
&&
Performance - Asus GeForce RTX 5080 Noctua OC Edition
3DMark Port Royal3DMark Time Spy ExtremeBlack Myth Wukong (1080p High)Black Myth Wukong (1440p High + Upscaling (quality))Black Myth Wukong (1440p High)Black Myth Wukong (4K High)Blender 4.3.0 (Junkyard)Cyberpunk 2077 (1080p RT Ultra)Cyberpunk 2077 (1440p RT Ultra + upscaling (quality))Cyberpunk 2077 (1440p RT Ultra)Cyberpunk 2077 (4K RT Ultra)F1 24 (1080p Ultra high)F1 24 (1440p Ultra High)F1 24 (1440p Ultra high +upscsaling (Quality), 2x FG)F1 24 (4K Ultra High)Homeworld 3 (1080p Epic)Homeworld 3 (1440p Epic + upscaling (quality))Homeworld 3 (1440p Epic)Homeworld 3 (4K Epic)Metro Exodus Enhanced Edition (1080p Ultra)Metro Exodus Enhanced Edition (1440p Ultra)Metro Exodus Enhanced Edition (4K Ultra)Procyon generative image creationThe Talos Principle 2 (1080p Ultra)The Talos Principle 2 (1440p Ultra +upscaling (quality), 2x FG)The Talos Principle 2 (1440p Ultra)The Talos Principle 2 (4K Ultra) RTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (performance mode)22443RTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (quiet mode)22940RTX 5080 MSI Ventus 3X OC White2166907,50015,00022,50030,000Overall index score
3DMark Port Royal Data
ProductValueRTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (performance mode)22443RTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (quiet mode)22940RTX 5080 MSI Ventus 3X OC White21669GPU index scoreOverall index scoreRTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (performance mode)1631113779RTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (quiet mode)1635313738RTX 5080 MSI Ventus 3X OC White156751345205,00010,00015,00020,000
3DMark Time Spy Extreme Data
ProductValueRTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (performance mode)16311 GPU index score, 13779 Overall index scoreRTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (quiet mode)16353 GPU index score, 13738 Overall index scoreRTX 5080 MSI Ventus 3X OC White15675 GPU index score, 13452 Overall index scoreAvg FPS1% Low FPSRTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (performance mode)12193RTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (quiet mode)122104RTX 5080 MSI Ventus 3X OC White123106037.575112.5150
Black Myth Wukong (1080p High) Data
ProductValueRTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (performance mode)121 Avg FPS, 93 1% Low FPSRTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (quiet mode)122 Avg FPS, 104 1% Low FPSRTX 5080 MSI Ventus 3X OC White123 Avg FPS, 106 1% Low FPSAvg FPS1% Low FPSRTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (performance mode)130111RTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (quiet mode)131114RTX 5080 MSI Ventus 3X OC White133114037.575112.5150
Black Myth Wukong (1440p High + Upscaling (quality)) Data
ProductValueRTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (performance mode)130 Avg FPS, 111 1% Low FPSRTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (quiet mode)131 Avg FPS, 114 1% Low FPSRTX 5080 MSI Ventus 3X OC White133 Avg FPS, 114 1% Low FPSAvg FPS1% Low FPSRTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (performance mode)9381RTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (quiet mode)9382RTX 5080 MSI Ventus 3X OC White92810255075100
Black Myth Wukong (1440p High) Data
ProductValueRTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (performance mode)93 Avg FPS, 81 1% Low FPSRTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (quiet mode)93 Avg FPS, 82 1% Low FPSRTX 5080 MSI Ventus 3X OC White92 Avg FPS, 81 1% Low FPSAvg FPS1% Low FPSRTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (performance mode)5649RTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (quiet mode)5649RTX 5080 MSI Ventus 3X OC White5448015304560
Black Myth Wukong (4K High) Data
ProductValueRTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (performance mode)56 Avg FPS, 49 1% Low FPSRTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (quiet mode)56 Avg FPS, 49 1% Low FPSRTX 5080 MSI Ventus 3X OC White54 Avg FPS, 48 1% Low FPSRTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (performance mode)2161.54RTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (quiet mode)2139.47RTX 5080 MSI Ventus 3X OC White2284.5607501,5002,2503,000Samples per min
Blender 4.3.0 (Junkyard) Data
ProductValueRTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (performance mode)2161.54RTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (quiet mode)2139.47RTX 5080 MSI Ventus 3X OC White2284.56Avg FPS1% Low FPSRTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (performance mode)10475RTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (quiet mode)10381RTX 5080 MSI Ventus 3X OC White10376037.575112.5150
Cyberpunk 2077 (1080p RT Ultra) Data
ProductValueRTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (performance mode)104 Avg FPS, 75 1% Low FPSRTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (quiet mode)103 Avg FPS, 81 1% Low FPSRTX 5080 MSI Ventus 3X OC White103 Avg FPS, 76 1% Low FPSAvg FPS1% Low FPSRTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (performance mode)11079RTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (quiet mode)11086RTX 5080 MSI Ventus 3X OC White182126050100150200
Cyberpunk 2077 (1440p RT Ultra + upscaling (quality)) Data
ProductValueRTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (performance mode)110 Avg FPS, 79 1% Low FPSRTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (quiet mode)110 Avg FPS, 86 1% Low FPSRTX 5080 MSI Ventus 3X OC White182 Avg FPS, 126 1% Low FPSAvg FPS1% Low FPSRTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (performance mode)6855RTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (quiet mode)6655RTX 5080 MSI Ventus 3X OC White7056020406080
Cyberpunk 2077 (1440p RT Ultra) Data
ProductValueRTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (performance mode)68 Avg FPS, 55 1% Low FPSRTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (quiet mode)66 Avg FPS, 55 1% Low FPSRTX 5080 MSI Ventus 3X OC White70 Avg FPS, 56 1% Low FPSAvg FPS1% Low FPSRTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (performance mode)3528RTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (quiet mode)3428RTX 5080 MSI Ventus 3X OC White3428010203040
Cyberpunk 2077 (4K RT Ultra) Data
ProductValueRTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (performance mode)35 Avg FPS, 28 1% Low FPSRTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (quiet mode)34 Avg FPS, 28 1% Low FPSRTX 5080 MSI Ventus 3X OC White34 Avg FPS, 28 1% Low FPSAvg FPS1% Low FPSRTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (performance mode)175126RTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (quiet mode)170128RTX 5080 MSI Ventus 3X OC White180132050100150200
F1 24 (1080p Ultra high) Data
ProductValueRTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (performance mode)175 Avg FPS, 126 1% Low FPSRTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (quiet mode)170 Avg FPS, 128 1% Low FPSRTX 5080 MSI Ventus 3X OC White180 Avg FPS, 132 1% Low FPSAvg FPS1% Low FPSRTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (performance mode)12095RTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (quiet mode)11895RTX 5080 MSI Ventus 3X OC White12398037.575112.5150
F1 24 (1440p Ultra High) Data
ProductValueRTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (performance mode)120 Avg FPS, 95 1% Low FPSRTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (quiet mode)118 Avg FPS, 95 1% Low FPSRTX 5080 MSI Ventus 3X OC White123 Avg FPS, 98 1% Low FPSAvg FPS1% Low FPSRTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (performance mode)178129RTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (quiet mode)177130RTX 5080 MSI Ventus 3X OC White266156075150225300
F1 24 (1440p Ultra high +upscsaling (Quality), 2x FG) Data
ProductValueRTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (performance mode)178 Avg FPS, 129 1% Low FPSRTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (quiet mode)177 Avg FPS, 130 1% Low FPSRTX 5080 MSI Ventus 3X OC White266 Avg FPS, 156 1% Low FPSAvg FPS1% Low FPSRTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (performance mode)6249RTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (quiet mode)6250RTX 5080 MSI Ventus 3X OC White6450020406080
F1 24 (4K Ultra High) Data
ProductValueRTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (performance mode)62 Avg FPS, 49 1% Low FPSRTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (quiet mode)62 Avg FPS, 50 1% Low FPSRTX 5080 MSI Ventus 3X OC White64 Avg FPS, 50 1% Low FPSAvg FPS1% Low FPSRTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (performance mode)14968RTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (quiet mode)15070RTX 5080 MSI Ventus 3X OC White14567037.575112.5150
Homeworld 3 (1080p Epic) Data
ProductValueRTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (performance mode)149 Avg FPS, 68 1% Low FPSRTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (quiet mode)150 Avg FPS, 70 1% Low FPSRTX 5080 MSI Ventus 3X OC White145 Avg FPS, 67 1% Low FPSAvg FPS1% Low FPSRTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (performance mode)14469RTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (quiet mode)14969RTX 5080 MSI Ventus 3X OC White14166037.575112.5150
Homeworld 3 (1440p Epic + upscaling (quality)) Data
ProductValueRTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (performance mode)144 Avg FPS, 69 1% Low FPSRTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (quiet mode)149 Avg FPS, 69 1% Low FPSRTX 5080 MSI Ventus 3X OC White141 Avg FPS, 66 1% Low FPSAvg FPS1% Low FPSRTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (performance mode)13266RTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (quiet mode)13668RTX 5080 MSI Ventus 3X OC White12967037.575112.5150
Homeworld 3 (1440p Epic) Data
ProductValueRTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (performance mode)132 Avg FPS, 66 1% Low FPSRTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (quiet mode)136 Avg FPS, 68 1% Low FPSRTX 5080 MSI Ventus 3X OC White129 Avg FPS, 67 1% Low FPSAvg FPS1% Low FPSRTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (performance mode)10365RTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (quiet mode)10266RTX 5080 MSI Ventus 3X OC White10265037.575112.5150
Homeworld 3 (4K Epic) Data
ProductValueRTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (performance mode)103 Avg FPS, 65 1% Low FPSRTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (quiet mode)102 Avg FPS, 66 1% Low FPSRTX 5080 MSI Ventus 3X OC White102 Avg FPS, 65 1% Low FPSAvg FPS1% Low FPSRTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (performance mode)18854RTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (quiet mode)19055RTX 5080 MSI Ventus 3X OC White18455050100150200
Metro Exodus Enhanced Edition (1080p Ultra) Data
ProductValueRTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (performance mode)188 Avg FPS, 54 1% Low FPSRTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (quiet mode)190 Avg FPS, 55 1% Low FPSRTX 5080 MSI Ventus 3X OC White184 Avg FPS, 55 1% Low FPSAvg FPS1% Low FPSRTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (performance mode)14849RTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (quiet mode)14749RTX 5080 MSI Ventus 3X OC White14048037.575112.5150
Metro Exodus Enhanced Edition (1440p Ultra) Data
ProductValueRTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (performance mode)148 Avg FPS, 49 1% Low FPSRTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (quiet mode)147 Avg FPS, 49 1% Low FPSRTX 5080 MSI Ventus 3X OC White140 Avg FPS, 48 1% Low FPSAvg FPS1% Low FPSRTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (performance mode)9141RTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (quiet mode)9141RTX 5080 MSI Ventus 3X OC White85400255075100
Metro Exodus Enhanced Edition (4K Ultra) Data
ProductValueRTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (performance mode)91 Avg FPS, 41 1% Low FPSRTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (quiet mode)91 Avg FPS, 41 1% Low FPSRTX 5080 MSI Ventus 3X OC White85 Avg FPS, 40 1% Low FPSIndex scoreDuration (sec)RTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (performance mode)519619.242RTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (quiet mode)519219.257RTX 5080 MSI Ventus 3X OC White4770477001,5003,0004,5006,000
Procyon generative image creation Data
ProductValueRTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (performance mode)5196 Index score, 19.242 Duration (sec)RTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (quiet mode)5192 Index score, 19.257 Duration (sec)RTX 5080 MSI Ventus 3X OC White4770 Index score, 4770 Duration (sec)Avg FPS1% Low FPSRTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (performance mode)12285RTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (quiet mode)12385RTX 5080 MSI Ventus 3X OC White12363037.575112.5150
The Talos Principle 2 (1080p Ultra) Data
ProductValueRTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (performance mode)122 Avg FPS, 85 1% Low FPSRTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (quiet mode)123 Avg FPS, 85 1% Low FPSRTX 5080 MSI Ventus 3X OC White123 Avg FPS, 63 1% Low FPSAvg FPS1% Low FPSRTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (performance mode)12584RTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (quiet mode)12584RTX 5080 MSI Ventus 3X OC White195101050100150200
The Talos Principle 2 (1440p Ultra +upscaling (quality), 2x FG) Data
ProductValueRTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (performance mode)125 Avg FPS, 84 1% Low FPSRTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (quiet mode)125 Avg FPS, 84 1% Low FPSRTX 5080 MSI Ventus 3X OC White195 Avg FPS, 101 1% Low FPSAvg FPS1% Low FPSRTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (performance mode)9164RTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (quiet mode)9164RTX 5080 MSI Ventus 3X OC White90610255075100
The Talos Principle 2 (1440p Ultra) Data
ProductValueRTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (performance mode)91 Avg FPS, 64 1% Low FPSRTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (quiet mode)91 Avg FPS, 64 1% Low FPSRTX 5080 MSI Ventus 3X OC White90 Avg FPS, 61 1% Low FPSAvg FPS1% Low FPSRTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (performance mode)5237RTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (quiet mode)5237RTX 5080 MSI Ventus 3X OC White5236015304560
The Talos Principle 2 (4K Ultra) Data
ProductValueRTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (performance mode)52 Avg FPS, 37 1% Low FPSRTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (quiet mode)52 Avg FPS, 37 1% Low FPSRTX 5080 MSI Ventus 3X OC White52 Avg FPS, 36 1% Low FPS
Switching between the Quiet and Performance modes doesn’t result in any major changes for performance or noise levels. A frame or two in Cyberpunk 2077 at most. That checks out, not only because of the small increase in clock speed between the two, but how much further the RTX 5080 can be pushed with an actual overclock. You can slap a couple hundred MHz more without even thinking about it—let alone with a beefy card such as this.
In fact, I slapped on a 400 MHz core offset and a 1,000 MHz memory offset onto the Noctua without thinking about it. I added an extra 10% power, too—the Noctua Edition offers up to 25%. In Metro Exodus Enhanced Edition, that earned me eight more frames on average right there. I barely lifted a finger.
&&
Overclocking - Asus GeForce RTX 5080 Noctua OC Edition
Metro Exodus Enhanced Edition (4K Ultra)Performance per wattThermalsPowerGPU frequency Avg FPS1% Low FPSRTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (+400 core, +1000 mem, +10% PL)9944RTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (performance mode)91410255075100
Metro Exodus Enhanced Edition (4K Ultra) Data
ProductValueRTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (+400 core, +1000 mem, +10% PL)99 Avg FPS, 44 1% Low FPSRTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (performance mode)91 Avg FPS, 41 1% Low FPS4K frames per J1080p frame per JRTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (+400 core, +1000 mem, +10% PL)0.270RTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (performance mode)0.270.7100.20.40.60.8
Performance per watt Data
ProductValueRTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (+400 core, +1000 mem, +10% PL)0.27 4K frames per J, 0 1080p frame per JRTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (performance mode)0.27 4K frames per J, 0.71 1080p frame per JPeak temperature (°C)Average temperature (°C)RTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (+400 core, +1000 mem, +10% PL)6258RTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (performance mode)6159020406080
Thermals Data
ProductValueRTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (+400 core, +1000 mem, +10% PL)62 Peak temperature (°C), 58 Average temperature (°C)RTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (performance mode)61 Peak temperature (°C), 59 Average temperature (°C)Peak power (watts)Average power (watts)RTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (+400 core, +1000 mem, +10% PL)405382RTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (performance mode)3703520150300450600
Power Data
ProductValueRTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (+400 core, +1000 mem, +10% PL)405 Peak power (watts), 382 Average power (watts)RTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (performance mode)370 Peak power (watts), 352 Average power (watts)RTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (+400 core, +1000 mem, +10% PL)3195RTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (performance mode)280101,0002,0003,0004,000Average clock speed (MHz)
GPU frequency Data
ProductValueRTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (+400 core, +1000 mem, +10% PL)3195RTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (performance mode)2801
The three G2 fans shut down when the card is under 50 °C. They start back up again at 55 °C. Even when this happens, they generate very little noise—not all that noticeable when I’m sat at my desk playing a game. A large fan can shift more air at slower speeds compared to smaller fan, and the Noctua Edition has very large fans compared to most. With low RPM and low noise, my test bench is actually too loud to pick up a specific reading for the Noctua card on my noise meter; the card operates quietly enough as to fade into the background hum of the PC.
&&
Thermals - Asus GeForce RTX 5080 Noctua OC Edition
ThermalsPowerPerformance per wattGPU frequency Peak temperature (°C)Average temperature (°C)RTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (performance mode)6159RTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (quiet mode)6158RTX 5080 MSI Ventus 3X OC White7269020406080
Thermals Data
ProductValueRTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (performance mode)61 Peak temperature (°C), 59 Average temperature (°C)RTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (quiet mode)61 Peak temperature (°C), 58 Average temperature (°C)RTX 5080 MSI Ventus 3X OC White72 Peak temperature (°C), 69 Average temperature (°C)Peak power (watts)Average power (watts)RTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (performance mode)370352RTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (quiet mode)371350RTX 5080 MSI Ventus 3X OC White3953350100200300400
Power Data
ProductValueRTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (performance mode)370 Peak power (watts), 352 Average power (watts)RTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (quiet mode)371 Peak power (watts), 350 Average power (watts)RTX 5080 MSI Ventus 3X OC White395 Peak power (watts), 335 Average power (watts)4K frames per J1080p frame per JRTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (performance mode)0.270.71RTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (quiet mode)0.270.71RTX 5080 MSI Ventus 3X OC White0.270.7200.20.40.60.8
Performance per watt Data
ProductValueRTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (performance mode)0.27 4K frames per J, 0.71 1080p frame per JRTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (quiet mode)0.27 4K frames per J, 0.71 1080p frame per JRTX 5080 MSI Ventus 3X OC White0.27 4K frames per J, 0.72 1080p frame per JRTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (performance mode)2801RTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (quiet mode)2805RTX 5080 MSI Ventus 3X OC White265407501,5002,2503,000Average clock speed (MHz)
GPU frequency Data
ProductValueRTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (performance mode)2801RTX 5080 Asus Noctua Edition (quiet mode)2805RTX 5080 MSI Ventus 3X OC White2654
As for temperatures, it’s nothing short of exceptional that the GB203 GPU was never seen above 61 °C during an extended run of Metro Exodus: Enhanced Edition. That’s 11 °C lower than the MSI RTX 5080 Ventus 3X OC White, which is nothing short of spectacular, and moreover is not particularly impactful on performance—the two cards performed more or less the same in many tests.
Though what is impressive is that, even when overclocked and drawing more power and running at a significantly higher clock speed, the Noctua Edition kept its cool. Temperature difference in my testing was negligible, which suggests thermals are not going to be any sort of restriction on most realistic overclocking aspirations.
Future
Future
Buy if…
✅ You genuinely plan to overclock: You can really push the RTX 5080 GPU, and that’s especially true of the Noctua Edition with up to 25% higher power limits and a cooling solution that can totally hack it.
Don’t buy if…
❌ You want bang for your buck: You’re getting a lot of card for your money here, no doubt, but compared to an RTX 5070 Ti, it’s just absurd.
Those sorts of thermal bragging rights are what you’re paying the big bucks for here. And you will be expected to pay the big bucks.
The RTX 5080 Noctua Edition is available to purchase for $1,700/£1,560. That’s on the expensive side for an RTX 5080 today, though not by as much as you’d expect. The sorry state of the high-end GPU market means that this is not totally out of the ordinary—the RTX 5080 Founders Edition is $1,629—and the Noctua Edition is around $335 more than the cheapest RTX 5080 I’ve seen.
I have doubts about whether it’s worth buying any version of an RTX 5080 right now, let alone a high-end model over $300 more than most. That’s not to say the RTX 5080 Noctua Edition isn’t something impressive. It absolutely is. I’ve been waiting to test it myself since I first laid eyes on it at Computex in May, 2025, and it looks even better in a build befitting its majesty. The GB203 GPU is crying out for an overclock, and the headroom offered by this cooling solution is superb.
To review the card itself, and not the market, it’s a great pick. Unfortunately, we can’t just take value for money out of the equation, and on that front, I’d still rather an RTX 5070 Ti for not quite half price, but not far off either.
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