I settled for less by getting the RTX 4080 Super. And that’s OK.

I initially planned to get Nvidia’s new flagship GPU, the RTX 5090. But when reviews and performance benchmarks were trickling in, the reception got a little more muted after all the hype surrounding the upcoming GPU when it was announced at CES 2025. Performance numbers weren’t that great compared to the previous flagship GPU, the 4090. They aren’t bad, but I think Nvidia missed the mark here by giving consumers a new GPU that weren’t up to the performance improvements people were hoping for. Coupled with the fact that the flagship GPU costs and arm and a leg, it makes the prospect of getting the latest and greatest a little dim.

So I thought, maybe the 5080 might be a better value. Surely it could at least perform just as good as the 4090 within the margin of error. But somehow my predictions and rumors of performance benchmarks before the review embargo was lifted showing that that may not be the case came true. And I was glad that I pulled the trigger in snapping the last RTX 4080 Super from my local computer store for a decent price. My predictions turned out correct. The RTX 5080 is a mere 10% better in rasterization performance on average. The RTX 5080 at launch is going to cost anywhere between SGD1600 to SGD2000, which is a far cry from the Asus TUF RTX 4080 Super OC, costing just SGD1600. As a 1440p gamer, 10% really doesn’t mean much to me. I barely even feel it. And if I were to pay at least SGD2000 at launch on an Asus model for the 5080, that is a pretty terrible deal. And you know Asus models are priced higher than most GPUs from other brands. There is always the Asus ‘tax’ involved if you want a nice looking graphics cards from them.

I have no regrets getting the 4080 Super. I should have gotten it sooner, but then again, no one could have predicted that abysmal performance uplift the 50 series graphics cards had to offer over the 40 series. Coming from a RTX 3080, that generational leap to the RTX 4080 was more meaningful and the current leap 40 series to the 50 series.

So I am going to not care too much about the 50 series GPU at the moment. Maybe they might release a 5080ti or 5080 Super that might match the 4090 performance at a lower price point. I feel that the 5080 will not sell as well as the previous generations did. Sales will taper considerably in the months ahead, and Nvidia might just make a refresh version of 5080 down the line, just like what they did with the 4080, by releasing the 4080 Super. Disappointingly, there was no meaningful performance uplift, but it was selling the 4080 Super at a much cheaper price point, possibly due to pressures of dampened sales due to poor price to performance ratio from the 4080. So will the market correct itself by forcing Nvidia to release something down the line? It is possible and I am hopeful. Even if that is coming true. There is always the 60 series to look forward to in 2 years time. Now that might be interested as it will most likely be manufactured on a new node, which may translate to better performance improves gen on gen.