NVIDIA GEFORCE RTX 4080 FOUNDERS EDITION – TECHIE PREY
Let’s see how the modern Founders Edition works, using the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080, how efficiently the proprietary cooling system works, and, of course, try to overclock this video card, which generally does not pretend to be capable of aggressive overclocking.
As one of the leading companies in the graphics processing units (GPU) manufacturing industry, Nvidia has always been known for its top-of-the-line graphics cards. Now, with the introduction of the new “Founder’s Edition” GPU, Nvidia is taking its game to the next level.
The Founder’s Edition cards are a testament to Nvidia’s commitment to providing the best possible graphics cards for its customers. These cards, which feature cutting-edge technologies and design, are aimed at high-end users looking for the best possible performance in their games and other graphics-intensive applications.
Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 – Updates
@KittyYYuko on X-Twitter posted a photo of the supposed RTX 4080 inside an anti-static bag. Here we can see that Nvidia is reusing current generation cooler and PCB designs, so we have a heatsink comparable in size and shape to the RTX 3090, cooled by two fans and mounted on top of a triangle-cut PCB.
If this card is a real RTX 4080, then it has a new logo. With that said, Nvidia recently introduced a new font type (Nvidia Sans NALA) on its official website and is likely using it across products for the sake of consistency.
According to various rumors, the RTX 4080 should be based on the AD103 GPU, equipped with 9728 CUDA cores and 16 GB of GDDR6X memory with a speed of 23 Gbps, connected over a 256-bit bus.
If this is true, there’s a good chance that already available third-party water blocks are compatible, allowing users to use a custom cycle to install a new GPU on day one – heck, maybe even using their old block. This could also allow Nvidia to save on cooler costs since there is no need for new tooling.
This full coverage unit directly cools the graphics card core (GPU), graphics memory (RAM), and voltage regulator modules (VRMs). By cooling these components directly, you can achieve higher temperatures and also be able to overclock higher or increase the overall lifespan of your card by operating below factory temperatures.
The block is made of high-purity copper plated with nickel to prevent oxidation. The high-flow design is used to operate multiple units in series. The top and bottom ports can be used to configure parallel or serial designs in multi-unit configurations.
Also check Nvidia GeForce RTX 40 Series GPUs
NVIDIA GEFORCE RTX 4080 FOUNDERS EDITION
Specifications:
- Block material: High purity nickel plated copper/clear acrylic
- Rear panel material: black anodized aluminum (does not come into contact with coolant)
- Memory Size: 16 GB
- Memory Type: GDDR6X
- Memory Bus: 256 bit
- Bandwidth: 716.8 GB/s
- Fittings: G 1/4 inch. A thread
- Parts included:
- 1 x GPU water block with full coverage
- 1x back panel
- 2x lock fitting
- 1x mounting hardware
- Thermal paste
- 1x 5V A-RGB (RBW) lamp or 1x 12V RGB lamp
(Warning: Addressable RGB (RBW) is 5V and is ONLY compatible with Addressable RGB (RBW) components. RGB is 12V and is ONLY compatible with RGB components. Mixing and matching does NOT work and may cause damage.
Design
- Radiator fin material
- Appearance: Aluminum, Copper, Plastic
- Backlight: No backlight
Additional
- Type: Water Cooling System for PC
- Manufacturer Country: China
Clock speeds and power consumption
The total power consumption of the GeForce RTX 4080 Founders Edition is about 330 W – more than 320 W defined by reference specifications. However, in games without ray tracing, the video card consumes an average of 310 W of power. At the same time, in terms of the stable clock frequency of the GPU (2,775 MHz), the Founders Edition is not inferior to partner versions of the RTX 4080 with moderate factory overclocking.
Temperature
A cooler based on an evaporation chamber keeps the GPU within a comfortable temperature – no more than 68 °C according to the “edge” sensor and 80 °C at the hottest point under stress load (and in games even 64 and 75 °C, respectively). The temperature of GDDR6X memory chips is within 68 °C.
No Noise
The Founders Edition is a fairly quiet video card: the noise level in games at a distance of 30 cm from the front fan does not exceed 37 dBA. And yet, we must admit that modifications of the GeForce RTX 4080 from other manufacturers, equipped with larger cooling systems, can operate much quieter at comparable clock speeds.
The accelerator firmware allows you to increase the power reserve by only 10%, but this was enough to raise the target GPU clock frequency by 200 MHz and the target supply voltage by 0.1 V. As a result, the stable core frequency under the gaming load was exactly 3 GHz, that is, 225 MHz higher than the original. Note that the two GeForce RTX 4080 models from Palit, which we reviewed earlier, did not reach 3 GHz, although the overclocking potential, of course, depends on the properties of a particular video card.
Since the GeForce RTX 4080 board has GDDR6X chips with extra bandwidth (24 Gbps instead of the required 22.4), the video memory works stably even at an extremely high speed of 25.4 Gbps.
Overclocking
As a result of overclocking, the device’s power consumption increased to 348 W, but the temperature of the components increased by no more than 4 °C. The noise level also did not change significantly.
Gaming Test At Multiple Resolution
Gaming tests (1920×1080)
At 1080p resolution, GeForce RTX 4080 and more powerful video cards are significantly limited by the performance of the central processor, unless we are talking about the best consumer CPUs – older Intel 13th generation chips and Ryzen 7000 marked X3D. In such conditions, the GeForce RTX 4090 provides only 10% more average framerate than the hero of the review, and the RTX 4080 itself is 11% higher than the GeForce RTX 4070 Ti. But, unlike the latter, the pre-top model of the new generation demonstrated results unavailable to any previous products: 21% higher than the GeForce RTX 3080 Ti, and 17% higher than the GeForce RTX 3090.
Gaming tests (2560 × 1440)
In 1440p mode, the processor no longer requires such high performance to completely saturate the GeForce RTX 4080. As a result, the Founders Edition is ahead of the GeForce RTX 4070 Ti by 17% frame rate, however, the GeForce RTX 4090 is now in the lead by 19% FPS The average advantage of the RTX 4080 over the GeForce RTX 3080 Ti and GeForce RTX 3090 increased to 29 and 22%, respectively.
Gaming tests (3840 × 2160)
At 2160p, the GeForce RTX 4080 is one of only three next-generation graphics cards, along with the RTX 4090 and Radeon RX 7900 XTX, that achieve frame rates of at least 60 FPS in all of our benchmark games, without a single exception. However, it is in 4K that the advantage of more powerful devices is most noticeable: the Radeon RX 7900 XTX provides 9% more FPS and the GeForce RTX 4090 – by as much as 33%. One step below the GeForce RTX 4080 is the Radeon RX 7900 XT, whose average performance is 6% lower, and then the GeForce RTX 4070 Ti, compared to which the Founders Edition is faster by a significant amount at 26% FPS. The GeForce RTX 4080 is much better suited for 4K gaming than older models of the previous generation.
Gaming Tests With Ray Tracing
The GeForce RTX 4080 is fast enough to provide an average frame rate of at least 60 FPS in most games at resolutions up to 1440p (the only exception is Cyberpunk 2077), and the increased load on the GPU compensates for the lack of CPU resources even in 1080p mode. Depending on the resolution, the Founders Edition offers 27-34% more FPS than the GeForce RTX 3080 Ti, and 21-26% more than the GeForce RTX 3090. The distance between the RTX 4070 Ti and the RTX 4080 ranges from 14 to 26%, and The GeForce RTX 4090 achieves only an 11% higher framerate at 1080p, but in games, on a 1440p and 4K screen it leads by a wide margin at 28% and 38% FPS.
As for AMD video cards, the GeForce RTX 4080 leaves no chance for the Radeon RX 6900 XT: the “green” accelerator is 69–103% faster. The advantage of the Founders Edition over the Radeon RX 7900 XT is 30–43% FPS, and even compared to the Radeon RX 7900 XTX, the performance of the review hero is 20–25% higher.
In most games, upscaling DLSS or FSR, even with the Balanced factor, does not have a significant impact on the GeForce RTX 4080’s results at 1080p (on average only 22% additional FPS), but at higher resolutions, upscaling increases frame rates by 50 or 96%, which already allows you to play comfortably on a 4K screen.
NVIDIA At CES 2024
NVIDIA’s presence at CES 2024 was focused primarily on introducing the new GeForce RTX 40 series SUPER graphics cards. NVIDIA is giving away two Founders Edition GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER graphics cards ($999 each) with an additional gift from the company’s esteemed CEO.
The competition page says: “We have two Founders Edition GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER graphics cards signed by NVIDIA founder and CEO Jensen Huang that we are giving away: one for our social channels and one for CES attendees.” Your first chance to win is to follow our GeForce social channels on X, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok for tips and instructions (please check out our full sweepstakes rules here).”
The “Founder’s Edition” cards are Nvidia’s new name for its reference cards. However, there’s a twist. Unlike the older reference cards, the Founder’s Edition cards are doubling the profit for Nvidia. This means that these cards will be more expensive than the previous reference cards, but they will also offer improved performance and features.
Nvidia’s Regular Cards And Founder Edition Cards
The introduction of the new “Founder’s Edition” graphics cards by Nvidia has excited GPU enthusiasts worldwide. With its sleek design, advanced cooling solutions, and reliable components, the Founder’s Edition cards offer exceptional performance while enhancing the overall user experience.
Crafting
One of the key factors that makes the Founder’s Edition cards stand out from the competition is the level of craftsmanship involved in their manufacturing process. Nvidia promises to use the highest quality components and ensure optimal cooling solutions, making the cards a stable and reliable option for gamers and content creators alike. This level of attention to detail sets the Founder’s Edition cards apart from other GPU options, making them a desirable choice for users who value excellence in their gaming experience.
Designing
The design of the Founder’s Edition cards also sets them apart from other GPU options. Unlike reference cards, the Founder’s Edition cards feature unique designs, with a faceted body and a low-profile backplate. The removable backplate section design enhances airflow, especially in multi-GPU setups, making it an ideal choice for users who are looking to optimize their system performance.
Cooling
Nvidia has introduced advanced cooling solutions for the Founder’s Edition cards, making them some of the best-cooled GPUs on the market. For instance, the GTX 1080 uses an innovative vapor chamber cooling solution, making it capable of cooling up to 2x better than the average air cooler. These advanced cooling solutions ensure that the GPUs are efficient and reliable, even during long gaming sessions or when running intensive tasks.
Verdict
The “Founder’s Edition” cards are not just a simple renaming of the reference cards, but a statement by Nvidia that it is committed to providing the best possible graphics cards for its customers. These cards offer exceptional performance and design. Aimed at high-end users looking for the best possible experience in their games and other graphics-intensive applications.
They offer a unique combination of craftsmanship, design, and advanced cooling solutions, making them a must-have for users who are looking for the best possible performance in their games and other graphics-intensive applications.
Source: Gadget Mates ; NVIDIA
