As its name implies, the GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER WINDFORCE 16G is a graphics card based on the RTX 4080 SUPER GPU from NVIDIA, which is the latest and probably the final iteration in the GeForce RTX 40-series. One important upside is that the RTX 4080 Super graphics card got a bigger price cut compared to its predecessor, and this is great news for gamers. 🙂While Nvidia continues to lead in graphics performance, especially in ray tracing, the question remains whether the GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER can outmatch its AMD counterparts. In this review, I will tell you more about this specific GIGABYTE video card and show you how well it performs in gaming:

GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER WINDFORCE 16G: Who is it good for?

This graphics card is an excellent choice if you want:

• To play games at Ultra settings on a 4K monitor
• Superior ray tracing capabilities and DLSS 3 support
• A high-performance GPU for intensive computing tasks

Pros and cons

Here is what I like about this graphics card:

• Top-notch performance in 4K resolution
• Excellent ray tracing capabilities
• Support for the NVIDIA DLSS 3 and frame generation
• Features enough (16 GB) fast GDDR6X video RAM
• Great build quality and efficient cooling system
• Offers decent power consumption for its performance level
• GIGABYTE includes a 16-pin to triple-8pin power adapter
• Priced lower than the original NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 cards

On the negative side, this graphics card:

• Has no DisplayPort 2.1 ports (an issue for all RTX 4000 GPUs)
• Is very large and takes up plenty of space in your computer case

Verdict

The GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER WINDFORCE 16G is a top-performing graphics card. It's great for playing games with maximum visual quality, even on large monitors with high 4K resolutions. It also has support for DLSS 3 technology, which helps run even the most challenging games smoothly. This card outshines the competition, and its launching price is lower than the earlier RTX 4080 models. So, having said that, if you’re after a card that delivers great gaming quality and stays cool but you're not interested in extra features like colorful lights or special aesthetics, GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER WINDFORCE 16G might be the right choice for you.

Unboxing the GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER WINDFORCE 16G

A graphics card this large is packaged in a box to match it, one that measures no more no less than 40.5 cm (15.95 inches) in length, 23.7 cm (9.33 inches) in width, and 9 cm (3.54 inches) in height. The packaging features GIGABYTE’s branding and a large cyberpunk eye on top, as well as NVIDIA’s trademark colors, dark gray and green. While only a few details about the card are shown on the top side of the box, the back side includes plenty of information regarding its features and specs.

GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER WINDFORCE 16G comes in a gigantic box

When you open the box, the first thing that greets you is the graphics card. Together with it are a quick start guide, a 16-pin to triple 8-pin power adapter, plus an anti-sag bracket and a set of screws for installing it.

Everything you find inside the box

Unboxing the GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER WINDFORCE 16G is a pleasant experience. The packaging has an attractive design, and the graphics card itself seems strong and well-made. It’s nice that the company also includes the 16-pin power connector you need for the card.

Design and hardware specifications

The GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER WINDFORCE 16G is built using NVIDIA’s Ada Lovelace architecture, and it’s meant to make games run smoothly and at excellent framerates, even at high 4K resolutions.

The GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER WINDFORCE 16G graphics card

The graphics card operates on PCI Express 4.0, has a10240 CUDA cores (parallel processors within the GPU, mostly tasked with physics calculations), and is outfitted with 16GB of GDDR6X memory. The RAM is accessed through a wide 256-bit bus, delivering speeds of up to 23 gigabits per second. Under normal conditions, the GPU clock runs at 2295 MHz, but it can boost to 2550 MHz for increased performance. Furthermore, while testing it, I’ve seen the card exceed this frequency, reaching up to 2640 MHz.

The graphics card's technical specs

The graphics card features a dual BIOS system, allowing it to work in overclock (OC) or silent mode. You can change from one mode to the other using the small switch located on the side of the card: the OC Mode is marked as BIOS OC, and the quiet mode is indicated by the term SILENT.

The GPU can be used in overclock mode or silent mode, depending on what you prefer

The RTX 4080 SUPER features 3rd-generation RT cores, 4th-generation Tensor cores, and full support for DLSS 3. This helps it increase performance up to four times compared to traditional rendering. NVIDIA’s DLSS technology uses AI to enable smoother gameplay at higher frame rates, ensuring lifelike lighting, shadows, and reflections, even in demanding games at high resolutions. While there’s a slight reduction in visual fidelity, it generally remains imperceptible to the human eye.

This graphics card has 3rd-generation RT cores and 4th-generation Tensor cores

The GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER graphics card has four output ports, including one HDMI 2.1a port and three DisplayPort 1.4a ports, allowing you to connect up to four monitors simultaneously. It supports a maximum resolution of 7680 x 4320 pixels across all screens. However, it’s worth noting that the RTX 4000 series from NVIDIA, including the RTX 4080 SUPER, doesn’t feature the newer DisplayPort 2.1, which may be a disappointing omission for some users.

The GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER graphics card has four output ports

To cool this graphics card, GIGABYTE used its WINDFORCE system. This cooling solution includes a trio of large 100mm fans that rotate in alternating directions. This minimizes the turbulence usually caused by fans operating in close proximity and also enhances the airflow pressure. Furthermore, they are enhanced with a graphene nano lubricant, which, according to the company, increases their durability by 2.1 times and reduces noise levels.

The cooling system is large and efficient

On the top side, the graphics card is covered by a metallic backplate. It makes it look more professional and beautiful, and it also safeguards it against potential damage.

The card is protected by a metal backplate

In the card’s box, you’ll also find an anti-sag bracket, a metallic support designed to be placed beneath the card. This bracket helps distribute the card’s weight evenly, keeping it from bending.

Regarding power, you must know that the RTX 4080 SUPER requires a 16-pin power connector. When running at peak performance, this GPU may draw over 300 Watts; hence, you’ll need a power supply unit (PSU) with a minimum capacity of 750 Watts. While GIGABYTE provides a 16-pin power adapter with the graphics card, which is worth appreciating, your PSU must have three 8-pin power connectors available to plug into it.

The graphics card uses a 16-pin power connector

The GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER WINDFORCE 16G focuses more on pure performance, prioritizing graphics power above aesthetic enhancements. One consequence is that it lacks RGB lighting. If you’re looking for more features and customization options, you may want to look into GIGABYTE’s offers in the AORUS and EAGLE series.

The GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER focuses on performance rather than aesthetics

If you’re considering getting the GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER WINDFORCE 16G, it’s important to note that this graphics card is very large. Weighing 1.36 kg (3 lbs), it extends 33 cm (13 inches) in length, spans 13.6 cm (5.36 inches) in width, and has a height of 5.6 cm (2.21 inches). It will cover almost four PCIe slots, which is a detail you should keep in mind if you’re planning to install additional cards in the PCI Express slots located under the GPU.

The GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER WINDFORCE 16G is a high-end graphics card with top-notch specs and a functional design. Based on NVIDIA’s Ada Lovelace architecture, it’s designed to deliver outstanding 4K gaming performance.

For more details about this graphics card’s technical specs and features, visit this webpage: GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER WINDFORCE 16G - Specification.

Performance in games and benchmarks

To see how well the GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER WINDFORCE 16G graphics card works, I’ve tested it in a series of games. Then, I checked how this card’s gaming performance stacks up against three other graphics cards I’ve used before: the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX, AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT, and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti. This was the desktop computer I used for all three GPUs:

• Motherboard: ASUS Prime X670E-Pro WiFi
• Processor: AMD Ryzen 9 7900X
• CPU cooler: Cooler Master MasterLiquid ML360R RGB
• Memory: Kingston Fury Renegade RGB DDR5-8000 32GB
• Storage: Kingston KC3000 NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD 2TB
• Monitor: ASUS ROG Strix XG32UQ
• Power Supply Unit: Seasonic Focus GX-1000
• Operating System: Windows 11 Pro version 23H2

I played all the games using their best graphics settings, and I also turned on ray tracing for better visuals in the games that support it. I didn’t use any special features like NVIDIA DLSS or AMD FSR that could make the game run smoother because I wanted to see the true raw power of the graphics cards. And now, without further ado, let’s look at how the GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER did in the tests, especially when compared to its main rival from AMD, the Radeon RX 7900 XTX.

I started with benchmarking CyberPunk 2077, a beautiful game that needs a strong graphics card. Using the best settings for ray tracing, the GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER WINDFORCE 16G gave an average of 96 pictures every second in 1080p resolution, 62 frames per second in 1440p, and 31 fps in 4K. These numbers are really good and show that NVIDIA is still doing better than AMD when it comes to ray tracing performance. The RTX 4080 SUPER was a lot faster than its main AMD rival, the Radeon RX 7900 XTX, with 47% to 52% more frames rendered every second. It also beat the other two graphics cards tested, the Radeon RX 7900 XT and the GeForce RTX 4070 Ti, by a good margin.

Benchmark results in Cyberpunk 2077

The second title I benchmarked was The Callisto Protocol, which is another game that needs a strong graphics card to look its best. I used the highest settings and turned on the ray tracing effects to the max. The GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER WINDFORCE 16G graphics card ran the game smoothly, with more than 60 pictures every second, even when playing in 4K resolution. The graphics card was faster than all the others, with an outstanding 29% framerate increase in 4K compared to the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX graphics card.

Benchmark results in The Callisto Protocol

When measuring the performance in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt's Next-Gen Update, it became clear that achieving smooth gameplay with the RT Ultra graphics preset was a significant challenge for all the tested graphics cards. However, the GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER WINDFORCE 16G consistently outperformed its competitors by significant margins. Compared to the Radeon RX 7900 XTX, the RTX 4080 SUPER delivered an impressive 40% increase in frames per second at 4K resolution. This proves once more that NVIDIA’s high-end GPU is much better prepared to handle demanding graphical settings on large 4K screens.

Benchmark results in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Next-Gen Update

Then, I tested Total War WARHAMMER III, a game without ray-tracing effects. The AMD Radeon cards and the GeForce 4070 Ti weren’t as powerful as the GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER WINDFORCE 16G, but the performance gaps weren’t as big as in the other games. In 4K resolution, the RTX 4080 SUPER managed to render an average of 80 fps (frames per second), which is a 14% increase compared to the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX.

Benchmark results in Total War WARHAMMER III

Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed Valhalla looks great, even if it doesn’t have ray-tracing effects, and still needs a strong graphics card to run well. As expected, the GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER rendered amazingly high framerates in all resolutions, including 4K, where it managed 104 frames per second. However, this was the only game I tested in which it was outmatched by the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX, albeit by a very small margin of only two or three frames per second.

Benchmark results in Assassin's Creed Valhalla

I continued with Resident Evil Village, which isn’t a new game but still has great graphics. Although it has ray tracing effects, the game is not as demanding as others, and that’s immediately clear from the results I got. No matter what quality or video card I used, the game ran fluently at over 100 frames per second. The GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER WINDFORCE 16G did really well, better than any other video card. Moreover, when playing in 4K quality, it offered a 7% performance increase compared to the Radeon RX 7900 XTX.

Benchmark results in Resident Evil Village

In F1 22, the GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER WINDFORCE 16G was again faster than the rest of the tested GPUs. Just like in the previous game (Resident Evil Village), in 4K resolution, the framerate increase compared to the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX was about 7%.

Benchmark results in F1 22

Unfortunately, I tested the Radeon RX 7900 XTX and the GeForce RTX 4070 Ti before the release of Bethesda’s Starfield, so I don’t have numbers for them. However, I did retest this game with my current graphics card, an AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT, and the GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER WINDFORCE 16G. The latter proved again faster than its competition, offering a framerate increase of about 8% in 4K resolution.

Benchmark results in Starfield

The same applies to the last game I tested, Assassin’s Creed Mirage, which was released after I reviewed the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti. Although there are no ray tracing effects in it, the game’s system requirements are steep, especially in terms of graphics performance. However, the GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER WINDFORCE 16G is powerful enough to run this game on ultra-quality visuals and high framerates. While the differences between the GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER graphics card and my Radeon RX 7900 XT weren’t huge in 1080p resolution, it became obvious that NVIDIA’s card is significantly better in higher resolutions, with up to 21% more frames per second in 4K.

Benchmark results in Assassin's Creed Mirage

In the end, I also benchmarked the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER GPU with a few tests from 3DMark. Just like in all the games, its results are impressive. It’s clear from the Time Spy Extreme, Speed Way, and Port Royale tests that this GPU is a powerhouse, especially when it comes to handling the demands of DirectX 12 Ultimate and ray tracing. The RTX 4080 SUPER stands out as the better choice over the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX, delivering exceptional performance where it really counts.

Benchmark results in 3DMark

When looking at a graphics card, it’s also important to consider how hot it gets and how much electricity it uses. The GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER WINDFORCE 16G doesn’t get too hot; it stays around 77 degrees Celsius (170 Fahrenheit) even under heavy use.

Maximum temperature recorded

On the other hand, it does use a significant amount of power, up to 332 Watts, but still less than its main competitor, the AMD Radeon RX 790 XTX.

Maximum power draw

The GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER WINDFORCE 16G is a high-end graphics card that delivers great performance, especially in 4K. It’s better than its main rival, the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX, and the only graphics card that outdoes it is the ultimate NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090.

What’s your opinion about the GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER WINDFORCE 16G?

So, you’ve got plenty of details on this graphics card and its gaming abilities. As you have seen, it’s a strong graphics card, there’s no question about it. The only question that remains is whether you have the budget for it. Before closing this review, I’m curious whether you’re thinking of getting it or are considering other graphics cards. Let me know in the comments section below.