Score an RTX 5080 at MSRP – Zotac & MSI GPUs Discounted at Newegg
▼ Summary
– Two RTX 5080 models, the MSI Shadow 3X OC and Zotac Solid Core, are now available at Nvidia’s original MSRP of $999 on Newegg.
– Both GPUs meet Nvidia’s SFF-ready specifications, with dimensions suitable for small-form-factor cases (max height 151mm, length 304mm, thickness 2.5 slots).
– The RTX 5080 is Nvidia’s second most powerful Blackwell GPU, featuring 16GB GDDR7 VRAM, 10,752 CUDA cores, and improved ray tracing with DLSS 4 support.
– Performance tests show the RTX 5080 offers modest gains in rasterization over the RTX 4080/Super but excels in ray tracing and 4K gaming.
– The PNY GeForce RTX 5080 OC is also available at Best Buy for $999, indicating improved GPU market availability.
Finding an RTX 5080 at its original retail price just got easier, with Newegg currently offering two models from MSI and Zotac for $999 each. This marks a rare opportunity to snag Nvidia’s latest Blackwell GPU without inflated pricing, signaling a potential stabilization in the graphics card market.
The MSI Shadow 3X OC RTX 5080 and Zotac Solid Core RTX 5080 both adhere to Nvidia’s SFF-ready specifications, making them ideal for compact builds. With a maximum height of 151mm, length of 304mm, and a 2.5-slot design, these GPUs fit comfortably in smaller cases without sacrificing performance.
For those keeping an eye on availability, the PNY GeForce RTX 5080 OC remains in stock at Best Buy for the same $999 price point. The RTX 5080 sits just below the flagship RTX 5090 in Nvidia’s current lineup, offering a compelling balance of power and value for high-end gaming.
Under the hood, the RTX 5080 packs 16GB of cutting-edge GDDR7 VRAM, a significant upgrade over the previous generation’s GDDR6X. With 10,752 CUDA cores, it delivers roughly 10% more performance than the RTX 4080 and a slight edge over the 4080 Super. The shift to GDDR7 also means faster memory bandwidth, crucial for demanding titles at 4K resolutions.
MSI’s Shadow 3X OC model sports a sleek all-black design, while Zotac’s Solid Core variant boasts a base clock of 2.3 GHz, boosting up to 2.62 GHz. Both cards excel in ray tracing workloads and support DLSS 4, Nvidia’s latest upscaling technology featuring multi-frame generation—a feature exclusive to the RTX 50 series.
Independent testing confirms the RTX 5080’s strengths lie in its enhanced ray tracing capabilities and DLSS performance rather than raw rasterization gains. While it doesn’t dramatically outpace its predecessors in traditional benchmarks, it’s a solid choice for gamers prioritizing 4K gaming with high settings and smooth frame rates.
For additional savings on components, explore deals on SSDs, monitors, CPUs, and other hardware to complete your setup. Whether building a compact powerhouse or a high-end gaming rig, these RTX 5080 options provide top-tier performance without the markup.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware) (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
(Source: Tom’s Hardware)
