PC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteA January 3, 2025 report described a fuzzy image of a purported ASUS GeForce RTX 5080 listing at an unspecified European retailer for €1,699.95, and mentioned DLSS 4. Neither the price nor the image was verified. NVIDIA announced the card’s official launch price and DLSS 4 details days later, giving the early listing a useful historical comparison—not a current price guide.
What the reported listing showed
HotHardware published its report on January 3, 2025, before NVIDIA announced the RTX 50 Series at CES. It said a leaker had shared a fuzzy image that appeared to show an ASUS RTX 5080 at a European retailer for €1,699.95. The retailer was not identified, and HotHardware cautioned that a single-vendor image might not be genuine. The report did not establish that the card was actually offered for sale or purchased. Read HotHardware’s January 3 report.
The leaker estimated a U.S. price near $1,349, excluding VAT or tax. That was the leaker’s speculation, not an ASUS price or a U.S. retail quote. European and U.S. prices do not convert neatly, and board-partner cards can carry premiums, so the estimate was not a reliable way to predict U.S. pricing.
How the hint compared with official launch pricing
On January 6, 2025, NVIDIA announced that the GeForce RTX 5080 would be available starting January 30 at a starting price of $999. That is NVIDIA’s historical launch reference, not a statement of what the card costs now. NVIDIA’s announcement did not confirm the image or the €1,699.95 figure. See NVIDIA’s January 6 announcement.
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#1 Best Overall
- Powered by the NVIDIA Blackwell architecture and DLSS 4. System Requirements: Minimum 850W PSU with 16-pin 12V-2x6 (12VHPWR) connector required. Verify before purchasing.
- Military-grade components deliver rock-solid power and longer lifespan for ultimate durability. Compatibility: 348mm (13.7") length, 3.6 slots, 4.3 lbs. Confirm case clearance and slot spacing. GPU bracket included.
- Protective PCB coating helps protect against short circuits caused by moisture, dust, or debris
- 3.6-slot design with massive fin array optimized for airflow from three Axial-tech fans
- Phase-change GPU thermal pad helps ensure optimal thermal performance and longevity, outlasting traditional thermal paste for graphics cards under heavy loads
ASUS announced RTX 5080 cards in its TUF Gaming and Prime lines on January 7. The announcement identifies the product families but does not authenticate the earlier listing or establish that it depicted a particular model. ASUS described the Prime RTX 5080 as a 2.5-slot design. See ASUS’s announcement.
| Figure | What it referred to | Status |
|---|---|---|
| €1,699.95 | Price visible in the image described by HotHardware on January 3, 2025 | Unverified purported listing from one unidentified European retailer; not confirmed ASUS pricing |
| About $1,349 | U.S. estimate attributed to the leaker in HotHardware’s report | Speculative estimate excluding VAT or tax; not the official U.S. price |
| Starting at $999 | NVIDIA’s announced RTX 5080 launch price, with availability beginning January 30, 2025 | Official historical launch reference; not a current retail quote |
What the DLSS 4 reference meant
When HotHardware published on January 3, DLSS 4 was only a clue in the purported product listing; NVIDIA had not yet officially detailed the technology. NVIDIA later announced DLSS 4 with Multi Frame Generation for RTX 50 Series GPUs. It said the feature would be supported on RTX 50 Series cards in over 75 games and applications on launch day. That was NVIDIA’s launch-time support count, not an independent test or a claim that every game supports every DLSS 4 feature. NVIDIA’s launch announcement.
Rank #2
- Powered by the NVIDIA Blackwell architecture and DLSS 4. System Requirements: Minimum 850W PSU with 16-pin 12V-2x6 (12VHPWR) connector required. Verify before purchasing. OC mode: 2685 MHz/ Default mode: 2655 MHz (Boost Clock)
- SFF-Ready enthusiast GeForce card compatible with small-form-factor builds
- Axial-tech fans feature a smaller fan hub that facilitates longer blades and a barrier ring that increases downward air pressure
- Vapor chamber ensures efficient heat transfer for lower GPU temps
- Phase-change GPU thermal pad helps ensure optimal heat transfer, lowering GPU temperatures for enhanced performance and reliability
DLSS 4’s upgrades are not all exclusive to RTX 50. In a January 30, 2025 article, NVIDIA said DLSS Super Resolution, Ray Reconstruction, and DLAA use its new transformer AI model across GeForce RTX generations. NVIDIA described the newer frame-generation model as available for RTX 40 and RTX 50 GPUs, while Multi Frame Generation is specific to RTX 50. Availability depends on the game and its implementation, so check support for the particular title and feature you want. Read NVIDIA’s January 30 DLSS 4 article.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the early image cannot establish
- Which retailer supposedly displayed the price, or whether a transaction occurred.
- Whether the image was authentic or which exact ASUS RTX 5080 model it showed.
- Today’s price, stock, or the current support list for DLSS features.
- How the card performs: the listing report and the official announcements cited here are not independent benchmarks or hands-on tests.
ASUS’s later product announcement confirms TUF Gaming and Prime RTX 5080 variants, but it does not verify the January 3 image. For a buying decision, compare the exact board-partner model, local street price on the day you shop, cooler and dimensions for your case, and support for the DLSS features in your games. ASUS’s product page identifies its TUF Gaming RTX 5080 OC as a 16GB GDDR7 card; check that the model, seller, stock, and current price match your needs before buying. View the ASUS TUF Gaming RTX 5080 OC product page.
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Rank #4
- AI Performance: 1899 AI TOPS.
- OC mode: 2790 MHz (OC mode)/ 2760 MHz (Default mode)
- Powered by the NVIDIA Blackwell architecture and DLSS 4. Protective PCB coating guards against moisture, dust, and extreme temperatures
- Quad-fan design boosts air flow and pressure by up to 20%
- Patented vapor chamber with milled heatspreader for lower GPU temperatures
Rank #3
- Powered by the NVIDIA Blackwell architecture and DLSS 4. System Requirements: Minimum 850W PSU with 16-pin 12V-2x6 (12VHPWR) connector required. Verify before purchasing.
- Quad-fan design boosts air flow and pressure by up to 20%. Compatibility: 357mm (14.1") length, 3.8 slots, 6.3 lbs. Confirm case clearance and slot spacing. GPU bracket included.
- Patented vapor chamber with milled heatspreader for lower GPU temperatures OC mode: 2790 MHz/ Default mode: 2760 MHz (Boost Clock)
- Phase-change GPU thermal pad ensures optimal heat transfer, lowering GPU temperatures for enhanced performance and reliability
- 3.8-slot design: massive heatsink and fin array optimized for airflow from the four Axial-tech fans
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
