When it comes to PC gaming, the graphics card undeniably has the most impact on your experience. Thus, having the right card can make a lot of difference. If you’re not new to the gaming world, then the chances are that you’ve heard about the RTX 2080 Ti graphics card, which is arguably the most powerful GPU available currently.
But even then, identifying the best RTX 2080 Ti video cards still presents a challenge, given the many variants that exist. But not to worry, we are here to make things a whole lot easier.
After a lot of research and testing, I was able to compile a list of ten of the best RTX 2080 Ti GPUs currently on the counter. These cards come from the best companies in the industry and thus provide unparalleled gaming performance. The right card for you will largely depend on your chassis or how much you’re willing to spend.
In addition to the product reviews, I’ve also provided a buying guide. In the end, I hope you will find the best gaming graphics cards for your needs.
Below I have tried to provide a full overview of each product together with a discussion on the key features and specifications.
Our Recommendations
| Model | Design | Specifications | Retailer |
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| Asus ROG STRIX OC |
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| NVIDIA Founders Edition |
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| EVGA FTW3 ULTRA |
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| MSI GAMING X TRIO |
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| PNY XLR8 Gaming OC |
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| Gigabyte AORUS Xtreme |
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So here is my list of The 8 Best RTX 2080 Ti
Asus ROG STRIX OC – Best Overclocking RTX 2080 Ti: TOP PICK
To kick off this list is one of the most powerful graphics cards from ASUS – the ROG Strix RTX 2080 Ti. Besides its exceptional power, one of the first things you will notice about this card is that it has a large build, which is typical of the ASUS ROG STRIX.
But even more, it boasts of a number of exciting features which you will not find in many similar cards. Some of these include fan control, Aura Sync support, Max Contact technology, and so on. I will try to go over each one of these.
The first feature which I find most interesting is the dual BIOS setup, which allows you to select from two different configurations for the fan/clock speed. This includes the Quiet mode for less noise or Performance mode for more aggressive cooling.
For the cooling, the card uses the advanced Max Contact technology from ASUS together with a triple Axial-tech fan arrangement to ensure greater heat removal.
The card also boasts of a high form factor of 2.7, which you will not find in most models. Such a high form factor allows for a larger heatsink array and even more thermal headroom.
Now, the exterior design of the card doesn’t look so cool; it looks old-fashioned. Thankfully, the RGB LEDs on the card can be customized to achieve a better look.
Overall, this is a powerful RTX 2080 Ti card that brings a lot to the table. It is one of my favorites and, without doubts, a clear winner.
Specifications
- VRAM: 11GB GDDR6
- Hardware Interface: PCI Express x8
- Boost Clock: 1665 MHz
- Memory Clock: 14000 MHz
- HDMI Output: Yes x 2 (Native) (HDMI 2.0b)
- USB Type-C Support: Yes x1
- Fans: Triple Axial-tech 0db
- Digital Max Resolution: 7680×4320
NVIDIA Founders Edition – Best Overall RTX 2080 Ti
Next up is the NVIDIA Founders Edition, which happens to be one of the most popular options out there. The Founders Edition doesn’t only have a reputation among RTX 2080 Ti card users but also in the 4K gaming community as a whole.
It is undeniably one of the best graphics cards out there, although the price might be a little outrageous. The card doesn’t only offer a smooth gaming experience but also has one of the most beautiful visual presentations.
With a memory clock speed of 1400 MHz, this is obviously not the fastest card out there. Notwithstanding, it provides just enough power to run most games without any issues.
The card is outfitted with two cooling fans instead of the three that is commonly seen in many similar cards. I think a possible explanation for this would be its slower memory clock speed. That said, the dual fan setup still manages to provide adequate cooling to the fans, so you have nothing to worry about.
The major highlight of this card would be its premium design, which consists of a sleek housing that easily fits into most ATX towers.
Overall, if you’re a fan of NVIDIA cards, I have no doubt you will fall in love with the Founders Edition. While it might carry a high price tag, it is one of the best choices available for 4K game rendering.
Specifications
- VRAM: 11GB GDDR6
- Boost Clock: 1635 MHz (OC)
- Memory Clock: 14000 MHz
- CUDA Cores: 4352
- Fans: Dual-axial 13-blade
- Display Connectors: DisplayPort, HDMI, USB Type-C
- RTX-OPS: 78T
EVGA Ftw3 Ultra Gaming – Best AIO cooler RTX 2080 Ti
The EVGA FTW3 Ultra is another impressive graphics card popular among RTX 2080 Ti gamers. Besides its high price point (which is typical of RTX 2080 Ti cards), there’re many reasons why you would want to choose this model over lower-priced options.
First is its incredible boost clock – 1755 MHz – which happens to be one of the highest out there. Not only will you experience fast performance but also high refresh rates that come with tear-free gameplay and impressive game display.
This is also accompanied by a low acoustic noise level and high cooling performance – thanks to its triple HDB fans.
One of the things that separate the FTW3 Ultra from other EVGA cards in the RTX 2080 Ti family is the higher power phase. Instead of the usual 13+3 phase, the FTW3 comes with 16+3, which results in greater efficiency and overall performance.
In terms of design, the card looks quite bulky – no thanks to its huge aluminum heatsink. But despite this monstrous size, the FTW3 is still very attractive.
Overall, this is a powerful graphics card, although I think it’s a bit overpriced.
Specifications
- Boost Clock: 1755 MHz
- Memory Clock: 14000 MHz
- VRAM: 11GB GDDR6
- Refresh Rates: Up to 240 Hz
- Power Phases: 19
- FANS: Triple HDB fans
- Cooling Type: iCX2 Technology
- Warranty: 3 year
MSI GAMING X TRIO – Best Balanced RTX 2080 Ti
When it comes to hardware components, MSI is one of the biggest names you will come across. The GAMING GeForce GDRR6 RTX 2080 Ti graphics card is one of their best contributions to the world of 4k gaming.
Not only is this the company’s flagship GPU at the moment but also one of the best options you will find in the market. It comes with everything you can expect from a high-end GPU and more.
The card provides the joint highest clock speed of 1755 MHz, which contributes to its fast performance. Its thermal design is that of the brand’s signature – TRI-FROZR – which is one of the most efficient solutions out there.
Interestingly, the triple TORX 3.0 fans manage to keep the card cool without causing much noise. In fact, this unit is considerably quieter than other premium models like the ROG Strix from ASUS; however, its cooling performance is still not as good as the latter.
As I mentioned earlier, the MSI X TRIO is overclocked out of the box, but notwithstanding, it still provides enough headroom for extra overclocking with tools like the MSI Afterburner. In addition, it also offers remote control via Android or iOS gadgets.
Despite all the impressive features provided by this card, I still feel MSI could have done better with the design. With a length of 328mm and a requirement of 3 output slots, this is undeniably one of the largest cards you will find out there.
So, before putting out your money for the card, I strongly advise you to verify that it will fit your build and case.
Specifications:
- Clock Speed: 1755 MHz
- VRAM: 11GB GDDR6
- Memory Speed: 14 Gbps
- Memory Interface: 352 bit
- Interface: PCI Express x16 3.0
- Light: RGB Mystic
- Input: 2x 8pin PCI E Power Connectors
- Output: DisplayPort x 3 (v1.4) / HDMI 2.0b x 1 / USB Type-C x1
PNY XLR8 Gaming Overclocked – Best Budget RTX 2080 Ti
The PNY RTX 2080 Ti XLR8 could be regarded as a gem for every overclocker; however, one can easily get discouraged by its exorbitant price.
This card obviously packs a lot of features, including advanced functions such as real-time ray tracing, programmable shading, and artificial intelligence.
It doesn’t only tick faster but also runs cooler than most premium models in the same category. Moreover, it uses a triple-fan cooling system and comes with its own PNY factory overclock without any need for additional software.
The card also features two heatsinks, which are both massive. These heatsinks are also filled with copper heat pipes overlapping in arrays. It is this type of thermal design coupled with an efficient cooling system that keeps the card in top shape.
However, there’s no RGB lighting on the card, which isn’t a big deal. Not everyone really likes a machine glowing with different colors. But I would still be a bit concerned paying so much for a card that does not light up.
So, what do I think is the XLR8 Overclocked Edition worth the price? I would argue that. But there’s no denying that this is every overclocker’s dream. If you’re willing to look beyond the high price point, then I definitely recommend it.
Specifications
- Boost Speed: 1635 MHz
- Memory Speed: 14 Gbps
- VRAM: 11 GB GDDR6
- CUDA Cores: 4352
- Fans: 3X Gaming Overclocked fans
- Outputs: DisplayPort 1.4 (x3), HDMI 2.0b, USB Type-C
- Bus Type: PCI-Express 3.0 ×16
Gigabyte AORUS Xtreme – Best Premium RTX 2080 Ti
The card we’ll now examine in this review is the Gigabyte AORUS RTX 2080 Ti Xtreme. This card has been growing in popularity ever since it came on the scene, and I have no doubt you will come to appreciate it, especially if you belong to the league of Gigabyte GPU lovers.
There are so many good things to say about the card.
The first one I would like to bring your attention to is its incredibly high clock speed – 1770MHz. You will hardly find something higher out there.
I’m also impressed with Gigabyte’s adoption of their WINDFORCE fans for this product. The triple-fan arrangement is able to provide powerful cooling even when subjected to load.
Compared to many similar models, the Xtreme runs at a much lower temperature. It rarely exceeds 70 degrees Celsius on the maximum load while it records below 40 degrees when idle. Isn’t that impressive?
However, while the card isn’t exactly loud, it is not very quiet, so you should expect a little bit of noise.
I think the major highlight of this product is its high power phase (16+3) instead of 13+3, which is commonly found in most models. As a result, the card is able to achieve extreme overclocking, thus making it more powerful.
Specifications
- Clock Speed: 1770 MHz
- Memory Clock: 14140 MHz
- CUDA Cores: 4352
- VRAM: 11 GB GDDR6
- PCB Form: ATX
- Output: 3 x HDMI, 3 x DisplayPort, 1 x USB Type C
- Card Bus: PCI-E 3.0 x 16
Gigabyte AORUS WaterForce – Best WaterForce RTX 2080 Ti
The AORUS Xtreme WATERFORCE graphics is another powerful card that looks very similar to the product we just reviewed but with some subtle differences.
All AORUS cards are known for having highly efficient cooling solutions, and this one is no different. Besides the GPU, a lot of effort is also put into designing the VRAM and MOSFET, thereby resulting in a card with better overclock operation and extended lifespan.
The cooling system consists of two 120mm RGB fans enveloped in a 240mm radiator.
Like the previous card I reviewed, this one also supports real-time ray tracing and employs NVIDIA Turing architecture. From the picture, you can easily tell it looks cool, but what you don’t know is that it also has RGB lighting which comes on when it’s in operation.
I also like the sleek metallic armor on the card, which says a lot about its advanced technology.
With this card, you get up to 7 video outputs compared to the 5 provided by many similar cards. Also, two extra HDMI ports are provided, so you can also connect monitors without adaptors.
It is this kind of flexibility and innovation that makes it popular among gaming enthusiasts.
Specifications
- VRAM: 11GB GDDR6
- Boost Clock: 1770 MHz
- Memory Clock: 14140 MHz
- Output: 3 x HDMI, 3 x DisplayPort, 1 x USB Type-C
- Hardware Interface: PCI Express x8
ZOTAC Gaming – Best Value RTX 2080 Ti
If this is the first time you’re looking to overclock your GPU, then it would definitely make sense to go for a card that can get the best performance out of your RTX 2080 Ti. For this purpose, you will want something like the ZOTAC Gaming MAXX.
While this card has a high price point, it offers a good number of interesting features, which makes it really useful for 4K gaming. One of these which you will hardly find in many similar cards is the ability to control the rotation of the fans.
Right out of the box, the card provides a factory overclock of 1665 MHz, which can be improved upon. This high clock speed is well managed by its cooling system, which consists of three fans.
The card never exceeds 65°C, even when subjected to a heavy load or higher clock speed. This makes it a really powerful choice for a fast and smooth gaming experience.
Also, you can use the card with the OC scanner software without issues.
Now, it is also obvious that the card is built to last – thanks to its reinforced metal jacket, which helps to protect the card from possible damage.
Specifications
- VRAM: 11GB GDDR6
- Memory Bus: 352-bit
- Fans: Triple cooling system
- Boost Clock: 1665 MHz
- CUDA cores: 4352
- Memory Clock: 14.0 Gbps
Read: Best Motherboards for GeForce RTX 2080 Ti
Frequently Asked Questions:
I think the features it offers are totally worth it if you’re looking to improve your gaming experience. So, if you’re willing to look beyond the huge price, then the RTX 2080 Ti is definitely worth it. I hope they bring down the price soon.
The GeForce RTX 2080 Ti was launched on September 27, 2018.
There’s no doubt the RTX 2080 Ti is one of the most powerful graphics cards out there. Currently, they promise around 14.2 teraflops, which is more than twice of what you get with most typical cards. This is one of the reasons why the RTX 2080 Ti has a superior graphical performance.
In terms of the power supply requirement for NVIDIA graphics cards, the RTX 2080 Ti has a minimum requirement of 650W. But I personally advise not to go below 800W for the best performance.
Final Words
There you have it – the Best RTX 2080 Ti graphics cards in the market right now.
Just like any other premium hardware component, RTX 2080 Ti video cards cost a lot of money, which is why you don’t want to end up with the wrong product. I have endeavored to provide as much information as possible to ensure you make an informed decision.
So which graphic card should you go for? Left to me, I would go with anyone among the EVGA FTW3, ASUS ROG Strix, or the Founders Edition.
They seem to provide the best balance between design and performance. But believe me, any one of the cards above will be great; it all depends on your specific needs.
When you do make your decision, let me know about your experience. Meanwhile, feel free to leave a comment or question for me.
