Launch MSRPs, release cycles and deals windows as of November 9, 2026.
The NVIDIA RTX 5080 is the direct successor to the NVIDIA RTX 4080 Super. It arrived 11 months later (Jan 30, 2025 vs Jan 31, 2024), and the RTX 4080 Super is now listed as superseded. Against the RTX 4080 Super, the RTX 5080 launched at the same $999 MSRP, matches its 16 GB of VRAM and draws 40W more at rated TDP (360W vs 320W).
This GPU is no longer the current generation. It has been replaced by the NVIDIA RTX 5080.
Superseded by RTX 5080
Best for: 4K gamers who can find a well-priced used unit, understanding they miss out on DLSS 4 and Blackwell's efficiency gains.
Full details →Late in cycle — next generation likely within 12 months
Best for: 4K gamers and creators who want Blackwell performance without the 5090's price and power demands.
Full details →| NVIDIA RTX 4080 Super | NVIDIA RTX 5080 | |
|---|---|---|
| Tier | Enthusiast | Enthusiast |
| Generation | RTX 4000 | RTX 5000 |
| VRAM | 16 GB | 16 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR6X | GDDR7 |
| TDP | 320W | 360W |
| Upscaling | DLSS3 | DLSS4 |
| Ray Tracing | ✅ | ✅ |
| Launch MSRP | $999 | $999 |
| Editor score | 8.4/10 | 8.6/10 |
| Released | Jan 31, 2024 | Jan 30, 2025 |
| Cycle length | ~365 days | ~850 days |
| Cycle advice | Superseded | Wait |
| Deals advice | Clearance | Buy |
| Successor | RTX 5080 | — |
What you gain: the RTX 5080 moves to GDDR7 memory (from GDDR6X), supports DLSS4 upscaling (vs DLSS3) and carries a higher editor score (8.6 vs 8.4).
What you give up: the RTX 4080 Super draws 40W less at rated TDP (320W vs 360W).
It's not a clean sweep, so weigh the trade-offs above against what your RTX 4080 Super is missing today. On timing, the RTX 5080 rates Wait. The next model on its radar is the RTX 5080 Super, expected CES 2027, January 2027 (rumoured).
New units sell around $1,400–$1,600 and used units start around $1,100 as of October 2026 — both above the $999 MSRP. Only worth it if a used unit turns up well below MSRP.
Ample VRAM for 4K gaming and content creation.
Over 2 years of optimizations ensures stability across all titles.
Delivers excellent 4K frame rates at a lower TDP and price than the 5090 — the practical enthusiast choice.
Same DLSS 4 technology as the flagship, dramatically boosting frame rates in supported titles.
Runs on a 750W PSU comfortably, unlike the 5090's 1000W recommendation.
Released Jan 31, 2024, the RTX 4080 Super has been on the market for 2 years 9 months. It has been superseded by the NVIDIA RTX 5080, which launched Jan 30, 2025, so it's no longer a current-generation buy — new stock is clearance, and the rest of the market is second-hand.
Released Jan 30, 2025, the RTX 5080 has been on the market for 21 months. The next model on our radar: the RTX 5080 Super, expected CES 2027, January 2027 (rumoured) — roughly 58 days out if that date holds. That puts the RTX 5080 about 92% of the way through its current cycle, which our model rates Wait.
On timing, the RTX 5080 is the only current-generation option of the two (Wait), while the RTX 4080 Super is a clearance or used purchase. Even so, the RTX 5080 is late in its own cycle, so the RTX 5080 Super is worth keeping an eye on.
Both cards launched at $999, so at MSRP the decision comes down to what that money buys. Per gigabyte of VRAM they're identical at $62.4. Launch MSRP is only a reference point for a superseded card; its real price is whatever clearance or used stock sells for today.
RTX 4080 Super (deals window to Jun 30, 2027, rated Wait): No clearance — new retail prices are ~40–60% above $999 MSRP due to production ending and scarcity, and used units start around $1,100 as of October 2026. Only consider a used unit well below MSRP.
RTX 5080 (deals window to Dec 5, 2026, rated Caution): Black Friday / Cyber Monday 2026 — usually the best annual GPU deals, but analysts do not expect memory supply to normalise before late 2027, so discounts are unlikely to reach the $999 MSRP. A rumoured RTX 5080 Super is reported for CES 2027. Only buy at or near MSRP.
Next on the deals calendar: for the RTX 5080, New Year clearance 2027, from Jan 2, 2027 to Jan 20, 2027.
Our pick: NVIDIA RTX 5080
For a new purchase, the RTX 5080 is the one to buy: it's the current replacement for the RTX 4080 Super, and it rates Wait on our buy/wait signal (editor score 8.6 vs 8.4). One caveat: the RTX 5080 itself rates Wait on timing, with the RTX 5080 Super expected CES 2027, January 2027 (rumoured) — if you can hold off, that's worth watching.
The RTX 4080 Super only makes sense at a clearance or second-hand price clearly below what the RTX 5080 sells for.
Buy/Wait and deals ratings come from release-cycle and pricing data, not benchmarks. How we rate →
Where they're level: launch MSRP ($999 each) and VRAM (16 GB each).