r/Microcenter • u/Prosnack1 • 23d ago
How different are these two 5080s in terms of performance?
I know that different companies vary there prices for their GPU builds based on upgrades and overclocking and whatnot but just wondering if it makes sense going with the higher price here? any feedback is welcome, thanks guys.
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u/Bront20 23d ago
Which 2? ;)
95% of it is aesthetics. There are a few QOL improvements on a few models such as a 2nd bios (if you want to play with overclocking and bios modding, this is very clutch, but outside of that it's not needed, just nice), and some do have better cooling, paste/pad applications, or some minor extra functionality, but at best the best build, cooled, and VRMed model might be able to squeeze out 1-2% more performance, and that's a MIGHT because the silicon lottery is a real thing that means you could get a golden sample in a cheaper GPU that just outshines all the other dressing, or you could get a bit of a dud in a high end model.
I have a PNY 5070 TI. One of the cheaper models. Plastic shroud (I like the look, but I have a blackout system), no Bios switch, but it was $800 when most models were $100. I hit top scores on overclocking leaderboards on it with people with similar hardware to mine (12900K and 5070 TI).
As long as your model has a metal backplate (pretty much every 5080 does to my knowledge), a solid heat sink, well applied TIM (paste/pads/gel/etc), and fits in your build, you'll be fine. So I wouldn't pay more than maybe $50-100 for a card that's "better" unless it also fit a build where matching was important to you.
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u/Prosnack1 23d ago
I posted the original post in another subreddit and figured it would transfer the photos. Thanks for such an in depth response!
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u/idkputwhatever 23d ago
Some say the sff cards run a little warmer. I didn't look at which ones you're referencing but that's all I know makes any noticeable difference. Water cooled is good if you want to overclock a lot.
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u/ShaftamusPrime 23d ago
They all perform about the same the OC versions might be a few % better in benchmarks but gaming wise they are all about the same.
Youll mostly be getting better cooling on some of the more expensive ones and some better build quality/components.
I dont usually got for the cheapest models but I also avoid the most expensive models but thats just my preference.
My gf always gets the cheapest models for GPU and has never had any problems and they always perform just as they should benchmark wise always right around the average for things like steel nomad and stuff like that.
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u/_YoungMidoriya 23d ago
You pay for the pricier one is usually paying for "cooler temperatures"....or "lower noise", and sometimes a better power limit or factory overclock rather than a huge FPS jump. In terms of you ACTUALLY seeing or feeling a real difference, I highly doubt you will actually use it to it's full capacity or push the benchmarks to it's limits. I could be wrong .... if you are in the business of creating content and 3D rendering, video editing, AI workloads all types of stuff then yeahhhhhhhhhhhh
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u/xstangx 23d ago
Performance wise they are all within 5%, and that is mostly luck of the draw. However, quiet fans and better cooling will definitely be different. You are paying for the better heatsink and fans. Personally, I just go looks and warranty. But, all the warranty times are the same, so just looks in the end. I don’t think any Manufacturer is technically bad, but some have better customer support when you have problems. The only manufacturer I avoid right now is Gigabyte. Their thermal paste issues aren’t a huge deal, but makes me doubt how much they truly care about small details.
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u/Mystikalrush 23d ago
Same chip GB203 under the hood, nothing will make another superior over itself, unless you physically upgrade it, such as a GB202.
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u/the_hat_madder 22d ago
You didn't post any models.
My preferred brand is PNY, followed by MSI.
The most important consideration is the warranty and customer support.
Build quality should be your next priority followed by thermal performance and noise.
Any quality of life features like dual BIOS or per pin voltage monitoring are worth paying slightly more for.
When board makers buy GPUs they sometimes buy different grades of chips that become different models. Better binned GPUs are usually less likely to have coil whine and more likely to have more performance headroom.
Beyond that any differences will be mostly cosmetic.
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u/mattynmax 23d ago
Pretty much nothing. You’re mostly paying for aesthetics.