NVIDIA's new graphics card, the GeForce RTX 5080 , is finally here. If you've seen the numbers, you'll know that the raw performance gain is pretty modest: just 15% at 4K and 13% at 1440p compared to the RTX 4080. So why does this card even have a reason to exist?
The answer is simple: it's not its raw power that makes the difference, but its software technologies . The GeForce 5080 marks a major shift, where performance no longer depends solely on hardware, but on AI-powered image generation .
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For this article, we tested the PNY GeForce RTX 5080 OC , which impresses with its sleek design, surprisingly light weight, and cooling that keeps up even under heavy load.
A power gain that takes on its full meaning with Ray Tracing
While the pure rasterization figures may seem timid, the situation changes as soon as you activate Ray Tracing. On a title like Dragon Age , the Geforce RTX 5080 shows a 20% gain in 4K with Ray Tracing Ultra , transforming the fluidity of the game and offering a significantly more immersive experience.
With Path Tracing, light simulation takes it up a notch, becoming more realistic... and more demanding. Here, the 5080 reveals its full potential, with a gain of 13 to 20% compared to the previous generation. While these figures don't transform an already difficult-to-play game into a perfect experience, they ideally prepare the ground for future titles that require a lot of lighting and visual effects.
The secret weapon: Multi Frame Generation
This is where the GeForce RTX 5080 takes a step forward. Beyond DLSS, Multi Frame Generation, exclusive to the RTX 50 series, acts as NVIDIA's magic potion. By generating multiple frames via AI, it dramatically increases performance.
In Alan Wake 2 , for example, FPS jumps from 39 to 132 simply by activating this technology. For gamers with high-end screens, such as 4K 240 Hz , this is a revolution: playing in Ultra Ray Tracing at 240 FPS was simply unthinkable before the RTX 5080.
The question of latency: a crucial point
AI frame generation adds latency , which is problematic in competitive games where every millisecond counts. For these games, it's best to disable DLSS and Frame Generation.
However, in slow-motion single-player games, like Indiana Jones , the experience can be mixed if the game is not optimized with NVIDIA Reflex . Fortunately, most recent games incorporate this technology, which reduces latency. The goal is to find the balance between a smooth image and good responsiveness.
DLSS 4 on RTX 5080: Progress or source of problems?
The GeForce RTX 5080 introduces DLSS 4, which is now based on a "Transformer" model. The goal: to improve image quality while reducing ghosting and artifacts from previous versions. On paper, the result is convincing, and many historical flaws have been corrected.
But not everything is perfect. The system still relies on NVIDIA's training database. If the AI doesn't recognize an object or scene, it can produce visual artifacts, like the famous "rainbow glitch" seen in some Cyberpunk sequences .
Beyond the technical aspects, this raises an interesting question for developers: will they have to adapt their creativity and simplify certain worlds or objects so that AI can interpret them correctly? A tension between graphical innovation and technical constraints that could influence the design of tomorrow's games.
Conclusion: the GeForce RTX 5080, a step towards tomorrow's gaming
The GeForce RTX 5080 isn't just an evolution of the 4080. It represents a step forward where AI and hardware co-create performance. Its appeal isn't measured in raw power, but in the promise of a seamless and unprecedented gaming experience, especially in single-player titles that rely heavily on ray tracing.
This card is aimed at gamers who are ready to push Ultra to its maximum and enjoy high refresh rates, while still being willing to deal with the initial limitations and bugs of new NVIDIA technologies.
The potential is immense, but everything remains to be consolidated. The true success of the RTX 5080 will depend on how quickly NVIDIA and developers optimize these tools. So the question is: is the RTX 5080 already the future of gaming, or just a promising glimpse of what's to come?
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