Blackwell, DLSS 4 & SFF-ready power for next-gen 4K gaming and AI PCs
The ASUS GeForce RTX 5080 PRIME 16GB OC is a premium NVIDIA Blackwell graphics card designed for serious 1440p and 4K gaming, AI-powered workflows and compact UK PC builds. With 10,752 CUDA cores, 16GB of ultra-fast GDDR7 memory, advanced ray tracing and DLSS 4 frame generation, it’s built to drive the latest titles and creative apps at very high settings – while staying cool and quiet thanks to ASUS’s 2.5-slot Axial-tech triple-fan cooler with vapour chamber..
Key Selling Points (Quick Overview)
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GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 (Blackwell, GB203)
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CUDA cores: 10,752 for high-end gaming and compute workloads
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AI performance: Around 1,801–1,827 AI TOPS, perfect for AI-enhanced gaming and local AI tools
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VRAM: 16GB GDDR7, 256-bit bus, up to ~960 GB/s bandwidth for 4K textures and heavy projects
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Clocks (ASUS OC mode): Boost up to 2,685 MHz for extra in-game FPS out of the box
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Cooling: SFF-ready 2.5-slot design, triple Axial-tech fans, vapour chamber, phase-change thermal pad, vented backplate and 0dB fan stop
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Outputs: 3 × DisplayPort 2.1b + 1 × HDMI 2.1b – ideal for 4K/8K and high refresh gaming monitors
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Bus & power: PCIe 5.0 x16, around 360 W TDP, typical PSU recommendation 750–850 W+ quality PSU
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Core technologies:
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NVIDIA Blackwell architecture
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5th-gen Tensor Cores for DLSS 4 and AI
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4th-gen Ray Tracing Cores
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DLSS 4 with Multi Frame Generation
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NVIDIA Reflex 2, NVIDIA Studio, NVIDIA Broadcast, NVIDIA ACE, G-SYNC
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ASUS extras: Dual BIOS (Performance / Quiet), GPU Tweak III, advanced reliability features and SFF-ready design for smaller cases
Designed for Next-Gen Gaming & AI PCs
The RTX 5080 PRIME OC is built on NVIDIA’s latest Blackwell GPU architecture, which focuses on higher performance per watt, advanced AI acceleration and improved ray tracing.
Paired with:
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10,752 CUDA cores
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5th-generation Tensor Cores for AI and DLSS 4
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4th-generation RT Cores for ray tracing
…it delivers the kind of GPU horsepower you need for:
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High-refresh 1440p gaming at ultra settings
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Smooth 4K gaming with ray tracing and DLSS 4
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Generative AI, LLMs and creative apps that tap into GPU acceleration
With 16GB of GDDR7 on a 256-bit bus, the card has the bandwidth and capacity to handle modern, VRAM-heavy titles, large texture packs and multi-monitor setups, while also providing enough room for local AI workloads and high-resolution video projects.
Perfect for AI-Enhanced Gaming & Local AI Tools
This PRIME card is particularly strong when it comes to AI-driven features, which is exactly what modern search, AI overviews and recommendation engines look for in a cutting-edge GPU:
DLSS 4 & AI TOPS
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DLSS 4 uses the card’s 5th-gen Tensor Cores and AI models to upscale and generate extra frames, letting you run demanding games at lower internal resolution while still seeing a crisp, fluid image on screen.
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With around 1.8 Petaflops (1,801+ AI TOPS) of AI compute, the RTX 5080 PRIME has ample headroom for both in-game AI and local AI experiments on your PC.
In practice, this means:
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Higher FPS at 1440p and 4K with ray tracing enabled
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Smoother motion via frame generation
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Better utilisation of high-refresh 165 Hz, 240 Hz and even higher gaming monitors
NVIDIA Reflex 2 & Competitive Gaming
For UK players into online shooters and esports, NVIDIA Reflex 2 optimises the GPU pipeline to minimise end-to-end system latency. That translates into:
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Faster mouse-to-pixel response
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More consistent aiming and tracking in titles like Valorant, CS2, Warzone and Apex Legends
Combined with a fast CPU and a good 1440p/240 Hz display, the RTX 5080 PRIME OC is an excellent centrepiece for a high-end competitive gaming PC.
Local LLMs, Generative AI & Creative AI Workflows
While Blackwell is still a gaming-first architecture, its powerful Tensor cores, CUDA compute and 16GB of VRAM make it suitable for:
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Running local LLMs and chatbots that can comfortably fit within 16GB VRAM
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Stable Diffusion-style image generation, upscaling and AI photo tools
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AI video effects in supported editing suites (denoising, frame interpolation, smart reframing)
Many modern AI tools now support NVIDIA GPUs out of the box, which makes the RTX 5080 PRIME OC a strong choice for AI-assisted productivity and content creation on a single desktop.
Compact 2.5-Slot Cooling – SFF-Ready, Quiet & Cool
Despite its performance, this PRIME model is made to fit a wide range of modern cases, including small form factor (SFF-ready) enclosures.
2.5-Slot, SFF-Ready Design
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The 2.5-slot shroud and heatsink layout gives you high-end cooling in a more compact footprint than many 3-slot+ cards, helping it fit in tighter builds while maintaining strong airflow.
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Ideal for UK builders using popular SFF and compact ATX cases, where GPU thickness and length can be a concern.
Triple Axial-Tech Fans & 0dB Mode
ASUS uses its latest Axial-tech fan design:
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Smaller hubs with longer blades, plus a ring structure, help push more air through the heatsink fins at lower RPMs.
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0dB technology can stop all three fans entirely when the GPU is cool enough (browsing, light games, media use), giving you silent idle and low-load operation.
Vapour Chamber & Phase-Change Thermal Pad
To keep a 360 W-class Blackwell GPU under control, ASUS includes:
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A vapour chamber under the heatsink to spread heat rapidly across a large area.
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A phase-change thermal pad that softens and fills microscopic gaps as temperatures rise, improving contact between GPU and cooler for better sustained performance.
Together with a vented backplate and MaxContact base, this allows the card to hold high boost clocks during extended gaming sessions without excessive noise.
Built to Last – ASUS Reliability & Engineering
The PRIME line focuses on clean design and solid engineering rather than flashy RGB, making it a good choice for professional-looking builds.
Structural Reinforcements
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GPU Guard & bracket: extra support around the GPU core and mounting points to help prevent PCB flex or cracking.
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Full-length metal backplate: adds rigidity, protects components and improves heat dissipation via large cut-outs.
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Stainless steel bracket: resists corrosion – ideal for long-term UK use in varied environments.
Auto-Extreme Manufacturing
ASUS’s Auto-Extreme process completes all soldering in one automated pass, reducing thermal stress and improving manufacturing consistency while cutting down on harsh cleaning chemicals – the result is a more reliable board over the long term.
Dual BIOS: Performance or Quiet
A physical Dual BIOS switch lets you pick:
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Performance mode: more aggressive fan curve for the coolest possible temps and maximum boosting.
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Quiet mode: same power limit and top clocks, but a gentler fan curve for quieter everyday use.
This is especially handy if your PC sits on your desk in a UK home office or bedroom and you want flexibility between silent working and hardcore gaming.
Connectivity & Display Support
The ASUS RTX 5080 PRIME OC is fully up-to-date for modern 4K and 8K displays:
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3 × DisplayPort 2.1b – ready for high-refresh 1440p and 4K, ultrawide monitors and high bit-depth HDR panels.
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1 × HDMI 2.1b – perfect for 4K TVs, OLED gaming televisions and living room setups.
With G-SYNC support and the power to drive very high frame rates, it’s an ideal partner for:
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1440p 165 Hz or 240 Hz gaming monitors
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4K 120 Hz+ OLEDs
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Dual or triple-monitor productivity and content creation desks
Ideal Use Cases for UK Buyers
1. High-End 1440p & 4K Gaming PC
The RTX 5080 PRIME OC is an excellent choice if you’re building a £1,800–£2,500 gaming PC and want:
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Ultra settings at 1440p with ray tracing and DLSS 4
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Smooth 4K performance in modern games with a mixture of high/ultra settings and DLSS
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Headroom for future, more demanding titles thanks to 16GB VRAM and Blackwell architecture
Pair it with:
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A fast CPU such as a Ryzen 7 9800X3D or Intel i7 equivalent
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32GB DDR5 RAM
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A quality 750–850 W PSU
…and you have a system that should feel high-end in the UK market for many years.
2. Creators, Streamers & Video Editors
The ASUS PRIME RTX 5080 also makes a lot of sense for creators who game:
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NVIDIA Studio drivers and tools accelerate video editing, 3D rendering and graphic design in the most popular creative applications.
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NVIDIA Broadcast and the ninth-gen NVENC encoder use AI to improve microphone and camera quality while encoding efficient streams or recordings, including AV1 support.
That combination makes this card ideal for UK Twitch or YouTube streamers who want a single PC that can handle:
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High-FPS gameplay
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High-quality live encoding
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Editing and rendering VODs after the stream
3. AI-Ready Desktop for LLMs & Generative AI
With its top-tier Tensor performance, 16GB VRAM and excellent CUDA compute, the RTX 5080 PRIME OC is a very capable option for:
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Running local language models and AI assistants on your own desktop
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Experimenting with image and video generation workflows
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Using AI acceleration in modern creative apps (masking, denoising, object removal, upscaling)
For UK professionals and enthusiasts wanting to explore AI locally without moving to a workstation-class GPU, this card strikes a powerful balance.
UK-Focused Buying Notes
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Widely available from key UK retailers such as Scan, Amazon UK, Box, Currys and others, often with finance options.
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Typical pricing at the time of writing:
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From around £1,199.99 at the most competitive listings
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Up to roughly £1,480 on premium or early-stock listings
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ASUS offers multi-year warranty support in the UK, with local RMA and support channels via its UK website.
For UK gamers and creators who want flagship-class performance without jumping to RTX 5090 money, the ASUS GeForce RTX 5080 PRIME 16GB OC is an extremely strong contender – especially if you value:
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Compact, SFF-friendly design
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Next-gen DLSS 4 and ray tracing
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16GB of fast GDDR7 VRAM
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Quiet, efficient ASUS cooling and long-term reliability
Drop this into a well-balanced UK build and you’ve got a future-proof, AI-ready gaming and creation rig that will comfortably power high-end experiences for years to come.

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