MSI has introduced a new series of graphics cards Suprim. These are high-end models that incorporate all the best that MSI engineers can offer, from powerful cooling to stylish lighting. In the model range of the company, new items will take a higher step relative to the popular Gaming series.

The new line starts with three NVIDIA Ampere family graphics cards — GeForce RTX 3090, GeForce RTX 3080 and GeForce RTX 3070. We have MSI’s top solutions in the highest performance class, and such video cards are of genuine interest. We will talk about the features and benefits of MSI Suprim in this review, getting acquainted with the GeForce RTX 3080.

MSI GeForce RTX 3080 Suprim X 10G

The video card comes in a large milky box. On the front side, an image of MSI Suprim flaunts.

In recent years, we have lost the habit of useful accessories in the package. Suprim is a pleasant exception, in addition to the printing set inside the box, you can find a large mouse pad.

MSI Suprim also comes with a support for the video card.

And this is not a side panel that is screwed under the video adapter, but a full-fledged vertical support with an adjustable foot, on which a massive device rests.

The presence of a backup is a necessity, since we have a real graphic «monster» weighing 1.9 kg. The total length of the graphics card is 33.5 cm, the width is up to 14 cm, and the height is 6 cm. The MSI Suprim is longer and thicker than the MSI GeForce RTX 3080 Gaming X Trio, which is also an extremely large model.

In the external design, there is a certain continuity with previous versions of Gaming. The case is made in gray and cream colors. Three large fans are located in octagon-shaped compartments, with illuminated decorative inserts between them.

The video card completely occupies three slots without any additional gaps. Therefore, you need a spacious case with free airflow, although this is true for any modern NVIDIA and AMD flagship. On the side panel of the case there is an illuminated panel with Suprim and GeForce logos.

The reverse side of the board is covered with a metal plate. On the side there is an illuminated stylized image of a dragon.

The GeForce RTX 3080 Suprim X 10G has three external power connectors with eight pins each. Next to the connectors there is a switch to select one of the two BIOSes. This is the standard Gaming firmware and the quieter Silent mode.

Recall that some of the first GeForce RTX 3080/3090 graphics cards had problems with unstable operation at high frequencies, and we even saw an example of how some manufacturers re-soldered filter capacitors after production. In this regard, I wonder if there are any differences between MSI Suprim and Gaming? The Gaming video card had five filtering tantalum capacitors and ten additional ceramic ones soldered in the GPU zone. Suprim has two tantalum capacitors with significantly more ceramic ones.

Suprim will definitely please fans of illumination inside the PC. An illuminated strip stretches along the case, there is a large luminous inscription, plus luminous inserts between the fans and a dragon backlight on the backplate.

The backlight is controlled through the MSI Dragon Center software. It is possible to synchronize the backlight with other MSI components and set up with different lighting effects.

There are three DisplayPorts and one HDMI on the rear panel.

The MSI Suprim has a metal backplate that acts as a heatsink. Thermal pads are present above the memory chips and power components of the VRM, which allow heat to be removed from the hot areas of the board.

A large and thick stiffening rib stretches along the edge of the board.

MSI Suprim uses a single heatsink for all elements on the board. This is a massive metal structure with contact pads for memory chips, transistor assemblies and other elements.

Heat is removed from the GPU through a flat copper base.

A curved heat pipe runs around the base to better dissipate heat from the memory chips.

The radiator is pierced by seven heat pipes. At the base, they are pressed and tightly fitted to each other due to the rectangular shape.

The radiator consists of a large number of densely spaced plates. For better blowing of such a dense structure, there are a number of optimizations — these are special guide deflectors and wavy edges of the plates.

MSI engineers not only increased the heat dissipation area by increasing the plates and their dimensions, but tried to make this design as efficient as possible.

The radiator is blown by three large fans of the 100 mm standard (the actual size of the impeller is 95 mm).

These are unique TorX Fans with a durable ball bearing and a special impeller, where every two blades are connected by an outer half ring. Very similar to ASUS TUF fans.

The Suprim PCB is based on the design of the MSI GeForce RTX 3080 Gaming X Trio, but with some tweaks and improvements. Suprim has four more power phases.

The MSI GeForce RTX 3080 Suprim X 10G has 20 power phases, 16 of which are for the GPU power system.

The GA102-200-KD-A1 GPU operates 8704 CUDA stream cores, 272 tensor cores, and 68 RT cores to accelerate ray tracing.

With the standard GPU base value of 1440 MHz, the Boost Clock is increased to 1905 MHz. The effective memory frequency remained at the recommended level of 19000 MHz. Power increased from 320W to 370W.

According to the declared characteristics, Suprim X should surpass Gaming X. In reality, the video card showed approximately the same Boost in games at lower maximum values. The operating frequency range in games is 1900-1950 MHz, as illustrated in the monitoring screenshots with Bright Memory: Infinite RTX and Horizon Zero Dawn in 4K. The temperature did not exceed 67°C at 21-22°C indoors (open case). Fans spin up to 1700 rpm (Gaming mode).

If I switch the graphics card to the Silent firmware, the fans stay at around 1200 rpm, but the peak GPU temperatures reach 79 ° C. A slight decrease in frequencies is possible, but this is at the level of 20 MHz, which is not at all critical for overall performance.

Suprim X turned out to be colder than Gaming at similar Boost frequencies. In standard mode, the noise level is slightly higher. In quiet mode, the graphics card will satisfy the most demanding user, but the temperature will approach 80 °C.

It is worth noting that among all the test applications, the largest drawdowns in frequencies were observed in The Division 2 game. Below are the monitoring data when the game benchmark is repeated multiple times (Gaming mode).

The Division 2 managed to get the boost clock down to 1860 MHz, but we saw the Gaming drop to 1800 MHz. That is, in one game, Suprim showed a real advantage in terms of frequencies relative to a friend.

Now let’s talk about overclocking. It was carried out by simply increasing the frequencies with a concomitant increase in the power limit (+ 16% is available for Suprim). Under such conditions, we managed to get a working Boost in the range of 2055-2100 MHz with a base value of 1540 MHz. The memory was able to operate at a frequency of 21150 MHz.

These are excellent results for an RTX 3080 series graphics card. Recall that Gaming with a locked power limit after overclocking showed Boost around 2 GHz. The best GPU overclocking is combined with excellent memory overclocking, the best among all previously tested GeForce RTX 3080/3090.

We combined this overclocking with an improved cooling mode when manually increasing the fan speed to 1800 rpm. The noise at the same time remained within reasonable limits, and the core temperature did not exceed 69 ° C.