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EVGA’s RTX 2080 Super XC Hybrid proved to be more than capable at 1440p using ultra settings and 4K at high to ultra settings in most games. Compared to the RTX 2080 Super Founders Edition and Asus ROG Strix RTX 2080 Super OC, the integrated AIO kept the core temperatures much cooler. Since the hybrid card runs around 10C cooler than the others, it boosted higher than even the Asus, which is rated 30 MHz higher out of the box.
However, even with the differences in boost clocks and cooling, all three 2080 Super cards performed nearly the same, with less than 1 fps between them. The lower temperatures can be great for hotter climates and part longevity, or if you want to manually overclock, but out of the box performance isn't going to vary much between the various RTX 2080 Super models.
Although the EVGA RTX 2080 Super XC Hybrid was generally quiet, the pump makes a distinct hum that's different from the fans on the card and radiator, as well as any chassis fans. This is typical of most liquid cooling solutions and inherent to pumps in general. We didn't find the sound loud or off putting, but it was noticeable over the other PC fans. The EVGA card's fans meanwhile were quiet throughout testing.
For many users, the price for a graphics card is a huge factor, and none of the RTX 2080 Supers are anywhere close to being affordable. The EVGA RTX 2080 Super Hybrid XC and the Asus ROG Strix 2080 Super both cost around $780, while the Nvidia RTX 2080 Super Founders Edition can often be found for $700 (at least, it can be when COVID-19 is screwing up the supply chain). The least expensive RTX 2080 Super we can find right now is this PNY RTX 2080 Super blower, priced at $694 — and unless you really like blowers, we'd recommend paying $6 more for the Founders Edition or something like the MSI Ventus XS OC. Sticking with hybrid cooling cards, MSI’s RTX 2080 Super Sea Hawk X lists for $734.99, while the Gigabyte Aorus Waterforce RTX 2080 Super sports a large 2x120mm radiator and goes for $839.99.
One thing you really need to consider when buying a hybrid cooled graphics card is the size and placement of both the card and the radiator. Most mid-size and larger ATX cases should be able to accommodate both, but smaller cases can be a problem. Not to mention, the radiator is one more thing to deal with when cleaning out your PC or swapping components.
The EVGA RTX 2080 Super XC Hybrid proved to be a capable card for both 1440p and 4K gaming, though the latter in some titles will require tuning of settings. The hybrid cooler with a 120mm radiator did a great job keeping the GPU cool during testing. However, even though we saw higher boost clocks, the performance gained from the small difference ended up being negligible. Priced between other hybrid cards, the EVGA XC is a viable solution. Just come for the thermals rather than the out of box performance.
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