Gigabyte GeForce RTX 2080 Gaming OC 8G Review: Turing Goes Semi-Passive

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Software and Overclocking

Gigabyte bundles the GeForce RTX 2080 Gaming OC 8G with its own utility for overclocking, fan control, and lighting. The latest version of this software, called Aorus Engine, was 1.45 at the time of writing.

From its home screen, Aorus Engine allows you to toggle between OC mode (1,830 MHz GPU frequency), the default Gaming mode (1,815 MHz), Silent mode (1,710 MHz), and a customizable User mode. Three buttons on the bottom-right corner correspond to RGB Fusion (lighting control), hardware monitoring, and a toggle to turn the semi-passive fan mode on or off.

If you click the text “Professional Mode” at the top-right, Aorus Engine switches into a different interface complete with GPU Boost control, a memory clock rate slider, GPU voltage adjustment, a manual fan speed dial, and linked power target/temperature target sliders.

In this mode, you also have access to an Auto Scan button that leverages Nvidia Scanner functionality to tune the voltage/frequency curve. Although the feature completed its scan on our test bed, it didn’t seem to make any changes to the GeForce RTX 2080 Gaming OC 8G’s GPU Boost frequency. So, we fired up EVGA's Precision X1 tool and scored a 94. The resulting performance was about 3 percent higher through our Metro: Last Light benchmark at 2560 x 1440, and we still recommend going this route for overclocking Turing-based cards.

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Chris Angelini
Chris Angelini is an Editor Emeritus at Tom's Hardware US. He edits hardware reviews and covers high-profile CPU and GPU launches.
  • PapaCrazy
    The subtitle on the main page cut off the word "passive" so now it just reads "Turing Goes Semi". Sly jab at the memory woes?
    Reply
  • suddenstop
    How is the memory cooling?
    Reply
  • looprollpcservice
    Sorry but from what i read in your review i found that you re a little misinformed.....
    You re writing in cons "Triple-slot cooler takes up more space" first the gigabyte gaming 2080oc is 2.5 slot and second to that if your case is a 2 slot card, then from gigabyte you can buy rtx 2080 windforce which is a 2 slot card and is cheaper too
    Reply
  • modobiker
    Very good review. I am glad to see Gigabyte temps are nicely low.
    Reply
  • cangelini
    21459851 said:
    Sorry but from what i read in your review i found that you re a little misinformed.....
    You re writing in cons "Triple-slot cooler takes up more space" first the gigabyte gaming 2080oc is 2.5 slot and second to that if your case is a 2 slot card, then from gigabyte you can buy rtx 2080 windforce which is a 2 slot card and is cheaper too
    A 2.5-slot cooler monopolizes three slots worth of space. If room for expansion is a priority, that makes it a con.
    Reply
  • nabeelio
    Would have been helpful to have the 2070 in benchmarks, I'm trying to decide between the two.
    Reply
  • chickenballs
    its still a close to 900 dollar card
    way above the msrp
    Reply
  • labcraft59
    "...covered by a think piece of plastic, a company logo..."
    Reply
  • darrenkirby86
    585 in the UK. Where are u shopping???? They are 700 plus EVERYWHERE!
    Reply