Components
Exclusive Review: ASUS STRIX RTX 3080 10GB OC Edition


So NVIDIA announced its GeForce RTX 3080 powered by the Ampere architecture a couple of days ago and we have started seeing manufacturers announcing graphics cards based on this architecture.

And we just received the Asus TUF Gaming RTX 3080 OC graphics card for a test drive. So here is our full-on review of the graphics card.

The ROG Strix GeForce RTX 3080 features a buffed-up design with better thermal performance. From top to bottom, the ROG Strix GeForce RTX 3080 has been radically improved to accommodate the impressive new Ampere chips from NVIDIA and to deliver the next wave of gaming performance innovation to the market. A fresh design and more metal surrounds a grouping of Axial-tech fans.

Last gen’s uniform fan layout has been usurped by a new rotation scheme and specialized roles for central and auxiliary fans.

Below the blades, a larger, more impressive heatsink is ready for the most demanding thermal loads. The PCB has some new tricks up its sleeves, and even the backplate has received some performance-boosting changes.

ASUS’ Axial-tech fan design has been optimised for a new, larger heatsink that features more fins and surface area than last gen. The blade count has been increased on all three fans, with 13 on the center fan and 11 on the auxiliary fans.

The barrier ring on the side fans has been slimmed down to allow for more lateral intake and to provide better airflow through the cooling array. The center fan’s extra blades and full-height ring provide boosted static pressure to blast air directly onto the GPU heat spreader.

The STRIX RTX 3080 comes with 10GB of GDDR6X VRAM. The current batches of RTX 3080 cards also have 8704 CUDA cores, along with a 320-bit memory interface and VRAM that operates at 19 Gbps.

The ROG STRIX RTX 3080 OC is currently the fastest RTX 3080 of the lot, though. The OC has a 1,440 MHz base clock and can reach 1,905 MHz by default in Gaming Mode, which is way beyond other custom cards.

The ASUS GPU Tweak II utility takes graphics card tuning to the next level. It allows you to tweak critical parameters including GPU core clocks, memory frequency, and voltage settings, with the option to monitor everything in real-time through a customizable on-screen display. Advanced fan control is also included along with many more features to help you get the most out of your graphics card.

By enabling OC Mode, you can increase the card’s peak clock speed to 1,935 MHz, a 13.2% increase over the boost clock of the RTX 3080 Founders Edition. The ROG STRIX RTX 3080 OC requires 3x 8-pin power connectors. The card measures 318.5 x 140.1 x 57.8 mm, for reference, making it a 2.9-slot card.

You also get Super Alloy Power II that includes premium alloy chokes, solid polymer capacitors, and an array of high-current power stages. And MAXCONTACT helps with getting heat into the heatsink array efficiently, so that it can be whisked away by the powerful axial-tech fans.

DLSS functionality of the STRIX RTX 3080 OC Edition improves performance in titles such as Control, Minecraft with RTX for Windows 10 and Death Stranding, while generating beautiful, crisp game images that are often clearer and sharper than native resolution rendering with Temporal Anti-Aliasing. This series of graphics cards are also the world’s first PC GPUs to support HDMI 2.1, the newest display standard.

Input lag, otherwise known as system latency, makes games less responsive, increasing the time it takes for your actions to be reflected in-game. The ROG STRIX RTX 3080 OC Edition series comes with NVIDIA Reflex, a suite of GPU, G-SYNC display, and software technologies that allow gamers to measure and optimise system latency.

In order to gauge the real-world tests, we ran a few benchmarks on the ROG STRIX RTX 3080 OC Edition graphics card. On 3DMark: Night Raid the graphics score recorded was 126955, while on 3DMark: Fire Strike, the graphics score stood at 44199.

Meanwhile, 3DMark: Fire Strike Ultra threw the graphics score as 11268, while 3DMark TimeSpy gave the GPU score as 18189.

From the above table you can have a glimpse of the card’s performance under 1K, 2K and 4K display settings. The overall gameplay experience was top notch thanks to the excellent quality components used to build the graphics card and the redesigned and upgraded cooling system.

Due to the efficient cooling system employed in the ROG STRIX RTX 3080 OC Edition, temperatures are well controlled even under trying circumstances. The graphics card will be able to handle not only intense gaming sessions, but also performance-hungry content creation jobs such as video rendering and 3D graphics designing with ease.
In terms of connectivity, you get two native HDMI 2.1 ports, three native DisplayPort 1.4a ports and it also supports HDCP 2.3. It also supports a display setup of up to 4 displays. Inside the box, along with the ROG Strix GeForce RTX 3080 OC Edition, you also get an ROG Velcro Hook & Loop, one ROG ruler, one Collection card and one Speedsetup manual.
Of course, quality and top notch performance comes at a price. The ASUS ROG Strix GeForce RTX 3080 OC Edition comes in at a pricing of AED 4500. Professional Gamers will truly appreciate the value the ASUS ROG Strix GeForce RTX 3080 OC Edition brings to the table.
It offers brilliant build quality and top-end components, revamped and better cooling system, overclocking capabilities, and blockbuster performance, all the while keeping itself cool under all circumstances. The ASUS ROG Strix GeForce RTX 3080 OC Edition thus gets the Gadget Voize Recommended stamp!
Price: AED 4500

Components
AMD Launches AMD RDNA 4 Architecture with New Radeon RX 9000 Series Graphics Cards

AMD today unveiled the highly-anticipated AMD RDNA 4 graphics architecture with the launch of the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT and RX 9070 graphics cards as a part of the Radeon RX 9000 Series. The new graphics cards feature 16GB of memory and extensive improvements designed for high-quality gaming graphics, including re-vamped raytracing accelerators and powerful AI accelerators for ultra-fast, cutting-edge performance, and breakthrough gaming experiences.
In a YouTube livestream, David McAfee, CVP and GM, Ryzen CPU and Radeon Graphics, AMD, was joined by Andrej Zdravkovic, SVP of GPU Technologies and Engineering, AMD and Chief Software Officer, as well as Andy Pomianowski, CVP of Silicon Design Engineering, AMD, to discuss the outstanding performance and value proposition of the Radeon RX 9000 Series. In a related event in Zhuhai, China, Jack Huynh, SVP of the Client and Graphics Group, AMD, led a regional event for the new products. Huynh was joined by David Wang, SVP of GPU Technology and Engineering, AMD, and Lanzhi Wang, Senior Director of Product Management, AMD. The celebration was also marked by a customer celebration with Darren Grasby, EVP and AMD Chief Sales Officer, AMD; Spencer Pan, President of AMD China, and partners including Asrock, ASUS, Gigabyte, Sapphire, Tul, Vastamore, Veston, and XFX.
“Today, we’re thrilled to unveil the AMD Radeon RX 9000 Series, a significant leap forward in graphics performance powered by our next-generation AMD RDNA 4 architecture,” said McAfee. “These GPUs are designed to meet the demands of today’s games, delivering enthusiast-class gaming experiences to gamers everywhere, while ready to support tomorrow’s innovations. Through the power of advanced AI and Raytracing accelerators, we’re not just improving frame rates – we’re fundamentally enhancing the gaming experience. Offering incredible performance, AI-powered features, and next-gen display support at competitive price points, the Radeon RX 9000 Series delivers exceptional value for gamers looking to upgrade their systems.”
The RX 9000 Series, powered by the new AMD RDNA 4 architecture, offers gamers and creators a powerful blend of performance, visuals, and value. These advanced graphics cards redefine incredibly fast, high-resolution gaming with third-generation raytracing technology enabling realistic lighting, shadows, and reflections to deliver immersive gaming experiences while integrating a suite of AMD features to maximize hardware utilization. Beyond gaming, the RX 9000 Series GPUs leverage new second-generation AI accelerators with up to 8x INT8 throughput per AI accelerator (for sparse matrices) to enhance creative applications and effectively run generative AI applications (vs. RDNA 3). The RX 9000 Series GPUs also implement the newly redesigned AMD Radiance Display Engine & Enhanced Media Engine for broad display support and elevated quality in both recording and streaming.
The Radeon RX 9000 Series unlocks new levels of performance while delivering a suite of new and enhanced features that improve the gaming experience. The Radeon RX 9070 Series offers 16GB of GDDR6 memory, allowing gamers to render the most exciting games of today and tomorrow at max settings. Compared to the previous generation RX 7900 GRE, the latest AMD Radeon RX 9070 is able to deliver over 20% more performance on average when gaming at 1440, with the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT extending that lead to over 40% on average.
Both graphics cards make smart upgrades for gamers looking to future-proof their systems with a suite of next-gen features that will keep their experiences feeling fresh for years to come. Key features include:
- Unified AMD RDNA 4 Compute Units – Features up to 64 advanced AMD RDNA 4 compute units delivering up to 40% higher gaming performance than the previous-generation AMD RDNA 3 architecture.
High-Performance Raytracing – With 3rd generation Raytracing Accelerators, AMD RDNA 4 is able to deliver over 2x the Raytracing throughput per compute unit when compared to our previous generation. Gamers with the latest AMD Radeon RX 9000 Series are ready for immersive gaming experiences with high-quality graphics, including realistic lighting, shadows, and reflections. - Supercharged AI Acceleration – 2nd Generation AI Accelerators received several enhancements, allowing AMD RDNA 4 to efficiently process advanced AI models much faster than what was possible with RDNA 3, through a combination of additional math pipelines for AI calculations, expanding the capabilities of the AI Accelerator to support new emerging data types such as FP8, and support for inference optimization techniques such as structured sparsity. These changes deliver up to 8x INT8 throughput per AI accelerator (for sparse matrices) per compute unit vs the previous generation.
- AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution Technology 4 (FSR 4) – AMD’s new cutting-edge ML-powered upscaling technology delivers high-quality boosted frames under even the most demanding workloads, such as 4K gaming with maximum raytracing settings and will be supported in over 30 games at launch.
- Innovative suite of features through HYPR-RX – Gamers can instantly improve their experience by activating AMD HYPR-RX and the suite of features within AMD Software, including AMD Radeon Super Resolution, AMD Fluid Motion Frames 2.1, AMD Radeon Anti-Lag, and AMD Radeon Boost. These features can all be tailored to gamers’ hardware and preferences within AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition to drive increased FPS, responsiveness and efficiency.
- AI-Enhanced AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition Application – A new suite of software and resources designed to deliver an industry-leading AI user experience with AMD Radeon RX 9070 Series graphics cards. Keep your drivers and AI software up to date with the new Software Manager. Find the answers to your questions about all things AMD or create free and private text and images with AMD Chat. Discover, download and install new and exciting AMD-partnered AI applications with the App Portal, and leverage AI to improve software quality with the AMD Image Inspector.
- Ready for Next-Generation Displays – AMD Radiance Display Engine supports the latest DisplayPort 2.1a and HDMI 2.1b connections, enabling ultra-high resolutions and refresh rates up to 8K 144Hz, with 12-bit HDR and full REC2020 Color Space for incredible color accuracy. Paired with AMD FreeSync technology, gamers can enjoy tear-free, stutter-free gaming experiences on over 4000 compatible displays, including upcoming 4K 240Hz and 8K 144Hz DisplayPort 2.1 monitors.
Available exclusively on AMD Radeon RX 9000 Series graphics cards, AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition adds a new easy-to-use AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution 4 (AMD FSR 4) Upgrade feature that helps maximize performance at maximum quality in over 30 games at launch, with 75 coming later this year. AMD FSR 4 delivers a substantial image quality improvement over AMD FSR 3.1 upscaling, with the new ML-based algorithm helping to improve temporal stability, better preserve detail, and reduce ghosting.
Utilizing features already built into the AMD FidelityFX API added when game developers integrate AMD FSR 3.1 into their games, AMD FSR 4 enables an easy upgrade for supported FSR 3.1 games and can be combined with existing in-game AMD FSR 3.1 advanced frame-generation and AMD Radeon Anti-Lag 2 for ultra-smooth, ultra-responsive gaming at incredible frame rates on AMD Radeon RX 9070 Series graphics cards.
The new ML-accelerated AMD FSR 4 upscaling algorithm is trained using high-quality ground truth game data on AMD Instinct Accelerators and uses the hardware-accelerated FP8 Wave Matrix Multiply Accumulate (WMMA) feature of the AMD RDNA 4 architecture to ensure maximum upscaling quality while still providing a substantial game performance boost.
AMD Radeon RX 9000 Series graphics cards are expected to be available from leading board partners including Acer, ASRock, ASUS, Gigabyte, PowerColor, Sapphire, Vastarmor, XFX, and Yeston beginning March 6th, 2025. The AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT has an SEP of $599, while the AMD Radeon RX 9070 has an SEP of $549.
Components
Users Claim That Nvidia GPUs Are Melting Power Cables

Early adopters of Nvidia’s new GeForce RTX 5090 graphics card are reporting issues with melting power cables, with at least one report on YouTube and another on Reddit. This situation mirrors an earlier problem with the RTX 4090, where power connectors melted or caught fire, damaging GPUs and power supplies.
Investigations revealed that the 4090’s connector issues were largely due to user error, with 12VHPWR connectors not being fully inserted or bent, creating stress and heat. The PCI-SIG, the standards body for the connector, stated the design was sound and blamed implementation issues. An updated connector, 12V-2×6, which ensures proper seating before delivering power, replaced the 12VHPWR connector in the RTX 50-series cards.
Both connectors aim to deliver significant power to high-end GPUs via a single cable, reducing the need for multiple 8-pin connectors and saving board space. While Nvidia, Intel, AMD, Qualcomm, Arm, and others are PCI-SIG members, Nvidia is the primary user of these connectors in its GPUs. AMD and Intel continue using 8-pin connectors, with some Nvidia partners doing the same for lower-end cards like the RTX 4060 and 4070 series.
The two reported RTX 5090 incidents involved third-party cables, one from MODDIY and another from an FSP power supply, rather than Nvidia’s provided 8-pin adapter. It’s too early to determine if the problem lies with the cables, Nvidia, the connector design, or user error, or if it’s simply a coincidence.
Components
Cooler Master Launches MasterLiquid Core II

Cooler Master has announced the MasterLiquid Core II, a next-level liquid cooler that comes in both 240mm and 360mm sizes. This latest version of Cooler Master’s MasterLiquid series builds on the excellence of that renowned series of liquid coolers while bringing an array of new features to the table. With a refined G9R dual chamber pump, updated CPU compatibility, and more, the MasterLiquid Core II is an upgrade fit for the next generation.
Key features and benefits of the MasterLiquid Core II include:
- Dual chamber pump: Upgraded design resulting in a compact cooler with superior performance.
- Updated CPU compatibility: The Core II is compatible with all the latest AMD and Intel CPUs.
- Innovative design: An infinity mirror pump cover gives the Core a stellar aesthetic.
- Revamped fans: Brand-new fan blades and revamped visuals deliver outstanding performance with a fresh look.
- Easy installation: Now includes a quick-mount kit compatible with all mainstream processor sockets, along with pre-installed fans.
- Optimum tubing length: 400mm of tubing enables effortless mounting in any orientation.
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