Gameplay Performance – 4K
On this page, we will look at gameplay performance at 4K for the GeForce RTX 5080. Note that several games we are using have ‘always on’ ray-traced calculated lights, and thus are ray-traced ‘always on’ games; we will point those games out below. Under each game, you will find a graph that shows raster plus upscaling performance, as well as a separate graph that enables any extra ray tracing features with upscaling enabled. The video cards we are using for comparison are: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 FE, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER, and the MSI GeForce RTX 5080 16G EXPERT OC being reviewed, at default and overclocked.
Alan Wake 2
In Alan Wake 2, the MSI GeForce RTX 5080 16G EXPERT OC was playable at 4K with the highest game graphics preset of “High.” The MSI GeForce RTX 5080 16G EXPERT OC managed to hit 60FPS, and with DLSS Upscaling, that increased up to 90FPS for very smooth gameplay with low latency at 4K. The MSI GeForce RTX 5080 16G EXPERT OC edged out the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 FE by 2% with its factory overclock, and it was 18% faster than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER FE. Overclocking the MSI GeForce RTX 5080 16G EXPERT OC increased performance by 7%.
In Alan Wake 2 we can turn on “Ultra” Ray Tracing, and so we have done so above as well as Quality DLSS Upscaling. With DLSS Upscaling, the MSI GeForce RTX 5080 16G EXPERT OC provides a playable experience in this particular game at 50FPS, DLSS Upscaling helps to improve latency. The MSI GeForce RTX 5080 16G EXPERT OC still edges out the NV RTX 5080 FE by 2% with its factory overclock. The MSI GeForce RTX 5080 16G EXPERT OC is 14% faster than the GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER FE. The overclock improves performance by 8%.
Black Myth: Wukong
In Black Myth: Wukong, we are running the game at 4K at the Cinematic quality setting. Here we can see that this game is not playable without DLSS Upscaling. Once we enable DLSS Upscaling, the game is playable at just 60FPS. The MSI GeForce RTX 5080 16G EXPERT OC is a frame per second faster than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 FE, and 16% faster than the GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER. Overclocking improves performance by 8%.
We can enable Ray Tracing in this game, but it is very demanding. In the graph above, we have enabled “Medium” RT, but even that, with DLSS Upscaling, is not playable at 47FPS at 4K. It is again one frame faster than the RTX 5080 FE, and 15% faster than the RTX 4080 SUPER. Overclocking improves performance by 8%.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is one of those games that runs with ray tracing ‘always on’ as it is built into the game, so the game is very demanding at 4K. With the “Epic” graphics quality setting, the MSI GeForce RTX 5080 16G EXPERT OC is not playable unless we enable DLSS Upscaling. With DLSS Upscaling, the performance is in the mid-60s and smooth. The MSI GeForce RTX 5080 16G EXPERT OC is 2% faster than the NV RTX 5080 FE and 18% faster than the NV RTX 4080 SUPER. Overclocking improves performance by 7%.
Cyberpunk 2077
Cyberpunk 2077 running at the “Ultra” preset at 4K is very playable on the MSI GeForce RTX 5080 16G EXPERT OC at 76.6FPS, providing very smooth gameplay without needing DLSS Upscaling. When DLSS Upscaling is enabled, performance jumps into the 80s. We can see that the MSI GeForce RTX 5080 16G EXPERT OC is 3.3% faster than the NV RTX 5080 FE this time, the fastest we’ve seen yet. It is also a massive 38% faster than the RTX 4080 SUPER. Overclocking improves performance by 5%.
We can enable the “Ultra” Ray Tracing preset in this game at 4K, and with DLSS Upscaling enabled it is very playable at 63.5FPS. The MSI GeForce RTX 5080 16G EXPERT OC is 3% faster than the NV RTX 5080 FE and 17% faster than the RTX 4080 SUPER. Overclocking improves performance by 7%.
Doom: The Dark Ages
Doom: The Dark Ages is another game that runs with ray tracing ‘always on’ as it is built into the game. In Doom: The Dark Ages, we are running at the “Ultra Nightmare” graphics preset at 4K. The MSI GeForce RTX 5080 16G EXPERT OC is playable above 60FPS average here, but the experience is really improved with DLSS Upscalin,g bringing it up to 90FPS, which is what you would want for this game. The MSI GeForce RTX 5080 16G EXPERT OC is 2% faster than the NV RTX 5080 FE and 15% faster than the RTX 4080 SUPER. Overclocking improves performance by 8%.
We can enable Path Tracing in Doom: The Dark Ages, and so we have enabled it with the highest settings. Even with DLSS Upscaling enabled here, the MSI GeForce RTX 5080 16G EXPERT OC is not playable at 41FPS. You will either need to apply a very aggressive DLSS Upscaling level or simply not run Path Tracing at 4K in this game. The MSI GeForce RTX 5080 16G EXPERT OC edges out the RTX 5080 FE, and is 27% faster than the RTX 4080 SUPER, which is pretty big. Overclocking improves performance by 8%.
Horizon Forbidden West
In Horizon Forbidden West, the MSI GeForce RTX 5080 16G EXPERT OC is very playable at 4K and the highest settings at 77.7FPS, providing a very smooth experience. DLSS Upscaling further improves that above 100FPS, making the game very smooth with low latency. The MSI GeForce RTX 5080 16G EXPERT OC is 2% faster than the RTX 5080 FE and 13% faster than the RTX 4080 SUPER. Overclocking improves performance by 9%.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is another game that runs with ray tracing ‘always on’ as it is built into the game. In Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, we can easily run at the “Supreme” image quality setting on the MSI GeForce RTX 5080 16G EXPERT OC with framerates averaging near 100FPS. DLSS Upscaling improves that to the 130FPS range. The MSI GeForce RTX 5080 16G EXPERT OC is 2% faster than the RTX 5080 FE and 19% faster than the RTX 4080 SUPER. Overclocking improves performance by 7%.
Kingdomdom Come: Deliverance II
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is another game that runs with ray tracing ‘always on’ as it is built into this CryEngine game. In Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, the MSI GeForce RTX 5080 16G EXPERT OC runs great at 71.2FPS at 4K with the highest settings. Enabling DLSS Upscaling improves that to 95FPS, and the game is very smooth. The MSI GeForce RTX 5080 16G EXPERT OC is 1.4% faster than the RTX 5080 FE here, and 26% faster than the RTX 4080 SUPER. Overclocking improves performance by 7%.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl
In S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, we are running the game at 4K at the Epic quality setting. In this game, it is iffy on the playability at 4K Epic without DLSS Upscaling. You will really want to enable DLSS Upscaling here to achieve better playable 80FPS and smoother gameplay with better latency. The MSI GeForce RTX 5080 16G EXPERT OC is 2% faster than the NV RTX 5080 FE and 13% faster than the RTX 4080 SUPER. Overclocking improves performance by 8%.
Star Wars Outlaws
Star Wars Outlaws is another game that uses ‘always on’ ray tracing as it is built into the game. This game is very demanding at the Ultra setting at 4K, and it is not playable unless you enable DLSS Upscaling. With DLSS Upscaling, performance is only just playable as well, so you may actually want to lower DLSS Upscaling to Balanced in this game. The MSI GeForce RTX 5080 16G EXPERT OC is on par with the NV RTX 5080 FE, mostly, and it is 17% faster than the RTX 4080 SUPER. Overclocking improves performance by 10%, which actually helps with DLSS Upscaling enabled.
In Star Wars Outlaws, we can enable NVIDIA RTX Direct Lighting. With this enabled, even with DLSS Upscaling, performance tanks to unplayable levels. The MSI GeForce RTX 5080 16G EXPERT OC is 6% faster than the RTX 5080 FE and 14% faster than the RTX 4080 SUPER. Overclocking improves performance by 8%.