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It's been an interesting few days assessing the Inno3D RTX 4080 iChill X3 as this graphics card has done things a little differently to some of its competitors (like the Gigabyte Gaming OC).
Some of that works out well for the consumer however, with the decision to ditch a vapour chamber resulting in the best noise-normalised memory thermals we have seen so far. Granted, the margins are slim, but a win's a win, and you'd have to imagine that using a copper baseplate is cheaper than a vapour chamber.
The iChill X3 also offers the lowest out of the box noise levels we have seen from an RTX 4080 yet, and while its design may well split opinion, I personally think the aggressive aesthetic – with matching RGB – is a positive point of difference for the card.
However, I do question a few key decisions that Inno3D made around the iChill X3. The lack of dual-BIOS is, in my view, a big omission considering the price point of this card. After all, the iChill series is Inno3D's higher-tier line up, so while I could understand the lack of dual-BIOS on an X3 OC model, it really should be included with the iChill.
Similarly, while I don't think the decision to lock the power limit at 100% is the end of the world, it's likely to limit appeal as hardcore overclockers or enthusiasts would likely skip this card entirely as a result. It doesn't make much of a difference based on our testing, but a higher power limit has traditionally been a selling point for cards like this – especially at over £1000 – so it is likely to be perceived as an issue by some.
Ultimately, there are pros and cons to the Inno3D RTX 4080 iChill X3, but my overall conclusions remain similar to the other two RTX 4080s we have reviewed already. RTX 4080 simply does not offer good value to consumers at its current price point, particularly with RDNA 3 just weeks away at this point. My advice has been, and remains, for any potential customers to wait and see what RDNA 3 can bring to the table, and then we can see how the land lies – as Nvidia may well respond with price cuts.
You can buy the iChill X3 from Overclockers UK for £1349.99 HERE.
Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.
Pros
- Eye-catching design.
- Best GDDR6X thermals we've seen so far.
- Quietest 4080 yet.
Cons
- No dual-BIOS.
- Power limit cannot be increased beyond 320W.
- RTX 4080 is poor value overall.
KitGuru says: We like what Inno3D has done with the iChill X3, although the lack of dual-BIOS and an adjustable power limit is a slight shame. That said, RTX 4080 as a whole remains far too expensive considering the performance on offer.
