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For consumers fortunate enough to have a budget that will stretch to a GTX 1080 Ti, the range of high-performance and well-engineered options available from Nvidia partners is impressive. MSI's take on the GTX 1080 Ti, its Gaming X variant, is a tried and trusted formula for success albeit one that is now somewhat predictable.
MSI's Gaming series design for Nvidia's high-performance GPUs has changed incrementally over the generations although we've yet to see a significant overhaul. There's probably good reason for this since MSI's Gaming series graphics cards continue to be popular with DIY system builders and PC enthusiasts.
It is easy to comprehend the popularity based on the merits of this particular product. Solid overclocked performance, a profound reduction in noise and temperatures over Nvidia's reference design and a sprinkling of novel features like RGB lighting, a metal backplate and a passive fan mode.
MSI is now very wise to the popularity of its Gaming series products and pricing now appropriately reflects that consumer demand and brand recognition. At many retailers MSI's GTX 1080 Ti Gaming X is an expensive option particularly compared to equivalent models from Palit and Zotac, for example. That said up against other in-demand models from prestige brands MSI's GTX 1080 Ti Gaming X is still a sensible option.
The MSI GTX 1080 Ti Gaming X is available to buy from Overclockers UK, pricing at the time of writing was £799.99. MSI provides a 3 year warranty with this product.
Pros
- Well-engineered cooling and power implementations
- Full cover backplate
- Quiet operation with good cooling
- RGB lighting
- Passive fan mode
Cons:
- Exceeds dual-slot form factor
- Clock speeds could be more aggressive
- Colour scheme is “limited” to red & black, not neutral
KitGuru says: An excellent GTX 1080 Ti that's got all the bases covered, MSI's Gaming X merits inclusion on any shortlist.
Prices are at a high at the moment but its worth shopping around. I got the little brother to this card in may when I got fed up waiting for Vega. Just to show how much the prices have risen……
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/44f321f75d0009751cb1c2d071f32a02ebac53b39582308105c1e1278a5a70cf.jpg
I paid £503 for the GTX1080 and MSI had a £43 cashback offer on so all in it was £460. (plus I got £230 for my R9 290X, the upgrade to the GTX 1080 cost me £230, happy days) The exact same GTX1080 from the exact same store today is up for £595, excluding the MSI discount that card is £92 MORE expensive.
Seems like I’m the only one who just wants a classy case without tempered glass or RGB. Who cares what the card looks like?
Not me, I spent ages researching coolers and went for the MSI based on user feedback. The MSI Twinfrozr is pretty much the quietest air-cooler you can get. I know mine is only the GTX1080 but if I cared about RGB they do another model that is specifically called the MSI GTX1080 RGB, I’m guessing that model shoots rainbows out of its ass lol.
same here. I want the best perf for the cash and not waste money on needless stuff like RGB controllers. I like a nice looking card (to buy) but I don’t look at it after its in so who cares? and yeah my case DOES have a perspex side window but I couldn’t care less that it does…. it just happens to.
all card prices seem to be jacked up right now inc 1080ti vs what we’d expect with so much competition (AIB competing with each other) which of course comes from the lesser cards prices being higher too, goes without saying.
It’s a bad time to being a GPU right now (esp on the high end), wait for vega (not for perf but to hopefully drive prices down a little maybe.. MAYBE) or wait for Volta. Only buy 1080ti if you get a killer deal, ebay deal or are desperate for that perf asap.
I have this card, and it is by far and away the best card I’ve ever had. It runs very quiet, and stays cool even after marathon gaming sessions. I mean it really runs cool. Great job on the fans and cooling MSI! I’m using it on a Dell 4k monitor and it is able to maintain 60 or above FPS in all but one or two games (and its very close in them, mid 50’s). I know it’s a very expensive card, but if you have the means, I recommend this card over any other 1080Ti.
Yes MSI is staying with the red and black theme which isn’t everyones cup of tea I know. But when you hold this card, you can tell it is extremely well made and solid. Great job MSI, and thanks for the review.
Good point, and I’m fine with the looks. Plus the way my case sets (a Corsair Air 540 with a glass panel), I can’t see it at all. Just a warm reddish glow coming from under my desk (mobo has red LEDs). Looks so cool!
Idk about you, but this is one exception I’d make.
http://fanlessfan.com
I love geforce gtx 1080, its best around. To compare price ( everybody complain) sneak here https://bestgtx.com/best-geforce-gtx-1080/
Styling is unquestionably sharp although the red and black colour scheme is beginning to feel a little tiresome. Gamers who haven’t settled on a final colour scheme for their build may well end up building their system around a graphics card like this. It’s an eye-catching centrepiece for any build although MSI fans looking for something a little more exclusive and flexible may do well to consider the Lightning Z instead.
I paid £650
Weirdly enough my 1080ti gaming x card, overclocked to plus 100 on the core and plus 610 on the memory is only getting 5834 in unigine heaven (At default it scores 5660) is there something wrong with my card? https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/729719ab51d59921d8a2a9b67616f7e5f505b0e4ca301fd5c9072ef64d8f1651.png