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Nvidia graphics card partners have refreshed a number of GTX 1080 models to take advantage of faster 11Gbps Micron memory. ASUS were one of the first companies to participate in the new scheme from Nvidia that was announced at its 2017 GDC conference.
ASUS joins MSI in creating a new model specifically for 11Gbps memory modules. Nvidia partners are only allowed to include these uprated memory modules in overclocked models and so ASUS has rolled out the new memory configuration with its Republic of Gamers Strix OC graphics card.
In particular the model on test today is the ROG-STRIX-GTX1080-O8G-11GBPS, which causes the ROG-STRIX-GTX1080-O8G-GAMING to become End of Life (EOL) even if the newer ASUS 11Gbps model has slightly lower out-of-the-box frequencies. The slightly slower-clocked GTX 1080 Advanced Gaming, ROG-STRIX-GTX1080-A8G-GAMING, continues to remain on sale albeit at a more competitive price point and retaining the standard 10Gbps memory configuration.
There are a number of other ASUS GTX 1080 models in the picture, which can get a little confusing – but for all intents and purposes this refreshed model is the best ASUS GTX 1080 currently on sale. Frequencies aside the 11Gbps ASUS card is highly similar to the ASUS GTX 1080 ROG Strix A8G KitGuru tested last year.
This means it has a high performance cooling solution, backplate, full RGB functionality, GPU-controlled 4-pin fan headers and a PCB assembled using the ASUS Auto-Extreme production process.
Out of the box the ASUS graphics card will run in Gaming mode, the default mode, which gives a 1695MHz base and 1835MHz boost, with 11010MHz memory. Installing the ASUS GPU Tweak II software will enable the end user to toggle an OC mode that increases frequencies to 1721MHz base, 1860Mhz boost and 11100MHz memory.
Pricing is higher than most of its rivals with ASUS selling its new 11Gbps GTX 1080 close to the £600 level in the United Kingdom – somewhat exuberant pricing given that GTX 1080 Ti graphics cards currently start from around £650.
| GPU | ASUS ROG Strix GeForce GTX 1080 OC 11Gbps | ASUS ROG Strix GeForce GTX 1080 OC (08G) | ASUS ROG Strix GeForce GTX 1080 OC (A8G) | Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 |
| Base Clock |
1695 MHz | 1759 MHz | 1670 MHz | 1607 MHz |
| GPU Boost Clock | 1835 MHz | 1898 MHz | 1809 MHz | 1733 MHz |
| Memory Clock Effective |
11010 MHz | 10010 MHz | 10010 MHz | 10010 MHz |
| Memory Bandwidth | 352.3 GB/s | 320.3 GB/s | 320.3 GB/s | 320.3 GB/s |
| Price (£) | £600 | EOL | £530-580 | £480+ |
That’s a pretty heavy Asus tax when the MSI GTX1080 Gaming X Plus 11gbps is currently available for £460 (£503+£43 msi cashback) if you shop around.
I picked up the MSI GTX1080 Gaming X plus (shorten the names ffs lol) over the Asus because I have a morbid fear of small triple fans after living with a Vapor-X for 3 years, it’s good to see they have the acoustics in check. After a lot of research I still think the MSI is the quieter of the two even if it drops a degree or two which I can live with.