Following NVIDIA’s announcement of its latest GeForce RTX 20-series GPUs on Monday, its board partners also introduced their custom-built offerings based on the new processors. As is usually the case, the first wave of products do not feature extreme frequencies or highly-custom designs – and indeed many of them look like they'll be using NVIDIA's reference PCB – but they still offer various customizations and cooling changes relative to NVIDA's own "reference" Founders Ediiton card. Today we are taking a look on these cards and briefly compare their characteristics.

NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 20-series lineup will initially consist of three models: the RTX 2080 Ti based on the TU102 GPU as well as the RTX 2070 and the RTX 2080 powered by the TU104 processor. The flagship GeForce RTX 2080 Ti GPU features 4352 CUDA cores, a 352-bit memory bus, and carries 11 GB of GDDR6 memory. Meanwhile, the GeForce RTX 2070 and 2080 boards have 2304 and 2944 cores (respectively), a 256-bit memory bus, and carry 8 GB of GDDR6.

Makers of graphics cards cannot activate any additional CUDA cores, but what they can do is increase default and boost frequencies of GPUs, or install high-performance cooling systems, thus altering and improving performance of their products compared to reference video cards designed by NVIDIA. Without further ado, let’s jump right to custom-designed graphics cards based on the TU102 and TU104 GPUs.

Custom GeForce RTX 2080 Ti Graphics Cards

NVIDIA’s reference PCB for the GeForce RTX 2080 Ti, which is being used in their own factory overclocked Founders Edition card, feature a 13-phase VRM and a double-wide dual-fan cooler. The chip developer's Founder’s Edition will ship with the GPU clocked at 1350/1635 MHz (base/boost), but for its partners NVIDIA recommends maximum burst frequency of up to 1545 MHz. In a bid to differentiate themselves from NVIDIA's own design (while ideally fetching a similar price), they'll be implementing their own factory overclocks along with different (and usually larger) coolers..

When it comes to power delivery, only EVGA has confirmed that its TU102-based GeForce RTX 2080 Ti FTW3 and GeForce RTX 2080 Ti FTW3 Ultra cards will feature a custom PCB, in this case implementing a 19-phase (16+3?) VRM. And while it is logical to expect at least some board partners to also do the same, for the moment only EVGA is claiming to do so. For more details, please see comparison of the cards in a table below.

Moving on to cooling systems. ASUS, Colorful, EVGA, Palit, and ZOTAC all plan to offer triple-wide GeForce RTX 2080 Ti graphics cards with massive heatsinks and three cooling fans. Meaning all of these designs should offer very high cooling potentials. In the meantime, Colorful, GIGABYTE, Inno3D, KFA2/Galax, MSI, and PNY will offer slimmer RTX 2080 Ti products with similar triple fan coolers, which typically means good performance amid moderate noise levels.

So far, only Inno3D and MSI have announced a GeForce RTX 2080 Ti board with a hybrid cooler, but expect makers of custom liquid cooling systems to offer specialized waterblocks for cards made by various AIB producers.

It is important that all manufacturers of graphics cards plan to offer ‘inexpensive’ versions of their GeForce RTX 2080 Ti products, often with simple blower cooling systems. Ideally these products will hit the streets at NVIDIA's official MSRPs, however given early demand the fact that launch cards frequently sell out, we're not seriously expecting to see cards at MSRP in September.

Speaking of clocks, it is noteworthy that all of the AIB makers that have disclosed base and boost frequencies of their GeForce RTX 2080 Ti cards decided to stick to clocks of Founder’s Edition cards. It is unclear whether this is a precaution on board partners' part, or a requirement of NVIDIA. However, if all AIB producers stick to this strategy, at least initially there will be no custom adapters that will offer higher performance than NVIDIA’s FE boards.

Custom Graphics Cards Based on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 TI GPU
Maker Model GPU Clocks
Base
Boost
Type of Cooler
# of Fans
Width Display
Outputs
ASUS ROG Strix RTX2080TI-O11G-GAMING 1350 MHz
? MHz
Regular
Three Fans
w/ 0db Fan Mode
2.7-Wide 2×DP 1.4
2×HDMI 2.0b
USB Type-C
ROG Strix TX2080TI-A11G-GAMING
ROG Strix RTX2080TI-11G-GAMING
Dual-RTX2080TI-O11G Regular
Two Fans
w/ 0db Fan Mode
3×DP 1.4
1×HDMI 2.0b
USB Type-C
Dual-RTX2080TI-A11G
Dual-RTX2080TI-11G
Turbo-RTX2080TI-11G Blower
One Fan
2-Wide 2×DP 1.4
1×HDMI 2.0b
USB Type-C
Colorful iGame GeForce RTX 2080 Ti Advanced OC 1350 MHz
1635 MHz
Regular
Three Fans
2.5-Wide 3×DP 1.4
1×HDMI 2.0b
USB Type-C
iGame GeForce RTX 2080 Ti Advanced 1350 MHz
1545 MHz
EVGA GeForce RTX 2080 Ti FTW3 ULTRA 1350 MHz
? MHz
Regular
Three Fans
ICX2
2.75-Wide 3×DP 1.4
1×HDMI 2.0b
USB Type-C
GeForce RTX 2080 Ti FTW3
GeForce RTX 2080 Ti XC2 ULTRA Regular
Two Fans
ICX2
GeForce RTX 2080 Ti XC2
GeForce RTX 2080 Ti XC ULTRA Regular
Two Fans
GeForce RTX 2080 Ti XC 2-Wide
GeForce RTX 2080 Ti Black
GeForce RTX 2080 Ti Blower
One Fan
GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 2080 Ti Gaming OC 11G
GV-N208TGAMING OC-11GC
1350 MHz
? MHz
Regular
Three Fans
2-Wide 3×DP 1.4
1×HDMI 2.0b
USB Type-C
GeForce RTX 2080 Ti Windforce OC 11G
GV-N208TWF3OC-11GC
Inno3D IChiLL GeForce RTX 2080 Ti Black 1350 MHz
? MHz
Hybrid 2-Wide 3×DP 1.4
1×HDMI 2.0b
USB Type-C
GeForce RTX 2080 Ti Gaming OC X3 Regular
Three Fans
GeForce RTX 2080 Ti X2 OC Regular
Two Fans
KFA2
Galax
 GeForce RTX 2080Ti SG Edition 1350 MHz
? MHz
Regular
Three Fans
2-Wide 3×DP 1.4
1×HDMI 2.0b
USB Type-C
GeForce RTX 2080Ti OC White Regular
Two Fans

GeForce RTX 2080Ti OC

 

GeForce RTX 2080Ti Blower
One Fan
MSI Gaming X Trio 1350 MHz
? MHz
Regular
Three Fans
? ?
Duke ? ?
Ventus Regular
Two Fans
2-Wide ?
Aero Blower
One Fan
?
Sea Hawk Hybrid
Blower
Two Fans
?
Palit GeForce RTX 2080 Ti GamingPro OC 1350 MHz
1650 MHz
Regular
Two Fans
3-Wide 3×DP 1.4
1×HDMI 2.0b
USB Type-C
GeForce RTX 2080 Ti GamingPro 1350 MHz
1545 MHz
PNY GeForce RTX 2080 Ti XLR8 Gaming Overclocked Edition 1350 MHz
1545 MHz
Regular
Three Fans
2-Wide 3×DP 1.4
1×HDMI 2.0b
USB Type-C
?
GeForce RTX 2080 Ti Blower Blower
One Fan
ZOTAC GAMING GeForce RTX 2080 Ti AMP
ZT-T20810D-10P
1350 MHz
? MHz
Regular
Three Fans
2.5-Wide
 
3×DP 1.4
1×HDMI 2.0b
USB Type-C
GAMING GeForce RTX 2080 Ti Triple Fan
ZT-T20810F-10P
1350 MHz
1545 MHz
NVIDIA Founder's Edition 1350 MHz
1635 MHz
Regular
Two Fans
2-Wide 3×DP 1.4
1×HDMI 2.0b
USB Type-C
Reference 1350 MHz
1545 MHz

Custom GeForce RTX 2080 Graphics Cards

Next up are graphics cards based on NVIDIA’s TU104 GPUs — the GeForce RTX 2070 and the GeForce RTX 2080. With the 2080 shipping on September 20th, all of NVIDIA’s allies have introduced their RTX 2080 boards. By comparison, only a handful of designs for the 2070, which ships in October, have been shown off. So we likely won't see the bulk of those until much closer to when they ship.

NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 2080 Founder’s Edition cards are outfitted with a 10-phase VRM and are clocked at 1515/1800 MHz (base/boost). In fact, NVIDIA’s own RTX 2070 cards also use the same power delivery circuity, so it looks like the GPU designer is fond of that VRM configuration for its TU104 chip.

Again, so far only EVGA has announced two GeForce RTX 2080 graphics cards featuring a 14-phase VRM. Other makers may also offer cards with an enhanced VRM setup, but they remain quiet about this fact right now.

As for massive cooling systems, ASUS, Colorful, EVGA, and Palit intend to offer triple-wide GeForce RTX 2080s with three fans. And Colorful, GIGABYTE, Inno3D, KFA2/Galax, MSI, PNY, and ZOTAC will offer more traditional two-wide 2080s with triple-fan coolers.

MSI plans to release an RTX 2080 card with hybrid cooling, but expect makers of high-end LCS to launch waterblocks for the latest graphics cards too.

Meanwhile, for those who prefer cheaper boards, AIB makers will offer GeForce RTX 2070/2080 products with blower coolers.

When it comes to clocks of custom GeForce RTX 2080 graphics adapters, the situation is identical to the 2080 Ti. None of the board partners have announced cards with any kind of base clock overclock, and meanwhile no one is offering an overclocked boost clock higher than NVIDIA's own Founders Edition cards.

Custom Graphics Cards Based on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080/2070 GPU
Maker Model GPU Clocks
Base
Boost
Type of Cooler
# of Fans
Width Display
Outputs
ASUS ROG Strix RTX2080-O8G-GAMING 1515 MHz
? MHz
Regular
Three Fans
w/ 0db Fan Mode
2.7-Wide 2×DP 1.4
2×HDMI 2.0b
USB Type-C
ROG Strix RTX2080- A8G-GAMING
ROG Strix RTX2080-8G-GAMING
Dual RTX2080-O8G Regular
Two Fans
w/ 0db Fan Mode
3×DP 1.4
1×HDMI 2.0b
USB Type-C
Dual RTX2080-A8G
Dual RTX2080-8G
Turbo RTX2080-8G Blower
One Fan
2-Wide 2×DP 1.4
1×HDMI 2.0b
USB Type-C
Colorful iGame GeForce RTX 2080 Advanced OC 1515 MHz
1800 MHz
Regular
Three Fans
2.5-Wide 3×DP 1.4
1×HDMI 2.0b
USB Type-C
iGame GeForce RTX 2080 Advanced 1515 MHz
1710 MHz
EVGA GeForce RTX 2080 FTW3 ULTRA 1515 MHz
? MHz
Regular
Three Fans
ICX2
2.75-Wide 3×DP 1.4
1×HDMI 2.0b
USB Type-C
GeForce RTX 2080 FTW3
GeForce RTX 2080 XC2 ULTRA Regular
Two Fans
ICX2
GeForce RTX 2080 XC2
GeForce RTX 2080 XC ULTRA Regular
Two Fans
GeForce RTX 2080 XC 2-Wide
GeForce RTX 2080 Black
GeForce RTX 2080 Blower
GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 2080 Gaming OC 8G
GV-N2080GAMING OC-8GC
1515 MHz
? MHz
Regular
Three Fans
2-Wide 3×DP 1.4
1×HDMI 2.0b
USB Type-C
GeForce RTX 2080 Windforce OC 8G
GV-N2080WF3OC-8GC
GeForce RTX 2070 GAMING OC 8G 1410 MHz
? MHz
Inno3D GeForce RTX 2080 Gaming OC X3 1515 MHz
? MHz
Regular
Three Fans
2-Wide 3×DP 1.4
1×HDMI 2.0b
USB Type-C
GeForce RTX 2080 X2 OC Regular
Two Fans
GeForce RTX 2080 Jet Blower
KFA2
Galax
GeForce RTX 2080 OC White 1515 MHz
? MHz
Regular
Two Fans
2-Wide 3×DP 1.4
1×HDMI 2.0b
USB Type-C
GeForce RTX 2080 OC
GeForce RTX 2080
MSI Gaming X Trio 1515 MHz
? MHz
Regular
Three Fans
? ?
Duke ? ?
Ventus Regular
Two Fans
2-Wide ?
Aero Blower
One Fan
?
Sea Hawk Hybrid
Blower
Two Fans
?
Palit
 
GeForce RTX 2080 GamingPro OC 1515 MHz
1815 MHz
Regular
Two Fans
2.5-Wide 3×DP 1.4
1×HDMI 2.0b
USB Type-C
GeForce RTX 2080 GamingPro 1515 MHz
1710 MHz
PNY GeForce RTX 2080 XLR8 Gaming Overclocked Edition Triple Fan 1515 MHz
1710 MHz
Regular
Three Fans
2-Wide ?
GeForce RTX 2080 XLR8 Gaming Overclocked Edition Dual Fan Regular
Two Fans
?
PNY GeForce RTX 2080 Dual Fan ?
GeForce RTX 2080 Blower Blower
One Fan
?
GeForce RTX 2070 XLR8 Gaming Overclocked Edition Triple Fan 1410 MHz
? MHz
Regular
Three Fans
?
GeForce RTX 2070 XLR8 Gaming Overclocked Edition Dual Fan Regular
Two Fans
?
GeForce RTX 2070 Blower Blower
One Fan
?
ZOTAC GAMING GeForce RTX 2080 AMP
ZT-T20800D-10P
1515 MHz
? MHz
Regular
Three Fans
2.5-Wide 3×DP 1.4
1×HDMI 2.0b
USB Type-C
GAMING GeForce RTX 2080 Blower
ZT-T20800A-10P
1515 MHz
1710 MHz
Blower
One Fan
2-Wide
NVIDIA RTX 1080 Founder's Edition 1515 MHz
1800 MHz
Regular
Two Fans
2-Wide 3×DP 1.4
1×HDMI 2.0b
USB Type-C
RTX 1080 Reference 1515 MHz
1710 MHz
RTX 1070 Founder's Edition 1410 MHz
1710 MHz
RTX 1070 Reference 1410 MHz
1620 MHz

A Preliminary Conclusion

In the coming weeks over a dozen of brands are going to start selling their customized versions of NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 20-series graphics cards. These boards are equipped with enhanced cooling systems, and while the fundamental designs are frequently similar – commonly using two and three fan open air coolers – there's still a surprising amount of room for innovation (or at least variation) in the space. So it'll be interesting to see which designs end up being the strongest out of the gate.

However it's notable that if the board partners ship their cards with their currently published frequencies – and it's worth noting that we have on occasion seen the clocks change on 3rd party cards ahead of their release – then all of these boards will offer similar performance out of box and users will have to rely on overclocking to gain any benefits over NVIDIA's own Founders Edition cards.

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  • jeremyshaw - Thursday, August 23, 2018 - link

    Nice, it's good to see the USB-C port is sticking across the AIB cards. My desktop (Sandy Bridge) may finally gain an USB-C connection :D
  • Sttm - Thursday, August 23, 2018 - link

    I was speculation that that USB-C port added $50 to the cost of the cards. If that is true its rather aggravating!
  • Sttm - Thursday, August 23, 2018 - link

    I was reading speculation...

    An edit button would be a great 2019 Anandtech upgrade.
  • CaedenV - Thursday, August 23, 2018 - link

    This may not be useful for normal USB C connections and may be a special implementation for future VR headsets.
    But I am in the same boat as you... Still on SandyBridge, still happy with the performance, but USBc and m.2 are looking like the real reasons to upgrade... if we can get some decently priced boards with 10gig Ethernet then it may push me over to upgrading.
  • mr_tawan - Friday, August 24, 2018 - link

    I am at Haswell and ... I don't have any plan to upgrade it anytime soon. Personally I think it's too many change with too little gain. I think I'm going to wait for the DDR5 platform....

    Anyway if the card bring USB Type-C support (with VR and may be DP alt mode ...) then it will be interesting. However this card along cost more than all major parts I need to change combined lol.
  • Manch - Friday, August 24, 2018 - link

    USB 3 & M2 add in cards. Upgrade complete!
  • DanNeely - Friday, August 24, 2018 - link

    Haswell should have a few USB-3 ports unless you bought a very low end mobo.

    I've also got a 3.5yo Haswell system, bought with the expectation that it'd be the core of my build for 6-8 years and so far don't see any reason expedite my plans. Unless 6+ physical cores becomes a quasi-requirement for newer games I still feel on track for an 8 year lifespan (new GPU every 2, possibly a bigger SSD toward the end of the run but I'm only at ~45% on my current 1TB so likely not). DDR5, PCIe4 (or even 5), and ~50% USB-C are my nominal platform targets for when I upgrade. I'm unlikely to hold out much past 8y even if I don't have everything I'm looking forward to though, just because I'd much prefer to do a planned upgrade during down time than a chaotic my PC just died scramble.
  • Nagorak - Sunday, August 26, 2018 - link

    You can add both those things with a pcie card. Modularity for the win!
  • Sttm - Thursday, August 23, 2018 - link

    For the Wallet 3 Ultra! Its the only way to go! Death to your finances!
  • MrSpadge - Friday, August 24, 2018 - link

    *deep UT announcer voice* Spending spree!

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