MSI RTX 3080 and RTX 3090 SUPRIM X Review
Up Close
When was the last time we saw a white box for a graphics card? With the SUPRIM – here in X guise – we have white for both. In fact besides the 8 swapped for a 9 in the designation you’ll struggle to tell either of the cards apart either here or in the flesh.
At this price point we want a bit of theatre when we open the box and the SUPRIM has a mouse mat as well as a “thanks for buying this” card. Those of you who prefer more utility from your accessories will appreciate the graphics card holder as a belt and braces addition to ensure that your card never sags. Not that we expect it to.
If, like us, you’ve seen hundreds of graphics cards then you’ll be aware of the slashes and grooves that seem to adorn all of them these days. Going for aluminium rather than plastic is the first feather in the cap of the SUPRIM, but the sleekness of the design is also eye catching. If the two-tone nature wasn’t eye catching enough that is.
The backplate is brushed aluminium and the brushing is done in two directions to catch the eye more than an endless swathe of identically angled strokes. There are plenty of recessed screw holes keeping it all together, whilst the logo is RGB for that extra touch of loveliness.
This is an important picture for two reasons. Firstly because it really shows off how thin and carefully built the aluminium shroud is, which then shows off how highly polished the heat pipes and heatsink is, but secondly because you can see how much of the heatsink is open to the air which should help keep your temperatures nice and low. Even if all that hot air is expended into your case.
Also we’ll be coming back to this on the next page, so you get a chance to revisit it with your new found knowledge.
It’s lovely to see a heatsink which combines an attention to detail and functionality – check out the tiny fins below the heatpipe – with pleasing looks. It’s a good indicator of the effort that has gone into the design when MSI haven’t just pulled one off the shelf and welded it together, but instead trimmed everything to fit perfectly on the PCB and beneath that aluminium shroud.
Further adventures of how thick and carefully designed the heatsink is. Everywhere you look on the SUPRIM there is a thick bit of metal to help spread and dissipate any heat generated whilst keeping the card rigid.
