MSI RTX 5080 Expert Review
Up Close
Up Close
Do you ever see a box and think you’re having a stroke? We love just about everything about the MSI RTX 5080 Expert. The box art, not one. Wow. Headache inducing. Thankfully the back is much more sensible.
We said in our introduction that we have the feeling Mercedes design team might have had a quiet word with MSI. It just strikes us as odd that MSI would design such a recognisable card, and then immediately change it on the next iteration. Maybe we’re reading too much into it. With the world of intellectual copyright being what it is, and lawyers being so keen to earn money, we wouldn’t be shocked if some discussions hadn’t happened behind the scenes. On the plus side, the main touchstones of the design are close enough to the first card that reviewed. We can’t wait to get this one under the spray gun and paint it…..
Sorry Rolling Stones fans.
We’re probably going to repeat ourselves a lot, but the MSI RTX 5080 Expert is so smooth that it’s tough to have anything else to say. The backplate is dominated by a beautifully curved fan and .. that’s it. Nothing else to note. No RGB. No pointlessly large branding. Big fan. Job done. Just a shame the backplate is black this time and not the same colour as the front like it was on the last generation?
Just look at it. Admire the curves. It’s like standing at Venice Beach, just we’re in the office, and we’re testing not roller-skating. If minimalism is king, and we believe it is, then the MSI Expert sits on the throne. Two easily separatable pieces, perfect for painting.
Whilst we await other manufacturers copying the amazing Sapphire power connector solution, it’s nice that MSI have kept the opening tight. It just helps give clean lines to your build not having lots of internal heatsink visible. Unless that’s what you’re going for, fine, but a halfway house is never the best option. Ergo, the MSI Expert is spot on.
We adore how smooth the Expert looks. The whole thing has a high-end aesthetic. It feels as soft and gently curved as it looks too. You know when you hold a premium item your fingers can immediately tell? This is that, but in graphics card form. So no wearing of nylon trousers whilst feeling for yourself how classy it is.
Lastly at the business end, as well as a look at that gorgeously curvaceous cover, you find three DisplayPorts and a single HDMI. Standard Nvidia things.
