ASUS has unleashed a surprise BIOS update for its flagship RTX 5080 ROG Astral, raising its Total Graphics Power (TGP) to 450W—a 50W increase over its original specs. This bold move positions ASUS’s premium GPU as a high-performance contender, but is the extra power worth it?
Key Details of the RTX 5080 ROG Astral BIOS Update
- Release Date: March 14, 2024
- New TGP: 450W (up from 400W)
- Performance Gain: Estimated 2-5% boost in gaming/rendering
- Competition: Matches Gigabyte’s RTX 5080 Gaming OC (also 450W)
This update makes the ROG Astral RTX 5080 one of the highest-power models available, surpassing most reference-design RTX 5080 cards, which typically operate at 360W.
Why Did ASUS Increase the Power Limit?
ASUS hasn’t officially explained the change, but possible reasons include:
- Marketing Edge: Higher TGP helps position the ROG Astral as a premium SKU.
- Performance Tuning: Extra power could improve overclocking headroom for enthusiasts.
- Competitive Move: Matches Gigabyte’s RTX 5080 Gaming OC, another 450W model.
However, real-world gains may be minimal—expect only slight FPS improvements in demanding games.
Should You Update? Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Slightly better performance in GPU-limited scenarios
- Better overclocking potential for extreme users
- Future-proofing for next-gen games
Cons:
- Higher power draw = more heat & noise
- Diminishing returns (only ~5% gain at best)
- Requires a robust PSU (850W+ recommended)
How Does This Affect the RTX 5080 Market?
- ASUS vs. Gigabyte: Both now offer 450W RTX 5080 models, but ASUS’s ROG Astral has a better cooling solution.
- Reference Models Lose Appeal: Founders Edition and other 360W cards may seem underpowered in comparison.
- Power Efficiency Trade-Off: NVIDIA’s Ada Lovelace architecture is efficient, but pushing TGP too high may not always yield big gains.
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RTX 5080 BIOS update Worth the Update?
If you already own an ASUS ROG Astral RTX 5080, the BIOS update is worth installing for minor performance gains. However, if you’re buying new, consider whether the extra power is necessary—most gamers won’t notice a difference.
For overclockers and enthusiasts, this makes the ROG Astral a more compelling choice—but for average users, the reference 360W models might still be the smarter buy.
Source: Videocardz