Introduction
The RTX 4080 Super is one of NVIDIA’s most efficient Ada Lovelace GPUs — but how well does it sustain its boost clock under prolonged heat? Thermal behavior defines performance longevity, and that’s what this benchmark case study uncovers.
At the GPUBottleneckCalculator Lab, we tested the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 and its upgraded sibling, the RTX 4080 Super, across a 30-minute stress scenario. Our goal: evaluate clock consistency, FPS stability, and power efficiency under sustained thermal load inside a standard RTX 4080 gaming PC.
If you’re wondering how hot this GPU gets, or whether it ever thermal throttles, this benchmark tells the full story.
Test Configuration Overview
| Component | Specification |
|---|---|
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Super (16 GB GDDR6X) |
| CPU | AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D |
| Motherboard | ASUS ROG Strix X670E-F |
| Memory | 32 GB DDR5-6000 CL30 |
| Cooling | Dual 140 mm intake, 360 mm AIO exhaust |
| Ambient Temp | 24 °C |
| Driver | GeForce Game Ready 555.85 |
| Benchmark Suite | 3DMark Time Spy, Cyberpunk 2077, Call of Duty MW3, Starfield, F1 24 |
Test Methodology
We ran the RTX 4080 Super benchmark for 30 minutes at a fixed fan curve (60% base, 85% load) inside a closed case environment. GPU sensors were logged every second using HWInfo64 and NVIDIA’s telemetry tools.
Focus Metrics:
- GPU Core Temperature (°C)
- Boost Clock (MHz)
- Power Draw (Watts)
- Thermal Throttling % (if any)
- Average FPS & 1% Lows (Gaming Load)
For context, the RTX 4080 graphics card reference model was used for comparison, running identical conditions.
Temperature & Clock Behavior Over Time
During the first five minutes, temperatures rose rapidly, reaching a steady plateau by the 12-minute mark. The RTX 4080 Super maintained exceptional stability compared to the standard RTX 4080.
| Duration (min) | RTX 4080 Temp (°C) | RTX 4080 Super Temp (°C) | RTX 4080 Super Clock (MHz) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 67 | 65 | 2820 |
| 10 | 73 | 71 | 2805 |
| 20 | 77 | 74 | 2790 |
| 30 | 79 | 76 | 2785 |
Even under a sustained thermal load, the RTX 4080 Super never crossed 77 °C, with negligible frequency loss (~1.2%). No signs of thermal throttling were detected, even after 30 minutes of Cyberpunk 2077 at Ultra settings.
Boost Clock Stability Analysis
The RTX 4080 Super’s thermal management curve is notably more aggressive than the original NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080, sustaining its 2.8 GHz+ boost under heavy load. While the non-Super model gradually tapered off by ~50 MHz after 20 minutes, the Super variant held strong thanks to enhanced VRM efficiency and improved vapor chamber design.
Observation: Core stability was excellent — less than 0.3% variance in clock frequency throughout the run, marking one of the most thermally consistent GPUs in NVIDIA’s 40-series lineup.
FPS Benchmark: Gaming Under Sustained Load
We tested the RTX 4080 Super across popular GPU-bound titles to evaluate real-world performance consistency as temperatures stabilized.
| Game (4K Ultra) | Avg FPS (5 Min) | Avg FPS (30 Min) | 1% Lows | Temp (°C) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cyberpunk 2077 (RT Ultra) | 118 | 116 | 92 | 76 |
| Starfield | 112 | 110 | 88 | 74 |
| F1 24 | 184 | 182 | 162 | 72 |
| Call of Duty MW3 | 208 | 205 | 171 | 73 |
| Horizon Forbidden West | 146 | 145 | 121 | 75 |
| 3DMark Time Spy (Loop) | — | — | — | 77 |
Even after prolonged heat exposure, the RTX 4080 Super retained 98–99% of its initial FPS — a clear indicator of minimal thermal degradation.
Power Draw & Efficiency Metrics
Under full load, the RTX 4080 Super averaged 315 W at 76 °C, compared to 328 W for the standard RTX 4080 at 79 °C. That’s a 4% improvement in thermal efficiency and lower power leakage at identical performance levels.
| Model | Power (Watts) | Avg Temp (°C) | Perf/W (Higher = Better) |
|---|---|---|---|
| RTX 4080 | 328 | 79 | 0.48 |
| RTX 4080 Super | 315 | 76 | 0.52 |
The improved vapor chamber and revised fan curve on the Super model yield better thermodynamic control — a noticeable evolution from NVIDIA’s original RTX 4080 graphics card design.
Does the RTX 4080 Super Thermal Throttle?
No. In all controlled benchmarks, even with ambient temps raised to 28 °C, the RTX 4080 Super did not trigger NVIDIA’s thermal throttle flags (TJMax = 88 °C). The cooler maintained consistent delta temperatures between the GPU core and hotspot sensors (ΔT < 9 °C), demonstrating robust cooling headroom for long gaming or rendering sessions.
Key Insight: The RTX 4080 Super’s thermal throttling threshold is around 88–90 °C, but in real-world cases, it rarely exceeds 77 °C — meaning sustained gaming loads remain entirely safe.
RTX 4080 Super Benchmark vs RTX 4080
| Parameter | RTX 4080 | RTX 4080 Super |
|---|---|---|
| CUDA Cores | 9728 | 10240 |
| Base / Boost Clock | 2205 / 2505 MHz | 2295 / 2550 MHz |
| Memory | 16 GB GDDR6X (256-bit) | 16 GB GDDR6X (256-bit) |
| Power Limit | 320 W | 320 W |
| Avg FPS (4K) | 145 | 151 |
| Max Temp (°C) | 79 | 76 |
| Price | $1,199 | $999 MSRP |
Despite the RTX 4080 Super price being $200 lower than the original, its performance gains and superior thermals make it an objectively better value GPU in 2025–2026 gaming builds.
Key Observations
- Thermal control is near-perfect — no throttling even under extended loads.
- Power efficiency improved by 4–5%.
- Boost clocks remained stable at 2.78 GHz.
- Ambient impact: For every +1 °C ambient rise, GPU temp increased by ~0.7 °C.
- Ideal airflow setup: Slight positive pressure + 75% GPU fan curve.
Verdict: RTX 4080 Super Sustained Thermal Champion
The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Super is a remarkable balance of performance and efficiency. Unlike earlier Ampere-era GPUs that flirted with 85–90 °C under load, this Ada Lovelace refresh stays cool and quiet — even in demanding environments.
In extended benchmarks, the RTX 4080 Super consistently outperformed the standard RTX 4080 graphics card in both FPS and thermal stability. For anyone building an RTX 4080 gaming PC, it delivers near-flagship thermals without the 4090’s power draw or heat output.
Verdict: The RTX 4080 Super is not just faster — it’s thermally smarter.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is RTX 4080 worth it?
The original RTX 4080 offered great performance but poor value. The RTX 4080 Super fixes that by improving performance and lowering MSRP, making it the better buy in 2025.
2. How many CUDA cores in RTX 4080?
The standard RTX 4080 features 9728 CUDA cores built on NVIDIA’s Ada Lovelace architecture.
3. How many CUDA cores in RTX 4080 Super?
The RTX 4080 Super includes 10240 CUDA cores, providing a slight uplift in shader performance and compute throughput.
4. How to install RTX 4080 Super?
Ensure a 750 W+ PSU, a PCIe 5.0 12VHPWR cable, and update your drivers via GeForce Experience before installing. Seat the GPU in a PCIe Gen4 x16 slot and connect all power leads.
5. Does RTX 4080 Super thermal throttle while gaming?
No. Under controlled thermal load, the card maintained boost clocks around 2.78 GHz without triggering throttling mechanisms.
6. What is the safe temperature for RTX 4080 Super?
Safe operating range: 30–80 °C, with throttling starting near 88–90 °C. Typical gaming temps average 72–77 °C.
7. How hot does RTX 4080 Super get under load?
In a standard ATX case, the GPU core reached 76 °C max during our 30-minute benchmark.
8. RTX 4080 Super temperature test results
After sustained load, average core temp = 74.8 °C, hotspot = 83 °C, fan = 74% RPM — indicating optimal thermal balance.
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