We are restfully progressing to an era of 4K gaming. Upgraded hardware patched with commendable software and cutting-edge cooling tech has made this possible, but at what price? Does signing up for a premium model is enough to build a dream gaming machine? Is it enough to satisfy the Ultra-HD obsession? Or there is more to behind the marketing jargon. Thanks to Zotac to give us a chance to try out on Zotac RTX 3080 Amp Holo 10GB. Geeks address it as AMP Holo or Han Solo, whatever sounds logical.
In this article, I am going to share my review on Zotac RTX 3080 10GB GPU. Before I begin, tagging my colleague to this review, who has a major contribution in testing and trying out the performance of this GPU – (Philmon James).
Why So Serious RGB Design?
ZOTAC introduced RTX 30 Series in new iridescent black for your see-through side panel window case. The GPU comes with a holographic top panel that looks right out of a sci-fi movie. It’s got a new backplate which is also powered with ZOTAC’s Spectra 2.0 to make your rig shine. So all the killer looks apart, let’s look at all the technological advancements for gaming in ZOTAC RTX 3080 AMP Holoblack.
Zotac RTX 3080 AMP Holo features a triple fan backed by IceStorm 2.0 Advanced Cooling. The fan does not spin when the GPU is operating on idle mode. It is a heavy card weighing approx. 5 pounds, and is decorated with RGB Lighting. Nvidia has upped their game with the new RTX 3080 with their new Ampere Architecture. The chipset is created to be better than a 2080 Ti at the price of a regular 2080 Super.
That’s something astonishing coming from Nivida. Zotac managed to encompass this beast in the BEST craftsmanship of beauty. The electroplated body with a crystalline top for the RGB color lines is absolutely breathtaking to look at. There were moments when I couldn’t take my eyes off the colors coming through my Corsair Crystal Tower. You have to see it to believe it.
Can I enjoy 4K Gaming?
With 10 GB GDDR6X running at a core clock speed of 1440 MHz and a boost clock of 1710 Mhz is nothing less a supercar in the world of GPUs. It comes with 2nd Gen Ray Tracing Cores and 3rd Gen Tensor Cores both with a 2x Throughput. Nvidia’s new Deep learning super sampling (DLSS) uses the Tensor Cores to process the images with help of AI to bring more frames in the highest resolution your monitor can show off. The new and innovative design with 11 blades triple fan paired with a seven copper heat pipe design increases the airflow and gives the best thermal performance in ages. All of it helps to keep your GPU cooler than the previous generations.
Zotac offers RTX 3080 in two versions, standard RTX 3080 and a Ti edition. Want more Cuda cores then go with RTX 3080 Ti Amp Holo. The Ti standards for Titanium edition promises more power than the standard version, quite heavy on the pocket but performance guaranteed.
Specs:
- Holo-Black Design
- Metal Frontplate and RGB LED Backplate
- SPECTRA 2.0 RGB Lighting
- IceStorm 2.0 Advanced Cooling
- 2nd Gen Ray Tracing Cores
- 3rd Gen Tensor Cores
- 8704 CUDA cores
- 10GB GDDR6X
- 320-bit Memory Bus
- Boost: 1770 MHz
- 19 Gbps Memory Clock
- 4.0 16x PCI Express
- 3 x DisplayPort 1.4a (up to 7680×4320@60Hz)
- HDMI 2.1* (up to 7680×4320@60Hz)
- 2.3 HDCP Support
- Quad Display Support
- DirectX 12 Ultimate
- 4.6 Open GL
- 2 x 8-pin Power Input
- 750W Recommended Power Supply
- Active Fan Control with FREEZE Fan Stop
- FireStorm Utility
- VR Ready
- No SLI
Zotac RTX 3080 Amp-Holo Benchmarking Test:
How to keep the lady calm? (Cooling)
Zotac RTX 3080 AMP Holo hits 70 to 75 degrees within 15-20 mins of gaming, tried out RDR2, Doom Eternal, Outriders, etc. at max load. Heating is not a problem here, all rely on how ventilated your CPU case is. Having 3 front exhaust fans at the front and one on the back with two on top helps the card to maintain the chip temperature under limits. High temps are noticed in-stock cards, where customized models are amped with additional benefits.
To get the max out of Zotac RTX 3080 AMP Holo I recommend having a good PSU, a highly ventilated cabinet for decent airflow, and strong hardware. Performance bottle-necks on the standard build, while mine Core i7 is backed by M.2 drive, 32GB high Mhz DDR4 RAM, MSI board, liquid cooler, and an 800watt PSU. It was less challenging for me to worry about the heating part, after an hour of gaming I toughed the backside after safely turning the system off. Zotac RTX 3080 AMP Holo was quiet hot. Shifted to a Rzyen 5 system with a similar config that has more fans in the front and the back, did reduce the temperature fewer degrees. So do not worry if you think the card throwing too much heat, it is designed to withstand high temperatures.
But this does not mean you can burn this GPU on medium-range gaming build at regular room temperature. Spend more and unlock the 4K-gaming power with Zotac RTX 3080 AMP Holo. I am not going to discuss the price factor, because it’s expensive. Neither it is right to compare this one with the 3080 Trinity edition because both are virtually identical.
Buying Zotac RTX 3080 AMP Holo – Yay or Nay
Zotac RTX 3080 Amp Holo is the best choice for high-end gaming. It is a kind one tie upgrade for performance-intensive gaming machines. With that, the RGB produces a stimulating effect on the overall setup. Going with this will do not push to upgrade your system for years. Backed by a 3-years warranty + 2 years extended warranty (depends on package deals/registration), you can relax and play games.
Looking for an affordable alternative then Zotac has the same variation under RTX 3070 series. Check out the specs comparison below that will give you more ideas on the lower variant in the same series. There is a massive performance difference, where you cannot expect to have a seamless 4K output but can have this feature on the shelf. Below is Zotac RTX 3070 specs, an affordable variant for those who want something good in 30 series cards.
- Cuda Cores – 5888
- 8GB GDDR6 Memory
- 256-bit Memory Bus
- IceStorm 2.0
- Boost: 1725 MHz
- 14 Gbps Memory Clock
- 4.0 16x PCI Express
- 3 x DisplayPort 1.4a (up to 7680×4320@60Hz)
- HDMI 2.1* (up to 7680×4320@60Hz)
- 2.3 HDCP Support
- 4.6 OpenGL
- 650W Recommended Power Supply
- 12 Ultimate DirectX
What’s in the box:
Verdict:
No doubt Zotac RTX 3080 AMP Holo 10GB is a good-looking card. At first glance, it will look like a hyped model, but in terms of performance pulling out 4K resolution is not tiring at all. It can deliver you all what is promised; a little heat-up is non-concerning on premium builds. What matters is whether spending on the version is good enough. I can assure you one thing, Zotac RTX 3080 AMP Holo will make your rig shine, it has this wow factor and with a premium build it can turn into performance-intensive hardware. So burning a lot of cash on this won’t hurt at all, unless you have a high-end build to pull max out of it.
Tracking down the price of Zotac RTX 3080 AMP Holo is tough, as not all sellers have the model in stock compared to Zotac RTX 3070 AMP Holo. I had seen a variation of price between $1900 USD To $2200. Due to the Pandemic situation that has affected the overall logistic and shipping industry around the world, it not right to consider the base price of Zotac RTX 3080 AMP Holo will be somewhere below $1600 because I haven’t seen any seller selling it at a base price of $1200 as shared by some media portals (Will update the exact price soon). It is a posh upright-looking model, which does not just promise a flashing look, but performance also. Compared to this Zotac RTX 3070 8GB AMP Holo cost between $900 to $1400, it is quite challenging to find the right buyer at the right price.
