RTX 5050 Dominates GTX 1080 Ti With Custom Liquid Cooling and Overclock to 3.3GHz

The landscape of NVIDIA graphics cards is shifting, with recent benchmarks demonstrating that the entry-level Blackwell GPU, the RTX 5050, surpasses one of the most celebrated models—the GeForce GTX 1080 Ti—even at stock clock speeds.

GTX 1080 Ti Underperforming Against RTX 5050: A Disheartening 3% Improvement Through Overclocking

For many enthusiasts, it is disheartening to witness the GTX 1080 Ti—a card that stood as a pinnacle of gaming performance—being outclassed by a GPU that many consider to be an entry-level option. The RTX 5050, recognized as the slowest in the newly launched Blackwell RTX 50 series, does not command the kind of attention from gamers that its predecessor once did. Despite its underwhelming reputation, the RTX 5050 has clearly marked the end of an era for Pascal architecture as it decisively outperforms the aged GTX 1080 Ti in modern gaming titles.

GPU clock speed and FPS comparison for games: Valhalla, RDR2, Cyberpunk, and SotTR at 1440p. — RTX 5050 surpasses GTX 1080 Ti in stock performance.

Data collected through benchmarking software like TrashBench revealed a significant advantage for the RTX 5050 over the GTX 1080 Ti across various modern titles such as Red Dead Redemption 2, Cyberpunk 2077, and Shadow of the Tomb Raider. Even with attempts to overclock the GTX 1080 Ti using advanced liquid cooling, the results were disappointing, yielding only a marginal 3% improvement, and remained unable to close the performance gap against the RTX 5050.

Custom water-cooled GeForce RTX 5050 graphics card build next to a mechanical keyboard. — Liquid cooling applied to GTX 1080 Ti for overclocking.

In multiple trials, testers compared different GTX 1080 Ti models against the RTX 5050; in every case, the latter emerged victorious. While enthusiasts hoped for better performance from the GTX 1080 Ti, it appears that its time has nearly come to an end. In contrast, the RTX 5050 showcased a remarkable performance under overclocking conditions, further solidifying its position within the current market.

Bar chart showing GPU clock speed and FPS benchmarks for Valhalla, RDR2, Cyberpunk, and SotTR at 1440p. — RTX 5050 demonstrates superior performance over GTX 1080 Ti at stock and overclocked speeds.

The upward trend for the RTX 5050 continues, with benchmarks revealing notable advancements, especially when overclocked. Utilizing a custom AIO CPU cooler, the RTX 5050 achieved a staggering clock speed of over 3.3 GHz, earning an impressive score of 11, 377 points in the 3DMark Time Spy Graphics test. With an average performance increase of 17.55%, it is clear that the RTX 5050 is a formidable contender in the current graphics card market.

Red and black gaming graphics card with dual fans on a wooden surface. — MSI RTX 1080 Ti Gaming X: A testament to durability after 8 years.

While the GTX 1080 Ti may now face its defeat, it undeniably remains an iconic figure in NVIDIA’s legacy. Despite its recent decline in performance metrics, many users, including myself, are reluctant to switch to the RTX 5050—not only due to its lower VRAM but because there are superior options available within both the RTX 50 and RX 9000 series lines. The graphics card market is evolving, but the GTX 1080 Ti will surely be remembered as one of the benchmarks of its time.