The Nvidia RTX 50-series announcement is imminent, and while specs have been circulating, pricing remained elusive until a recent leak. YouTuber Vex shared a purported screenshot from an Australian retailer, revealing potential pricing for the Asus RTX 5080. While the leak’s credibility is unverified, it hints at a potentially expensive next-generation GPU.
This alleged leak shows an Asus Prime GeForce RTX 5080 16GB OC model with a listed price of 2,799 Australian dollars. Converting to US dollars, this equates to approximately $1,740, including sales tax. While exchange rates and included taxes inflate the initial figure, $1,740 still represents a significant investment for a GPU.
A screenshot with RTX 5080 pricing.
This price point raises concerns, particularly given rumors positioning the RTX 5080’s performance near the RTX 4090. If performance falls short of these expectations, the price becomes even more difficult to justify. Other leaks, such as a listing for an Acer Predator Orion system with an RTX 5080, showed a price exceeding $3,600, further fueling concerns about affordability.
However, it’s crucial to consider several factors. The leaked price reflects an overclocked Asus model. Nvidia’s MSRP (Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price) and Founders Edition pricing are likely to be lower. Board partners often add premiums for custom cooling solutions and factory overclocks. Non-overclocked models are also expected to be more budget-friendly.
A screenshot of a Discord conversation about the RTX 5080.
The leaker also mentioned the retailer’s pricing for the RTX 4080 Super (1,650 AUD) and RTX 4090 (3,300 AUD). The substantial price difference between the 4080 Super and the potential 5080 price, coupled with the relatively small gap between the potential 5080 and the 4090, raises questions about Nvidia’s pricing strategy.
The RTX 4080 launched at a controversial $1,200 price point, later adjusted to $1,000 with the Super variant. Whether Nvidia will revert to a higher price range for the RTX 5080 remains to be seen.
All will be revealed on January 6th during Nvidia’s official announcement. Until then, speculation continues, but this leak suggests that the RTX 5080 could be a significant investment for PC gamers.
