Where to buy RTX 5080: retailers I'd head to for pre-orders later this month

It might not be the flagship, but the RTX 5080 is the premium graphics card most players will be eyeing up this generation. Not only is it half the price of the RTX 5090, but it promises to bring next-gen 4K gaming abilities to your PC and a bunch of new AI tricks too. I'd be surprised if plenty of you aren't looking to buy RTX 5080 GPUs at the end of the month, especially if you're looking to spend under a grand.

Again, the RTX 5080 comes in at $999, so unless you're hellbent on grabbing a RTX 5090 pre-order, this GeForce GPU will more likely fit your budget. Just shy of $1,000 is still a lofty price to pay for a PC upgrade, make now mistake. However, considering the RTX 4070 will apparently boast "4090 performance," the best graphics card contender could pull off some ridiculous performance tricks in new releases.

RTX 5080 pre-orders haven't arrived yet, so to prepare for the next-gen graphics card's arrival on January 30, I've got advice on how to grab one when the time comes. You'll also find some of my go-to retailers below accompanied by an idea of what to expect some launch day. That should ultimately make the process of picking up a new Blackwell card pain-free, especially if you want one ASAP.

Where to pre-order RTX 5080 in the US

Nvidia store | Check stock

If you want a RTX 5080 Founder's Edition GPU, your first port of call should be the Nvidia store. Going direct to the green team is your best shot at picking up a first-party model, not to mention it'll be available at MSRP.

Amazon | Check stock

Amazon consistently has a hearty supply of graphics card stock, and the RTX 5080 should show up at the retailer soon. Whether or not pre-orders will be available remains to be seen, but it'll be one of the main retailers to check out for custom models by PNY, Zotac, Gigabyte, and Asus.

Newegg | Check stock

Newegg is one of my favorite PC component retailers, and I'm fully expecting the RTX 5080 to be available at launch. Just keep in mind that you're unlikely to find Founder's Edition models at many storefronts, so if you want to pay near MSRP, you'll have to choose a custom card that's more stock.

Best Buy | Check stock

The big box store should get RTX 5080 stock after launch, and we could even be treated to some pre-order listings if we're lucky. There might only be a few options compared to rival retailers, but it's still worth keeping in mind.

Where to pre-order RTX 5080 in the UK

Nvidia store | Check stock

Just like in the US, you'll want to check for RTX 5080 stock direct at Nvidia in the UK. Founder's Edition supplies will likely be limited, but you can sign up to email updates to increase your chances of grabbing the GPU at launch.

Scan UK | Check stock

I've purchased many graphics cards from Scan UK over the years, and it should have a nice supply of RTX 5080 stock later this month. The retailer will likely stock custom options rather than Founder's Edition GPUs, so keep that in mind if you're looking to pay near MSRP.

Ebuyer | Check stock

As one of the UK's main online tech stores, Ebuyer should have the RTX 5080 at launch. Options might be hit or miss depending on available brands and models, but it'll still serve as a way to get hold of the Blackwell GPU this month.

Currys | Check stock

Brick and mortar tech stores are fading away, but Currys is one of the last physical tech stores the UK has to offer. You'll still likely have to order an RTX 5080 online at its website if the retailer gets stock, but click and collect should be available.

Where to buy RTX 5080: FAQ

GeForce RTX 50 Series GPUs and Laptops | Game Changer - YouTube

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Should you buy the RTX 5080?

The RTX 5080 might be second in command this generation, but it's still set to be a powerhouse 4K GPU with snazzy next-gen abilities. It's also half the price of the RTX 5090, and if its specs end up providing plenty of bang for buck, it could end up stealing the graphics card crown this generation by way of value.

That said, there are a few things to note about the RTX 5080 based on its specs alone. For starters, it'll only pack 16GB VRAM, meaning it's got less memory than the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090. It will use faster GDDR7 modules, so it does at least have speed and efficiency on its side. However, it's strange to see such a wide gap between this card and the flagship's 32GB setup, and it could affect future performance when dealing with high resolution textures.

It's also worth noting that its sibling, the RTX 5070 Ti, looks to offer the same memory for $749 / £729. Naturally, you'll be getting a reduced Blackwell GPU with that model compared to the RTX 5080, with the latter boasting 10,752 CUDA cores versus 8,960. Nevertheless, the 70-class model could end up winning over more players if there's not a massive difference in frame rates, especially if it can still pull off great 4K performance.

At face value, the RTX 5080 looks to be the GPU most premium players should pick up for 4K ultra gameplay. If you won't settle for anything but the best, you'll naturally want to consider spending $2,000 on the RTX 5090 instead, but I suspect most of you would prefer to spend under a grand. At the same time, I'd also hold off for my official benchmarks before settling on the 80-class card, as its value will ultimately hinge on how it fairs against the RTX 4070 Ti in terms of real gaming scenarios.

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