- ASUS adds SSD storage to a graphics card, but the wooden grain design steals quickly
- USB-C and M.2 SSD support promise versatility
- Asus Proart RTX 5080 offers compact shape and power, but prices will remain painfully high
ASUS has presented its latest incorporation to the Proart line, the GEFORCE RTX 5080, equipped with characteristics designed to attract creativity.
The Proart RTX 5080 remains faithful to Asus’s minimalist design philosophy, but presents a new turn: a sheet of “noble dark wood grain” on the side of the card.
This wooden pattern has caused mixed reactions and does not feel good with many technology enthusiasts, but fortunately, it is optional, since several other models of the same GPU do not use this design.
GeForce RTX 5080 offers more than aesthetics
Perhaps more relevant than appearance is the outstanding technical characteristic of Proart RTX 5080: an integrated M.2 slot for SSDs.
Asus has tried this before with the RTX 4060 ti, where the unused PCIE lanes allowed an SSD to work without affecting the performance of the GPU. But this time, the implementation details are still murky.
The RTX 5080 is connected through 16 complete PCIE lanes, which raises a fundamental concern. “An SSD installed ‘steals’ permanently the graphics card lanes, thus reducing its memory performance?”
That is a crucial question for professionals who need constant performance in demanding environments such as representing high resolution videos or 3D modeling.
In theory, built -in slot m.2 could allow faster workflows by directly downloading high bandwidth assets in the GPU cooling system.
Asus states that the SSD “will have PCIE Gen 5 speeds and effectively dissipate the heat to the thermal card dissipator for colder temperatures.”
If heat management works as promised and performance is not compromised, this could be a game change for creative configurations, especially those looking for the best monitor for video edition or the best monitors for Photoshop, where quick access to the file is essential.
A USB type C port also makes its debut on this card, a remarkable addition to anyone who builds a workstation around flexibility.
Open new use cases, especially for professionals who use modern screens and peripherals. For creatives who use the best monitor for Mac Mini, which is often based on USB-C for simplified connectivity, this is a welcome development.
Despite its compact factor of 2.5 slots, Asus promises a higher level cooling with a steam chamber, thermal phase change pad and axial technology fans.
Combined with the MaxContact Surface and Auto-Extreme manufacturing process, the Proart RTX 5080 reads as a technically reflective card card on paper.
But the price remains a point of conflict. Personalized “cheaper” cards are quite expensive, therefore, first -line premium cards are even more difficult to bear.
