NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Build Guide
Check out our parts list then watch us build a PC with the brand-new ASUS TUF GeForce RTX 5080.PC Build Guides
NVIDIA’s 50 Series lineup launches today, January 30, starting with the GeForce RTX 5080 and 5090. Using the new Blackwell architecture, this next generation of graphics cards promise to be some of the most powerful GPUs ever released, all backed by the incredible power of DLSS4. And what do you do when you’ve got one of the most powerful GPUs available? You build a PC with it, of course!
Photo: Jacob Bobo
Without further ado, let's get into it.
The Build:
Video Card: ASUS NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 TUF
Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D
AMD’s X3D chips are known for their gaming prowess. With nearly 100MB of cache thanks to AMD’s second generation of V-Cache technology, these are some of the absolute fastest gaming chips on the market, helping games run smoother and faster than ever before. That's an important factor when building a gaming computer with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080!
CPU Cooler: Lian Li HydroShift AIO
Don’t let temps throttle your performance. An AIO like the HydroShift from Lian Li can keep chips cool during even the most high-intensity gaming sessions. It also features an LCD screen on the pump header so you can keep an eye on temperatures without needing to check a program. We opted for the white version to keep with our white-with-black-accents theme.
Motherboard: ASUS B650-A ROG Strix Gaming Motherboard
The ASUS B650-A ROG Strix is the perfect balance of form and function for this build. A largely black motherboard, most of the board will fade into the background of the case, allowing the chrome pieces to really pop against the white of everything else. It also means that, when we add in our 5080, the black shell will pop even more.
RAM: TeamGroup T-Force Delta RGB 32GB (2 x 16GB) DDR5-6400
RAM is an incredibly important element of any build that’s easy to overlook, especially if you haven’t needed to upgrade your RAM recently. Gone are the days where 16GB was enough to get by. Now 32GB is the new standard, offering enough headroom to run multiple applications at once (say Cyberpunk and OBS for streaming) without going overboard. Of course, if you’re looking for that extra oomph for video editing, you can easily double the RAM simply by adding a second set.
Storage: Samsung 990 PRO 2TB Samsung V NAND 3-bit MLC PCIe Gen 4 x4 NVMe M.2 Internal SSD
SSDs are no longer a “nice-to-have” when building a gaming PC. Not only do they make boot times blazing fast, but more and more games are making them a requirement. Plus, no one should be stuck waiting for a spinning platter drive when gaming with a GeForce RTX 5080!
PSU: MSI MPG A1000G PCIE5 1000 Watt 80 Plus Gold ATX Fully Modular Power Supply
What’s worse than an underpowered power supply? An underpowered power supply that also messes up a nice, clean new build with extra cables. When choosing a power supply, make sure that it can power all of your components (for the RTX 5080, you'll need at least 850W, but better to jump up to a 1,000W PSU), has a good efficiency rating, and is modular, so you only use the cables you absolutely need. These three things combined will keep any computer running smoothly, efficiently, and looking clean.
Case: Lian Li O11D EVO RGB Tempered Glass ATX Mid-Tower Computer Case - White
Nothing ruins the pride of building a new PC quicker than realizing you don’t like the case. Thankfully, there’s Lian Li and their O11D EVO line, with clean, crisp lines, tempered glass that extends to the front of the case, and even some external RGB. But the O11D EVO isn’t just a gorgeous case, it’s also one of the easiest cases to build in. With plenty of open space, channels for easy cable management, and an easily-accessible spot for the power supply, the Lian Li O11D is the perfect house for this behemoth of a card.
Watch Us Build it:
The Full Build:
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Sean Mekinda is Micro Center's Associate Editor, with three years of experience on The Micro Center Community and writing credits across the internet, including Polygon, 25YL, and 614 Magazine. He's been writing about and reviewing tech for over five years.
Sean has a specialty in gaming, peripherals, and creative projects designed to make your life easier, especially when it comes to tabletop gaming.
Contact Sean at SMekinda@microcenter.com
