Superior quiet cooling: ASUS RTX 5080 Noctua Edition performance analysis

Introduction

Following the success of previous Noctua Edition GeForce RTX graphics cards, the ASUS GeForce RTX 5080 Noctua Edition marks the fifth ASUS GPU to feature award-winning Noctua fans alongside a co-developed heatsink. As the first gaming GPU to incorporate a triple 120x25mm fan configuration, this model utilises three new NF-A12x25 G2 fans and a thoroughly optimised, custom-engineered heatsink that combines an extensive vapour chamber with seven 8mm and four 6mm heatpipes, which is a massive upgrade over the heatsinks of previous Noctua Edition GPUs.

“We’re pleased to continue our collaboration with Noctua on the ASUS GeForce RTX 5080 Noctua Edition. By combining ASUS engineering with Noctua’s quiet cooling expertise and signature premium design, and introducing a new triple-fan layout, we’ve created a solution that delivers exceptional performance with impressively low noise levels,” said Kent Chien (Corporate Vice President and General Manager of the ASUS Multimedia Business Unit).

“While we’ve constantly set new benchmarks for performance-to-noise efficiency with each of the previous ASUS x Noctua GPUs, the GeForce RTX 5080 offers the biggest generational leap yet,” says Roland Mossig (Noctua CEO). “It’s not only the first gaming GPU with three 120x25mm fans, but also the first to use our next-gen NF-A12x25 G2 fans. Combined with an upgraded heatsink design that integrates a large vapour chamber and eleven heatpipes, this makes the ASUS GeForce RTX 5080 Noctua Edition a stand-out choice for noise-conscious gamers and content creators.”

The role of the fans

The ASUS GeForce RTX 5080 Noctua Edition leverages the power of Noctua’s latest flagship fans and a fully custom-engineered heatsink to achieve state-of-the-art quiet cooling efficiency. The next generation 120mm Noctua flagship fans that are used for this GPU are packed with novel technologies, like the Progressive Bend impeller, Centrifugal Turbulator hub, and etaPERF motor with SupraTorque technology, offering superior airflow and static pressure in high-impedance applications, making them an ideal choice for such a large heatsink.

While the heatsink of the ASUS TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 5080 is already an impressive feat of engineering, the Noctua Edition increases the number of heat pipes from eight to eleven and expands the size of the heatsink to accommodate the full-sized 120mm fans.

 

 

The fans are offset in speed to avoid undesired acoustic interaction phenomena, such as periodic humming or vibrations caused by beat frequencies. This is accomplished by utilising two different fan models, referred to as PPA and PPB. Model PPA operates about 50 rpm slower, whereas, model PPB runs roughly 50 rpm faster, with the fans arranged in an A-B-A sequence.

This highly sophisticated cooling setup, empowered by the NF-A12x25 G2’s superior performance-to-noise ratio, enables the ASUS GeForce RTX 5080 Noctua Edition to run significantly quieter at the same temperatures, compared to the ASUS TUF Gaming or ROG Astral models, thereby setting a new benchmark in its class.

Enhanced control and durability

The card features a semi-passive fan control and the ASUS 0dB technology, which turns the fans off completely when the GPU temperature falls below 50°C. This allows the card to operate with fully passive cooling, during tasks like office productivity, web browsing, or light gaming, provided the case is well-ventilated and ambient temperatures remain optimal.

Another area where the Noctua Edition is geared towards silent operation, is the dual BIOS that enables the user to choose between two cooling profiles, with an onboard switch. The default quiet profile uses a more gentle fan curve to reduce noise, and the performance profile prioritises the lowest possible GPU temperatures.

For enthusiast users who want to take things one step further, the included ASUS GPU Tweak III software, provides extra possibilities such as setting custom fan curves, or undervolting, allowing the card to run even quieter, due to lower GPU temperatures.  

The list of benefits and improvements doesn't stop here, as the ASUS GeForce RTX 5080 Noctua Edition uses a premium-grade, phase-change thermal pad, which combines outstanding thermal performance with superior long-term stability. By avoiding the pump-out and dry-out effects that can occur on GPUs with regular thermal pastes, this guarantees that the card will keep running cool and quiet for years and years.

Performance analysis

In extensive internal testing, the ASUS GeForce RTX 5080 Noctua Edition was rigorously evaluated against its ASUS TUF Gaming and ROG Astral counterparts. The GPUs were set to a 360W power target and subjected to thermal stress tests using FurMark in 4K resolution. The results demonstrate the Noctua Edition's superior performance, achieving an impressive balance between low noise levels and outstanding cooling efficiency.

 

 

Under automatic fan settings, the Noctua Edition maintained an exceptionally quiet noise level of just 21.4 dB(A), which is a substantial 14.5 dB(A) quieter than the ROG Astral. Remarkably, this acoustic advantage does not come at the expense of cooling, with the Noctua Edition running its GPU core up to 6°C cooler and its VRAM almost 2°C cooler.

In a more extreme test setup, the graphics cards were forced to run their fans at only 500 RPM. In this case, all three cards are operated at extremely quiet noise levels, staying below 10 dB(A). While all are nearly inaudible, the Noctua Edition still maintains an edge. 

 

In this test setup, the Noctua Edition was able to maintain its set power target and achieve dramatically lower temperatures, staying a significant 13°C below the thermal limit of these GPUs. Similarly, for VRAM, the Noctua Edition maintained temperatures over 10°C cooler than both of the other two GPUs tested.

This performance advantage highlights the efficiency of the three full-sized 120mm fans and the optimised heatsink design, as the Noctua Edition's improvements are consistent across the entire operating range.

 

 

The RTX 5080 itself delivers a major leap in performance, powered by NVIDIA’s next-generation Blackwell architecture, which is refined for ultra-efficient rendering. It offers exceptional rasterisation and ray tracing capabilities, making it ideal for high-refresh-rate 4K gaming and demanding creative workflows. With improved power efficiency and expanded AI-driven features like DLSS 4, it ensures smoother gameplay and faster content creation.

Conclusion

Whether you're a demanding gamer chasing ultra settings, a content creator looking to accelerate your productivity, or specifically seeking an ultra-silent GPU, the ASUS GeForce RTX 5080 Noctua Edition is an enthusiast-grade graphics card that offers outstanding value.