ASUS Launches RTX 5080 Dhahab CORE Almost at The Price of RTX 5090
The graphics card named ROG Astral RTX 5080 Dhahab CORE is adorned in a gold theme at a price point almost close to that of the GeForce RTX 5090. But in stark contrast to its better-priced sibling, there is no mention of gold plating in this card.
Everything Glitters but Is Not Gold
One of the main points that distinguish this product from other premium ASUS offerings is its lack of actual gold. The official ASUS website of ROG Astral RTX 5090 Dhahab OC mentions quite clearly 6.5 grams of gold in that. The product page for this new RTX 5080 Dhahab CORE, however, does not mention anything, further confirming the shroud as metallic with a gold-tone finish instead of gold plating.
Maintaining its Middle-Eastern design aesthetic, the card is factory-overclocked, with a chip clocking up to 2790 MHz in OC mode.
Nonetheless, The Price Tag Is Worthy
The biggest deal with this launch is the card's price, priced at $1,899 in the USA (and $2300 in China). This pricing puts it way above the RTX 5080 standard.
It is nearly 90% more than the official MSRP of a standard GeForce RTX 5080. On the other hand, it is almost $100 less than the official MSRP for the more powerful Founder's Edition of GeForce RTX 5090. This strategy indicates an intent on ASUS's part to sell premium designs, even for cards that are not flagship ones, rather than reasonably priced alternatives for gamers.
ASUS's Premium Approach and Availability
This launch fits with ASUS's recent trend of generating high-priced luxury designs. They had previously showcased a concept RTX 5090 with 5 kg of real gold, estimated to be worth over $500,000, and sells the actual gold-plated ROG Astral RTX 5090 Dhahab for over $9,000.
The ROG Astral RTX 5080 Dhahab CORE is available for purchase from the official ASUS store and Micro Center.
