Asus launches more scalper bait with gold Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 graphics card

Asus ROG has unveiled a new Astral RTX 5080 graphics card decked out with the coveted Dhahab treatment, meaning it contains full 24-carat gold. While pricing hasn't been confirmed, it's expected to cost less than its elusive gold RTX 5090 sibling, which has become nearly impossible to find at anything close to its MSRP.

Both the GeForce RTX 5090 and the GeForce RTX 5080 sit on our list of the best graphics cards of 2025. The RTX 5080 in particular is a fantastic option for gamers on a budget, delivering great performance in our benchmark tests in Cyberpunk 2077 while being a fraction of the cost of the RTX 5090. Owning an RTX 5080 with the aesthetic of a gold brick would certainly be a flex over other Nvidia RTX 5080 owners, and it might be the next best thing for those who missed the boat on the gold 5090. However, a gold 5080 just doesn't carry the same prestige as a gold 5090, does it? This is where scalpers ruined everything.

The Asus ROG RTX 5090 Dhahab originally launched for around $10,600 (dependent on currency conversion), but that was before scalpers inflated the price to as much as $23,000 on eBay. The cost of the 5080 Dhahab might not have been announced, but it's certainly going to command a hefty premium over the standard $999 version.

These collectible RTX 5080s definitely have a market, even if they aren't quite as impressive as the RTX 5090. For regular gamers, however, there's no real value in adding actual 24-carat gold to your graphics card beyond bragging rights.

As with previous Dhahab editions, these graphics cards are exclusive to the Middle East, and it's highly unlikely these GPUs will ever see a global release outside of third-party resellers.

For gamers seeking a practical and affordable graphics card, you'll want to keep an eye out for the GeForce RTX 5070. You might be lucky to secure an RTX 5080, but they are frequently out of stock.

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