Meet the MSI GeForce RTX 2080 Gaming X Trio
Desktop graphics cards come in all sizes, but the MSI GeForce RTX 2080 Gaming X Trio comes in only one: totally massive.
A Look at the I/O
The connectivity along the back of the card is standard fare for an RTX 2080: three DisplayPort 1.4a video-out connectors, a single HDMI 2.0b video-out connector, and a VirtualLink (USB Type-C) interface for next-generation virtual-reality headsets.
A Full-Cover Backplate
Like other RTX 2080-based graphics cards we've reviewed, the back of the board is covered with a passive heatsink to keep the GDDR6 memory temperatures under control. It has a classy brushed-aluminum finish.
Here Be Dragons
The familiar MSI dragon logo adorns the backplate.
RGB to the Max
MSI went all-out with the RGB lighting system on the RTX 2080 Gaming X Trio. This card is a visual stunner.
A Big Silicon Sandwich
You can see the extra thickness of the card, especially from this angle. It's wide enough to take up two-and-a-half slots.
The Power Connectors
The RTX 2080 Gaming X Trio has two eight-pin power connectors, as the standard RTX 2080 has one eight-pin and one six-pin connector. MSI rates the RTX 2080 Gaming X Trio for an eyebrow-raising 260 watts.
Putting a Cap on SLI
The RTX 2080 is limited to two-card SLI, and the connector is covered here with a small plastic hat.
Tri-Fan Ferocity
It's not your eyes: The middle fan is a fair bit bigger than the rest.
The LEDs in Action
The side and the top of the card are their own lighting zones. You can choose colors, lighting patterns, brightness, and frequency in the MSI Mystic Light software.
MSI Says: Brace Yourself
This card is big and heavy enough that it includes a support bracket. It screws into the adjacent PCI Express brackets. It contacts the RTX 2080 Gaming X Trio via rubber pads to minimize vibration.
In Sum, the RTX 2080 to Beat
The RTX 2080 Gaming X Trio is about as maxed-out of an RTX 2080 as we can imagine. Provided your computer case can house it, this will be the RTX 2080 to beat.