MSI GeForce RTX 3090 Suprim X in the test
: Test |CUP | Specs |Config
tl;dr: In the future, the Suprim series at MSI will still be above gaming. Models with GeForce RTX 3090, 3080 and 3070 make the start. In the test, the GeForce RTX 3090 Suprim X proves to be a first-class, high-quality graphics card, but it cannot stand out in terms of performance and volume.
Suprim is above gaming
MSI accompanies the market launch of the new series with pathetic words. The time has come to take the next step after “gaming”. According to the manufacturer, no less than 20 years of experience have gone into the development of the prestigious new series. Design, choice of materials and workmanship are mentioned by MSI in the first place among the advantages, the graphics card embodies the “High-Performance-Lifestyle“.
In fact, Suprim does a lot differently than Gaming X: Only in this series there is a cooler cover and backplate made of brushed aluminum, while the new Gaming X uses plastic over the cooler and a composite material for the backplate. However, the backplate and cooler of the Suprim not only do something about the choice of material, details such as the neatly set chamfers on the openings for the fans or the hexagon screws used set visual accents.
MSI’s information material on the new Suprim series (Image: MSI)
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The design also includes the extensive RGB-LED lighting, which includes two discreet strips between the fans, the graphics card side and the MSI logo on the backplate. In this respect, Suprim delivers what Gaming X is definitely missing this year: high-quality RGB-LED lighting.
RGB lighting: side
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MSI advertises the adapted cooler under the hood as “Tri Frozr 2S”. Compared to the model on the Gaming (X) Trio, it has a flat and nickel-plated base plate instead of directly lying copper heat pipes and the GDDR6X modules, which are tightly fitting on the GA102, are connected to the cooler with their own heat pipe. The Torx 4.0 fans, on the other hand, are already known from the Gaming X, albeit even larger with a diameter of 95 to 90 mm.
“Tri Frozr 2S” cooler with base plate and heat pipe for the storage tank
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The GeForce RTX 3090 Suprim (X) also has particularly flat heat pipes under the aluminum backplate in the Suprim series; they are missing on the RTX 3080 and 3070. The Gaming X version of the Gaming (X) also offers it, but here the backplate is made of a composite material that MSI has also advertised as being particularly heat-conducting and torsion-resistant.
Also exclusive to Suprim models is the BIOS switch, which can switch back and forth between a silent and a performance BIOS, with the silent BIOS being active at the factory. The Gaming X and Ventus variants, on the other hand, only offer a BIOS for the GeForce RTX 3000. The difference with the BIOS is the fan control, the factory-set TDP is identical.
The high weight lets the MSI GeForce RTX 3090 Suprim X hang visibly crooked in the PCIe slot without support. If you want, you can compensate for this with the included stand.
Without the included stand, the 1.9 kg graphics card sags significantly
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The MSI GeForce RTX 3090 Suprim X in detail
The editors were presented with the top model for a look at MSI Suprim. The MSI GeForce RTX 3090 Suprim X is the fourth graphics card of its kind in the test. At almost 1.9 kilograms it is the heaviest, at 33.5 centimeters the longest and with 2.9 slot together with the GeForce RTX 3090 Strix OC from Asus (test) also the thickest of its kind so far. This makes the Suprim one centimeter longer than the Gaming X, but at 14 centimeters it is exactly as high.
The Suprim’s PCB is different from that of the Gaming, even if it has the same footprint. Gaming relies on a total of 17 voltage converter circuits for GPU and memory, and Suprim on 21. Both are supplied via three 8-pin PCIe.
The MSI GeForce RTX 3090 Suprim X has a TDP of 420 watts ex works, which is 50 watts above the Gaming X and 30 watts above the Strix OC from Asus. A maximum of 450 watts can be configured, with the Gaming X it is a maximum of 380 watts. Asus, on the other hand, even allows 480 watts.
MSI specifies the typical clock rate of the Suprim X at 1,860 MHz, which corresponds to the level of the GeForce RTX 3090 Strix OC from Asus. On the other hand, the maximum clock rate of the test sample is 60 MHz lower at 2010 MHz.
Suprim X and Strix OC in comparison
MSI GeForce RTX 3090 Suprim X and Asus ROG GeForce RTX 3090 Strix OC belong to the class of the greatest gaming graphics cards of all time. The following pictures show both models again in direct comparison.
Not only are the length and height of both graphics cards very similar, although the Suprim X is another centimeter longer, the thickness is also identical with 2.9 slots. Both graphics cards require 3 × 8 pins for power supply. Asus offers two DisplayPort and two HDMI, MSI three DisplayPort and one HDMI.
No comparison of current relevance, but an interesting look into the past is the following: MSI GeForce RTX 3090 Suprim X and MSI GeForce 6800 Ultra from 2004.
The following table shows the key technical data of the GeForce RTX 3090 that the editors have tested so far in comparison.
On the next page: benchmarks, volume, overclocking and conclusion