A newly surfaced benchmark for the Nvidia RTX 5080 laptop GPU has sparked excitement among PC gamers. This is the first unofficial glimpse at Nvidia’s next-generation mobile GPUs, unveiled at CES 2025. However, while the numbers might tempt enthusiasm, caution is warranted.
The Benchmark Breakdown
The leaked benchmark comes from Geekbench, a synthetic testing platform that’s not particularly renowned for assessing gaming performance. The test was allegedly performed on the show floor at CES 2025 using an Alienware 18 Area 51 gaming laptop. VideoCardz identified the rogue actor responsible for running Geekbench on the device, adding a touch of drama to this discovery.
According to the benchmark, the RTX 5080 achieved a score of 190,000, which is approximately 18% faster than the RTX 4080 laptop GPU. While this sounds promising, some online discussions suggest the gain might seem underwhelming. Certain RTX 4080 laptops reportedly score closer to 190,000, calling into question whether this represents a significant generational leap.
A Closer Look at Performance
If we compare the leaked data to Geekbench’s official rankings, the RTX 5080 edges out the RTX 4090 laptop GPU by about 6% in performance, despite the 4090 boasting 25% more CUDA cores. Additionally, the RTX 5080 appears to match the power of a desktop RTX 4070 Super, making it a compelling option for portable gaming powerhouses.
It’s worth noting, however, that this performance likely reflects pre-release drivers, which may not yet fully optimize the GPU’s potential. The clock speed in the test was recorded at 1.5GHz, noticeably lower than the expected 2GHz or higher when boosted. For comparison, the RTX 4080 laptop GPU could achieve clock speeds of up to 2.2GHz.
The RTX 5090 Hype
If the RTX 5080 is already showing this level of capability, it’s reasonable to expect even greater things from Nvidia’s upcoming RTX 5090 laptop GPU, the anticipated flagship of the Blackwell architecture.
Tempering Expectations
While the numbers are intriguing, this benchmark requires a healthy dose of skepticism. The configuration of the Alienware laptop used in the test remains unclear, and Geekbench itself is not the gold standard for evaluating gaming hardware. Real-world gaming benchmarks will ultimately provide a more accurate picture of the RTX 5080’s capabilities.
In conclusion, the RTX 5080 appears poised to bring impressive performance to gaming laptops, setting the stage for Nvidia’s Blackwell series. However, gamers should reserve judgment until official benchmarks and in-game performance metrics are available.