RTX 5080 Upgrade on Old Hardware: Rough but Convinced Me of Multi-Frame Generation Benefits

I get excited every time a new graphics card launches, and even more so when Nvidia unveiled the RTX 5080 alongside its groundbreaking DLSS 4 technology—an AI-powered leap that redefines visual fidelity and frame rate performance. But then I looked at my aging gaming rig and paused.

My RTX 3080 had been a loyal companion, delivering a solid 60 fps at 4K with max settings in my favorite titles. That golden era didn’t last. Over time, performance dipped to 30 fps, forcing me to lower settings—a bitter pill to swallow. I play games to immerse myself in the artistry, to see every meticulously crafted detail the developers intended. Compromising on visuals felt like missing the point. Could my current setup handle the next generation?

As it turned out, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 is compatible with my older build. I even had a 1000-watt PSU ready to handle the increased power draw. But compatibility doesn’t guarantee smooth sailing.

I ran into several hurdles. My system wasn’t optimized, and raw performance was… underwhelming. Yet, despite my reservations—especially regarding DLSS 4—the multi-frame generation technology made a lasting impression. So much so that it may have finally won me over.

Installing the RTX 5080 – 4 Hours Later

Calling my PC a “grandpa-build” is a bit of an exaggeration. It’s powered by an AMD Ryzen 7 5800X, 32GB of RAM, and a Gigabyte X570 Aorus Master motherboard—still capable, and definitely not ancient. Swapping GPUs should be straightforward, but fate had other plans.

I assumed the existing PCIe 8-pin cables from my RTX 3080 would suffice. I connected two of them to the RTX 5080’s three 12VHPWR adapters. I knew it was a long shot. When I powered on the system, the GPU’s LEDs stayed dark. Great.

With my PC open and components scattered, I searched for PCIe 12-pin cables. To my surprise, I found them on DoorDash—Corsair PCIe Gen 5 Type 4 600-watt cables, shipped from a Best Buy in another state for $44. Necessity breeds creativity.

The cables arrived in about an hour. I plugged everything in, and the GPU lit up—sort of. It flickered weakly, and my monitors remained black. A red VGA light on the motherboard gave me the side-eye. After an hour of troubleshooting, I discovered the culprit: the massive chipset fan on the X570 Aorus Master was physically blocking the RTX 5080 from fully seating into the PCIe x16 slot. No amount of gentle persuasion helped.

Reluctantly, I installed the RTX 5080 into the PCIe x8 slot. So, with an older CPU and a halved PCIe bandwidth, how did it perform?

RTX 5080 on My Grandpa-Build: Performance Reality Check

After running 30 benchmarks across five games, raw performance was underwhelming. But with DLSS 4, the numbers Nvidia promised suddenly made sense. I still crave native fidelity, but DLSS 4 is now the only viable path for systems like mine.

DLSS 4 enhances performance and image quality through AI upscaling. The RTX 50-series introduces Multi Frame Generation (MFG), which can generate up to three additional frames per rendered frame. It’s game-changer—though only available in supported titles (and sometimes requires manual enabling via the Nvidia app).

Monster Hunter Wilds was my first test. This poorly optimized beast brought my RTX 3080 to its knees. At 4K Ultra with RT High and DLSS off, I hit just 51 fps. Enabling DLAA and standard frame generation (2x) jumped performance to 74 fps—enough to conquer the challenge. Switching to Ultra Performance mode delivered 124 fps. (Note: Native 4x MFG isn’t supported yet, but a workaround exists.)

Next, Avowed. Previously, I struggled to hit 60 fps without lowering settings. At 4K Ultra with RT and no DLSS, I crawled at 35 fps. With DLAA and MFG, performance soared to 113 fps—a 223% increase. Ultra Performance mode nearly doubled that. The visual leap was staggering.

Then came Oblivion: Remastered—a performance nightmare despite its age. At 4K Ultra, RT Ultra, and DLSS off, I averaged 30 fps, dipping to 20 fps on mountain trails. With DLAA and MFG, I hit 95 fps. Ultra Performance mode pushed it to 172 fps. Those Daedra never stood a chance.

For Marvel Rivals, a competitive title, precision matters. As a Magik main, timing is everything. At 4K Ultra with DLSS off, I got 65 fps at 45ms latency. DLSS Native with MFG boosted fps to 182 but increased latency to 50ms—the worst in testing. The sweet spot? Performance mode with standard frame generation: 189 fps at 28ms, matching non-frame generation latency. Did DLSS 4 get me into the MVP spot? I’m not saying it didn’t.

Finally, Black Myth Wukong. I ran only the benchmark, limited to standard frame generation. At Cinematic 4K with DLSS 40% and RT Very High, I got 42 fps. With frame generation, it jumped to 69 fps—more than playable. With MFG (4x), performance could theoretically reach 123 fps based on the trend.

Raw performance alone left me disappointed. Partly due to aging components, partly because the RTX 50-series didn’t deliver a massive leap in native power. But DLSS 4 changed everything.

You Don’t Need a New PC to Upgrade Your GPU

Yes, there are trade-offs. DLSS 4 generates frames that weren’t rendered, which can introduce texture softness or minor artifacts—especially in inventory screens or fast camera pans. It’s not magic. You’re trading some fidelity for fluidity, but the result is often indistinguishable from native, especially at higher resolutions.

It’s a powerful tool, but I hope developers don’t use it as a crutch for poorly optimized ports.

Still, the takeaway is clear: you don’t need to overhaul your entire system to benefit from a new GPU. A compatible PSU (RTX 5080 needs 850W) and the right power cables may be all you need. GPUs are expensive and hard to find—don’t rush into a full rebuild.

My current setup might not last forever, but thanks to DLSS 4 and Multi-Frame Generation, I’ve bought myself enough time to finally say hello to Wesker. And that’s worth every watt.