Desktop RTX 4080M Tested Against RX 9700 GRE: A 100W GPU With Surprising Strengths
A desktop graphics card based on Nvidia’s RTX 4080 mobile GPU may sound unusual, but it is a real product in the Chinese market. This card is not the standard desktop RTX 4080. Instead, it uses the mobile RTX 4080 chip and is sold as a desktop GPU, usually without an official warranty.
Despite that, it has gained attention because of its low price, compact design, lower heat output, and reduced power consumption. For PC builders working with small form factor systems or limited power supplies, this kind of graphics card can be very appealing.
The most interesting detail is its power limit. The desktop RTX 4080M is capped at just 100W, which is lower than what the mobile RTX 4080 GPU is normally allowed to use in high-end laptops. Because of that, it cannot perform like a full desktop-class RTX 4080, even though it is installed on a desktop graphics card with dedicated cooling.
Still, the card delivers some surprisingly strong results, especially considering its power limit and price.
A reviewer on Bilibili tested the desktop RTX 4080M against the RX 9700 GRE, another GPU that has been available in China at a similar price point. Both cards are reportedly priced around the $400 range, although the RTX 4080M has previously been found for around $300. At that lower price, it becomes especially attractive for users looking for strong gaming performance without high power draw.
The RTX 4080M desktop card comes with 12GB of VRAM, which makes the comparison with the RX 9700 GRE more interesting. Both GPUs target gamers who want capable performance without paying flagship prices.
In gaming tests, the RTX 4080M showed mixed results. In some titles, it performed impressively well. In PUBG at 2K Ultra settings, the RTX 4080M reached around 340 FPS, while the RX 9700 GRE delivered around 240 FPS. That is a major lead for the Nvidia-based card.
The RTX 4080M also performed well in Delta Force at 4K Ultra settings, reaching around 100 FPS compared to roughly 90 FPS on the RX 9700 GRE. That gives the RTX 4080M about a 10% advantage in this test.
However, the situation changed in more demanding modern games, especially at 4K resolution.
In Forza Horizon 5, the RX 9700 GRE took a clear lead. At 2K Low settings, the RTX 4080M produced around 214 FPS, while the RX 9700 GRE reached about 297 FPS. At 4K High settings, the RTX 4080M managed 84 FPS, compared to 107 FPS for the RX 9700 GRE.
Cyberpunk 2077 showed an even bigger gap. At 2K Low settings, the RTX 4080M reached 171 FPS, while the RX 9700 GRE hit 184 FPS. At 4K High settings, the RTX 4080M dropped to 49 FPS, while the RX 9700 GRE delivered a much stronger 76 FPS. That puts the RX 9700 GRE ahead by a significant margin in one of the most demanding games tested.
Shadow of the Tomb Raider showed a smaller difference at 2K, with the RTX 4080M scoring 268 FPS and the RX 9700 GRE reaching 274 FPS. But at 4K High settings, the gap widened again, with the RTX 4080M at 96 FPS and the RX 9700 GRE at 107 FPS.
Overall, the RX 9700 GRE is the faster gaming GPU in most modern AAA titles, especially at 4K. The RTX 4080M can keep up in lighter or more optimized games, and it can even win in certain cases, but its 100W power limit clearly holds it back when the workload becomes heavier.
That power cap is both the card’s weakness and its biggest advantage. It prevents the RTX 4080M desktop GPU from reaching its full potential, but it also makes the card efficient, cool, and useful for compact gaming PCs. For users building a small form factor PC, a low-heat gaming system, or a setup with strict power limits, this GPU could still make sense.
If the 100W limit were removed or increased, the desktop RTX 4080M might be able to close the gap against the RX 9700 GRE. As it stands, though, the RX 9700 GRE remains the better choice for raw performance, while the RTX 4080M stands out as an efficient and compact alternative for buyers who care more about power consumption, thermals, and price than maximum frame rates.
