Can I safely overclock my RTX 5080 in my first PC build?

Yes, the 5080 can be overclocked, and many cards have some room for higher core and memory clocks. However, the results vary from card to card, so don’t assume a large offset will be stable. Increase settings gradually, test after every change, and keep an eye on temperatures, power use, crashes, and visual artifacts. Your 850W quality PSU should generally be suitable for this setup, assuming it is connected correctly.

For a first attempt, an undervolt can be a better starting point than a traditional overclock. It may reduce heat and power consumption while maintaining similar performance, and you can then add a small core or memory overclock if temperatures and stability allow. Use a reputable GPU tuning tool and benchmark or stress-test each change.

Avoid jumping straight to an extreme memory offset such as +1000. Some cards tolerate that, but others will show errors or become unstable, and memory errors are not always obvious. Start with small increments, save the stock settings, and stop if you see artifacts, driver crashes, abnormal temperatures, or performance decreasing. Researching a guide specific to your exact card model is also worthwhile.