ZOTAC surprised gamers by bringing its special APOCALYPSE series of graphics cards outside the Asian market for the first time. This edition has been exclusive to China until now, and now it’s making its first appearance in the US – specifically the GeForce RTX 5080 OC and GeForce RTX 5070 Ti OC models. The one that’s attracting the most attention is the ZOTAC Apocalypse RTX 5080 OC, which targets high-end gamers with a focus on 4K gaming.
The new Chinese Blackwell generation models are premium editions with higher clock speeds, superior cooling and distinctive design. ZOTAC has bet on a combination of performance and visuals here – for gamers who don’t just want a “black lump” in their case, but a graphics card that will act as the dominant element of the build. The ZOTAC Apocalypse RTX 5080 shows where custom editions are going, with the manufacturer sparing neither on cooling nor on design.
ZOTAC Apocalypse series design and cooling
The ZOTAC Apocalypse series builds on the futuristic anime style. The front is made up of a trio of massive fans, with the middle fan surrounded by ARGB effects in the shape of a ring of light. The white body of the card is complemented by sharp lines, geometric elements and contrasting details that clearly differentiate it from conservative models.
The backplate continues in the same visual direction – white finish, vented cutouts and metal construction that adds to the strength. ZOTAC uses an IceStorm 3.0 cooler with three 100mm fans, a vapor chamber, heatpipes and efficient pass-thru airflow. The result is a combination of premium looks and cooling designed to keep clock speeds high even under long loads. The ZOTAC Apocalypse RTX 5080 thus combines aggressive design with highly efficient cooling.
ZOTAC Apocalypse series specifications
The ZOTAC Apocalypse RTX 5080 and RTX 5070 Ti Apocalypse OC models build on NVIDIA’s Blackwell architecture and focus on higher clock speeds, fast GDDR7 memory, and premium cooling. While the ZOTAC Apocalypse RTX 5080 targets the 4K high-end segment with a higher CUDA core count and higher memory throughput, the RTX 5070 Ti Apocalypse version aims for smooth 1440p gaming with still very solid performance.
| Features | ZOTAC GeForce RTX 5080 Apocalypse OC | ZOTAC GeForce RTX 5070 Ti Apocalypse OC |
| GPU architecture | NVIDIA Blackwell | NVIDIA Blackwell |
| CUDA cores | 10 752 | 8 960 |
| Boost clock | 2 730 MHz | 2 572 MHz |
| Memory | 16 GB GDDR7 | 16 GB GDDR7 |
| Memory speed | 30 Gbps | 28 Gbps |
| Memory bus | 256-bit | 256-bit |
| Memory throughput | ~960 GB/s | ~896 GB/s |
| Cooling | IceStorm 3.0 | 3×100 mm fan | IceStorm 3.0 | 3× 100 mm fan |
| Power connector | 1× 16-pin (12V-2×6) | 1× 16-pin (12V-2×6) |
| TDP | 360 W | 300 W |
| Recommended power supply | 850 W | 800 W |
| Interface | PCIe 5.0 x16 | PCIe 5.0 x16 |
| Outputs | 1× HDMI 2.1b | 3× DisplayPort 2.1b | 1× HDMI 2.1b | 3× DisplayPort 2.1b |
| Target resolution | 4K high-end | 1440p / 4K |
Availability and price of ZOTAC Apocalypse series determined
ZOTAC has already launched the APOCALYPSE series in the US market, selling through the official ZOTAC Store and retailers like Newegg. The RTX 5070 Ti APOCALYPSE OC is priced at roughly $782, while the ZOTAC Apocalypse RTX 5080 sits at about $1,149. Both cards carry a noticeable premium — roughly $92 to $230 above the base RTX 5070 Ti and RTX 5080 models.
The Apocalypse series targets gamers who want their PC build to look special – perfect for glass-sided “showcase” cabinets, RGB enthusiasts, fans of anime aesthetics, and those who want a unique edition that not everyone will have. These aren’t extremely overclocked OC monsters, but rather a combination of slightly increased performance, massive cooling, and distinctive design. That said, many interested buyers will choose this series as much for the design as for the performance.
Conclusion
The ZOTAC Apocalypse series brings bold design, powerful IceStorm 3.0 cooling, and Blackwell architecture performance to the premium segment. The ZOTAC Apocalypse RTX 5080 makes it clear that it’s not just another GPU, but a dominant element of the gaming lineup. If you’re looking for a combination of stable performance and exceptional looks, the ZOTAC Apocalypse is one of the most interesting options of the Blackwell generation, and may be an interesting choice for US gamers as well when availability expands.
A premium edition with 4K performance, fast GDDR7 memory, and massive IceStorm 3.0 cooling. A perfect choice for gamers who want power and a unique design.