GeForce GTX 1080 vs Radeon RX 5700 XT
Performance-wise the Radeon RX 5700 XT is out front, significantly faster, roughly 38% up on the GeForce GTX 1080. Value tips toward the GeForce GTX 1080, though: $3,102 AUD cheaper for what you get.
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Comparable or lower specs
Radeon RX 5700 XT vs GeForce GTX 1080: In-Depth Breakdown
Performance: Radeon RX 5700 XT vs GeForce GTX 1080
The Radeon RX 5700 XT is significantly faster, around 38% ahead of the GeForce GTX 1080. That gap is enough to move it up a tier: the Radeon RX 5700 XT is comfortable at 1080p, while the GeForce GTX 1080 is better matched to entry-level 1080p.
Price & Value
Right now the GeForce GTX 1080 starts at $581 AUD against $3,683 AUD for the Radeon RX 5700 XT. Despite being slower, the GeForce GTX 1080 offers the better performance-per-dollar (~358% better value), so budget-focused buyers should weigh it carefully. The Radeon RX 5700 XT still sits about $3,284 AUD above its $399 AUD MSRP.
Power & Efficiency
The GeForce GTX 1080 is the lighter draw at 180W against the Radeon RX 5700 XT's 225W, making it the easier card to power and cool. The Radeon RX 5700 XT draws more in absolute terms but squeezes out more performance per watt, so budget for a beefier PSU if you go that route. Its more modern RDNA architecture on a TSMC N7 process is part of why it does more with each watt.
Generation & Longevity
The Radeon RX 5700 XT is roughly 3 years newer than the GeForce GTX 1080 (RDNA vs Pascal), so it generally benefits from a more modern architecture and longer driver-support runway.
Features & Ecosystem
Beyond raw numbers, the GeForce GTX 1080 brings NVIDIA DLSS upscaling/frame generation and stronger ray tracing, while the Radeon RX 5700 XT offers AMD FSR upscaling and strong rasterization value. If you lean on upscaling or ray tracing, that ecosystem difference can matter as much as the frame-rate gap.
Which should you buy: GeForce GTX 1080 or Radeon RX 5700 XT?
Choose the Radeon RX 5700 XT if you want the most performance and can absorb the higher price. If you're optimizing for value, the GeForce GTX 1080 stretches your money further for only slightly lower performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Radeon RX 5700 XT better than the GeForce GTX 1080?
Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce GTX 1080 or the Radeon RX 5700 XT?
Is the Radeon RX 5700 XT worth the extra $3,102 AUD over the GeForce GTX 1080?
Which should you buy: GeForce GTX 1080 or Radeon RX 5700 XT?
Technical Specifications Comparison
Architecture & Cores
| Specification | GeForce GTX 1080 | Radeon RX 5700 XT |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Pascal | RDNA |
| Process Node | TSMC 16nm | TSMC N7 |
| CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / Stream Processors) | 2,560 | 2,560 |
Clock Speeds
| Specification | GeForce GTX 1080 | Radeon RX 5700 XT |
|---|---|---|
| Base Clock | 1,607 MHz✓ | 1,605 MHz |
| Boost Clock | 1,733 MHz | 1,905 MHz✓ |
Memory
| Specification | GeForce GTX 1080 | Radeon RX 5700 XT |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 8 GB | 8 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR5X | GDDR6 |
| Memory Bus | 256-bit | 256-bit |
| Memory Speed | 10 Gbps | 14 Gbps✓ |
| Bandwidth | 320 GB/s | 448 GB/s✓ |
Connectivity & Power
| Specification | GeForce GTX 1080 | Radeon RX 5700 XT |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe 3.0 x16 | PCIe 4.0 x16 |
| TDP | 180 W✓ | 225 W |
| Power Connectors | 1x 8-pin | 1x 8-pin + 1x 6-pin |
| Released | May 2016 | Jul 2019 |