GPU Comparison
Select up to 2 GPUs to analyze their pricing, performance, and specifications side-by-side.
The GeForce RTX 2080 is dramatically faster than the GeForce GT 1030, leading by roughly 1800% in our performance index. It is also the stronger value pick here, so it's the easy recommendation if your budget allows.
Maximum Capacity Reached. Remove a model to add another. (2/2)
GeForce RTX 2080 vs GeForce GT 1030: In-Depth Breakdown
Performance: GeForce RTX 2080 vs GeForce GT 1030
The GeForce RTX 2080 is dramatically faster, around 1800% ahead of the GeForce GT 1030. That gap is enough to move it up a tier: the GeForce RTX 2080 is comfortable at 1080p, while the GeForce GT 1030 is better matched to entry-level 1080p. The GeForce RTX 2080 packs 2,944 CUDA cores versus 384 on the GeForce GT 1030.
Price & Value
Right now the GeForce GT 1030 starts at $87 CAD against $430 CAD for the GeForce RTX 2080. Because it's both faster and competitively priced, the GeForce RTX 2080 wins on performance-per-dollar by about 286%. The GeForce RTX 2080 is trading below its $699 CAD MSRP — a genuine deal.
Power & Efficiency
The GeForce GT 1030 pulls less power (30W vs 225W), so it's the easier card to cool and the lighter load on your PSU. The faster GeForce RTX 2080 draws more overall but extracts more performance from each watt — plan for a sturdier power supply if you pick it. Its more modern Turing architecture on a TSMC 12nm process is part of why it does more with each watt.
VRAM & Future-Proofing
With 8GB against 2GB, the GeForce RTX 2080 has more headroom for 4K textures and memory-hungry creative/AI tasks where the GeForce GT 1030's 2GB can fall short. The GeForce RTX 2080's memory is also faster — 448 GB/s versus 48 GB/s (256-bit vs 64-bit bus) — which helps feed the GPU at 4K and with heavy textures.
Which should you buy: GeForce GT 1030 or GeForce RTX 2080?
The GeForce RTX 2080 is the all-round winner here — it's faster and the better value, so buy it if it fits your budget. Only consider the GeForce GT 1030 if you find it at a steep discount.