GPU Comparison

Select up to 2 GPUs to analyze their pricing, performance, and specifications side-by-side.

Quick Verdict

The GeForce RTX 3080 Ti is dramatically faster than the GeForce GTX 1080 Ti, leading by roughly 129% 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)

VS
Price
$420 CAD
Performance
17%
VRAM
11 GB GDDR5X
Key Specs Advantage

Comparable or lower specs

NVIDIA
GeForce RTX 3080 Ti
Price
$700 CAD
Performance
39%
VRAM
12 GB GDDR6X
Key Specs Advantage
+186% CUDA Cores (10,240 vs 3,584)
+88% Bandwidth (912 GB/s vs 484 GB/s)
+9% Memory Bus (384-bit vs 352-bit)

GeForce RTX 3080 Ti vs GeForce GTX 1080 Ti: In-Depth Breakdown

Performance: GeForce RTX 3080 Ti vs GeForce GTX 1080 Ti

The GeForce RTX 3080 Ti is dramatically faster, around 129% ahead of the GeForce GTX 1080 Ti. That gap is enough to move it up a tier: the GeForce RTX 3080 Ti is comfortable at 1440p, while the GeForce GTX 1080 Ti is better matched to 1080p. The GeForce RTX 3080 Ti packs 10,240 CUDA cores versus 3,584 on the GeForce GTX 1080 Ti.

Price & Value

Right now the GeForce GTX 1080 Ti starts at $420 CAD against $700 CAD for the GeForce RTX 3080 Ti. Because it's both faster and competitively priced, the GeForce RTX 3080 Ti wins on performance-per-dollar by about 38%. The GeForce GTX 1080 Ti is trading below its $699 CAD MSRP — a genuine deal. The GeForce RTX 3080 Ti is trading below its $1,199 CAD MSRP — a genuine deal.

Power & Efficiency

The GeForce GTX 1080 Ti pulls less power (250W vs 350W), so it's the easier card to cool and the lighter load on your PSU. The faster GeForce RTX 3080 Ti draws more overall but extracts more performance from each watt — plan for a sturdier power supply if you pick it. Its more modern Ampere architecture on a Samsung 8nm process is part of why it does more with each watt.

VRAM & Future-Proofing

With 12GB against 11GB, the GeForce RTX 3080 Ti has more headroom for 4K textures and memory-hungry creative/AI tasks where the GeForce GTX 1080 Ti's 11GB can fall short. The GeForce RTX 3080 Ti's memory is also faster — 912 GB/s versus 484 GB/s (384-bit vs 352-bit bus) — which helps feed the GPU at 4K and with heavy textures.

Generation & Longevity

The GeForce RTX 3080 Ti is roughly 4 years newer than the GeForce GTX 1080 Ti (Ampere vs Pascal), so it generally benefits from a more modern architecture and longer driver-support runway.

Which should you buy: GeForce GTX 1080 Ti or GeForce RTX 3080 Ti?

The GeForce RTX 3080 Ti 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 GTX 1080 Ti if you find it at a steep discount.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the GeForce RTX 3080 Ti better than the GeForce GTX 1080 Ti?

The GeForce RTX 3080 Ti is dramatically faster, roughly 129% ahead. If your budget allows, it's the stronger pick.

Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce GTX 1080 Ti or the GeForce RTX 3080 Ti?

Neither is a dedicated 4K card; both are best at 1440p. For 4K you'd want a faster GPU, or lean on upscaling.

Is the GeForce RTX 3080 Ti worth the extra $280 CAD over the GeForce GTX 1080 Ti?

Often yes — despite the higher price the GeForce RTX 3080 Ti delivers better performance-per-dollar here.

Does the GeForce RTX 3080 Ti have enough VRAM advantage to matter?

Its 12GB (vs 11GB) gives real headroom for 4K, heavy texture mods, and creative/AI work. At 1080p the gap matters less.

Technical Specifications Comparison

Architecture & Cores

SpecificationGeForce GTX 1080 TiGeForce RTX 3080 Ti
ArchitecturePascalAmpere
Process NodeTSMC 16nmSamsung 8nm
CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / CUDA Cores)3,58410,240
Ray Tracing Cores80
Tensor / AI Cores320

Clock Speeds

SpecificationGeForce GTX 1080 TiGeForce RTX 3080 Ti
Base Clock1,480 MHz1,365 MHz
Boost Clock1,582 MHz1,665 MHz

Memory

SpecificationGeForce GTX 1080 TiGeForce RTX 3080 Ti
VRAM Capacity11 GB12 GB
Memory TypeGDDR5XGDDR6X
Memory Bus352-bit384-bit
Memory Speed11 Gbps19 Gbps
Bandwidth484 GB/s912 GB/s

Connectivity & Power

SpecificationGeForce GTX 1080 TiGeForce RTX 3080 Ti
InterfacePCIe 3.0 x16PCIe 4.0 x16
TDP250 W350 W
Power Connectors1x 8-pin + 1x 6-pin1x 12-pin
ReleasedMar 2017May 2021