GPU Comparison

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

Quick Verdict

The GeForce RTX 5090 is dramatically faster than the GeForce RTX 5080, leading by roughly 49% in our performance index. It is also the stronger value pick here, so it's the easy recommendation if your budget allows.

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VS
NVIDIA
GeForce RTX 5090
Price
€798
Performance
100%
VRAM
32 GB GDDR7
Key Specs Advantage
+102% CUDA Cores (21,760 vs 10,752)
+102% RT Cores (170 vs 84)
+102% Tensor Cores (680 vs 336)
Price
€1,270
Performance
67%
VRAM
16 GB GDDR7
Key Specs Advantage
+9% Boost Clock (2,617 MHz vs 2,407 MHz)

GeForce RTX 5090 vs GeForce RTX 5080: In-Depth Breakdown

Performance: GeForce RTX 5090 vs GeForce RTX 5080

The GeForce RTX 5090 is dramatically faster, around 49% ahead of the GeForce RTX 5080. Both cards sit in the same broad class, well suited to 4K and high-refresh 1440p. The GeForce RTX 5090 packs 21,760 CUDA cores versus 10,752 on the GeForce RTX 5080. The GeForce RTX 5090 also has more RT cores (170 vs 84) and more AI cores (680 vs 336), strengthening its ray-tracing and AI-upscaling performance.

Price & Value

Right now the GeForce RTX 5090 starts at $798 EUR against $1,270 EUR for the GeForce RTX 5080. Because it's both faster and competitively priced, the GeForce RTX 5090 wins on performance-per-dollar by about 137%. The GeForce RTX 5090 is trading below its $1,999 EUR MSRP — a genuine deal. The GeForce RTX 5080 still sits about $271 EUR above its $999 EUR MSRP.

Power & Efficiency

The GeForce RTX 5080 draws just 360W versus 575W for the GeForce RTX 5090, and it also delivers more performance per watt — so it runs cooler and quieter and needs less PSU headroom.

VRAM & Future-Proofing

With 32GB against 16GB, the GeForce RTX 5090 has more headroom for 4K textures and memory-hungry creative/AI tasks where the GeForce RTX 5080's 16GB can fall short. The GeForce RTX 5090's memory is also faster — 1,792 GB/s versus 960 GB/s (512-bit vs 256-bit bus) — which helps feed the GPU at 4K and with heavy textures.

Which should you buy: GeForce RTX 5090 or GeForce RTX 5080?

The GeForce RTX 5090 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 RTX 5080 if you find it at a steep discount.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the GeForce RTX 5090 better than the GeForce RTX 5080?

The GeForce RTX 5090 is dramatically faster, roughly 49% ahead. If your budget allows, it's the stronger pick.

Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce RTX 5090 or the GeForce RTX 5080?

The GeForce RTX 5090 is the better 4K option — it's comfortable at 4K and high-refresh 1440p, and its 32GB of VRAM helps with 4K textures.

Is the GeForce RTX 5080 worth the extra $472 EUR over the GeForce RTX 5090?

Only if you need the extra performance or features; on pure value the GeForce RTX 5090 comes out ahead.

Does the GeForce RTX 5090 have enough VRAM advantage to matter?

Its 32GB (vs 16GB) gives real headroom for 4K, heavy texture mods, and creative/AI work. At 1080p the gap matters less.

Which is better for ray tracing, the GeForce RTX 5090 or the GeForce RTX 5080?

Both handle ray tracing, but the GeForce RTX 5090 has more RT cores, giving it better ray-tracing and AI-upscaling performance than the GeForce RTX 5080.

Technical Specifications Comparison

Architecture & Cores

SpecificationGeForce RTX 5090GeForce RTX 5080
ArchitectureBlackwellBlackwell
Process NodeTSMC 4NTSMC 4N
CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / CUDA Cores)21,76010,752
Ray Tracing Cores17084
Tensor / AI Cores680336

Clock Speeds

SpecificationGeForce RTX 5090GeForce RTX 5080
Base Clock2,010 MHz2,295 MHz
Boost Clock2,407 MHz2,617 MHz

Memory

SpecificationGeForce RTX 5090GeForce RTX 5080
VRAM Capacity32 GB16 GB
Memory TypeGDDR7GDDR7
Memory Bus512-bit256-bit
Memory Speed28 Gbps30 Gbps
Bandwidth1,792 GB/s960 GB/s

Connectivity & Power

SpecificationGeForce RTX 5090GeForce RTX 5080
InterfacePCIe 5.0 x16PCIe 5.0 x16
TDP575 W360 W
Power Connectors1x 16-pin1x 16-pin
ReleasedJan 2025Jan 2025