GPU Comparison
Select up to 2 GPUs to analyze their pricing, performance, and specifications side-by-side.
Market Value Leader
GeForce GTX 1080 is the clear winner, offering 38.7% better value than GeForce RTX 3080.
The GeForce RTX 3080 is dramatically faster than the GeForce GTX 1080, leading by roughly 169% in our performance index. The GeForce GTX 1080, however, delivers more performance per dollar — $502 EUR cheaper.
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GeForce RTX 3080 vs GeForce GTX 1080: In-Depth Breakdown
Performance: GeForce RTX 3080 vs GeForce GTX 1080
The GeForce RTX 3080 is dramatically faster, around 169% ahead of the GeForce GTX 1080. That gap is enough to move it up a tier: the GeForce RTX 3080 is comfortable at 1440p, while the GeForce GTX 1080 is better matched to entry-level 1080p. The GeForce RTX 3080 packs 8,704 CUDA cores versus 2,560 on the GeForce GTX 1080.
Price & Value
Right now the GeForce GTX 1080 starts at $183 EUR against $685 EUR for the GeForce RTX 3080. Despite being slower, the GeForce GTX 1080 offers the better performance-per-dollar (~39% better value), so budget-focused buyers should weigh it carefully. The GeForce GTX 1080 is trading below its $599 EUR MSRP — a genuine deal.
Power & Efficiency
The GeForce GTX 1080 pulls less power (180W vs 320W), so it's the easier card to cool and the lighter load on your PSU. The faster GeForce RTX 3080 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 10GB against 8GB, the GeForce RTX 3080 has more headroom for 4K textures and memory-hungry creative/AI tasks where the GeForce GTX 1080's 8GB can fall short. The GeForce RTX 3080's memory is also faster — 760 GB/s versus 320 GB/s (320-bit vs 256-bit bus) — which helps feed the GPU at 4K and with heavy textures.
Generation & Longevity
The GeForce RTX 3080 is roughly 4 years newer than the GeForce GTX 1080 (Ampere vs Pascal), so it generally benefits from a more modern architecture and longer driver-support runway.
Which should you buy: GeForce GTX 1080 or GeForce RTX 3080?
Choose the GeForce RTX 3080 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 GeForce RTX 3080 better than the GeForce GTX 1080?
Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce GTX 1080 or the GeForce RTX 3080?
Is the GeForce RTX 3080 worth the extra $502 EUR over the GeForce GTX 1080?
Does the GeForce RTX 3080 have enough VRAM advantage to matter?
Technical Specifications Comparison
Architecture & Cores
| Specification | GeForce GTX 1080 | GeForce RTX 3080 |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Pascal | Ampere |
| Process Node | TSMC 16nm | Samsung 8nm |
| CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / CUDA Cores) | 2,560 | 8,704✓ |
| Ray Tracing Cores | — | 68 |
| Tensor / AI Cores | — | 272 |
Clock Speeds
| Specification | GeForce GTX 1080 | GeForce RTX 3080 |
|---|---|---|
| Base Clock | 1,607 MHz✓ | 1,440 MHz |
| Boost Clock | 1,733 MHz✓ | 1,710 MHz |
Memory
| Specification | GeForce GTX 1080 | GeForce RTX 3080 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 8 GB | 10 GB✓ |
| Memory Type | GDDR5X | GDDR6X |
| Memory Bus | 256-bit | 320-bit✓ |
| Memory Speed | 10 Gbps | 19 Gbps✓ |
| Bandwidth | 320 GB/s | 760 GB/s✓ |
Connectivity & Power
| Specification | GeForce GTX 1080 | GeForce RTX 3080 |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe 3.0 x16 | PCIe 4.0 x16 |
| TDP | 180 W✓ | 320 W |
| Power Connectors | 1x 8-pin | 1x 12-pin |
| Released | May 2016 | Sep 2020 |