GeForce RTX 2080 vs GeForce RTX 3080
Performance-wise the GeForce RTX 3080 is out front, dramatically faster, roughly 84% up on the GeForce RTX 2080. Value tips toward the GeForce RTX 2080, though: $302 EUR cheaper for what you get.
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GeForce RTX 3080 vs GeForce RTX 2080: In-Depth Breakdown
Performance: GeForce RTX 3080 vs GeForce RTX 2080
The GeForce RTX 3080 is dramatically faster, around 84% ahead of the GeForce RTX 2080. That gap is enough to move it up a tier: the GeForce RTX 3080 is comfortable at 1440p, while the GeForce RTX 2080 is better matched to 1080p. The GeForce RTX 3080 packs 8,704 CUDA cores versus 2,944 on the GeForce RTX 2080.
Price & Value
Right now the GeForce RTX 2080 starts at $297 EUR against $599 EUR for the GeForce RTX 3080. Despite being slower, the GeForce RTX 2080 offers the better performance-per-dollar (~9% better value), so budget-focused buyers should weigh it carefully. The GeForce RTX 2080 is trading below its $699 EUR MSRP — a genuine deal. The GeForce RTX 3080 is trading below its $699 EUR MSRP — a genuine deal.
Power & Efficiency
The GeForce RTX 2080 is the lighter draw at 225W against the GeForce RTX 3080's 320W, making it the easier card to power and cool. The GeForce RTX 3080 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 Ampere architecture on a Samsung 8nm process is part of why it does more with each watt.
VRAM & Future-Proofing
The GeForce RTX 3080's 10GB (vs 8GB on the GeForce RTX 2080) gives it more room for 4K textures and memory-hungry creative or AI workloads. The GeForce RTX 3080's memory is also faster — 760 GB/s versus 448 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 2 years newer than the GeForce RTX 2080 (Ampere vs Turing), so it generally benefits from a more modern architecture and longer driver-support runway.
Which should you buy: GeForce RTX 2080 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 RTX 2080 stretches your money further for only slightly lower performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the GeForce RTX 3080 better than the GeForce RTX 2080?
Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce RTX 2080 or the GeForce RTX 3080?
Is the GeForce RTX 3080 worth the extra $302 EUR over the GeForce RTX 2080?
Does the GeForce RTX 3080 have enough VRAM advantage to matter?
Which should you buy: GeForce RTX 2080 or GeForce RTX 3080?
Technical Specifications Comparison
Architecture & Cores
| Specification | GeForce RTX 2080 | GeForce RTX 3080 |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Turing | Ampere |
| Process Node | TSMC 12nm | Samsung 8nm |
| CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / CUDA Cores) | 2,944 | 8,704✓ |
| Ray Tracing Cores | 46 | 68✓ |
| Tensor / AI Cores | 368✓ | 272 |
Clock Speeds
| Specification | GeForce RTX 2080 | GeForce RTX 3080 |
|---|---|---|
| Base Clock | 1,515 MHz✓ | 1,440 MHz |
| Boost Clock | 1,710 MHz | 1,710 MHz |
Memory
| Specification | GeForce RTX 2080 | GeForce RTX 3080 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 8 GB | 10 GB✓ |
| Memory Type | GDDR6 | GDDR6X |
| Memory Bus | 256-bit | 320-bit✓ |
| Memory Speed | 14 Gbps | 19 Gbps✓ |
| Bandwidth | 448 GB/s | 760 GB/s✓ |
Connectivity & Power
| Specification | GeForce RTX 2080 | GeForce RTX 3080 |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe 3.0 x16 | PCIe 4.0 x16 |
| TDP | 225 W✓ | 320 W |
| Power Connectors | 1x 6-pin + 1x 8-pin | 1x 12-pin |
| Released | Sep 2018 | Sep 2020 |