GPU Comparison
Select up to 2 GPUs to analyze their pricing, performance, and specifications side-by-side.
Market Value Leader
Market comparison is currently pending while we verify the latest benchmarks for GeForce RTX 2080 and GeForce RTX 3080.
The GeForce RTX 3080 is dramatically faster than the GeForce RTX 2080, leading by roughly 84% in our performance index.
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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.
Power & Efficiency
The GeForce RTX 2080 pulls less power (225W 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 RTX 2080's 8GB can fall short. 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?
The GeForce RTX 3080 is the faster card by about 84%. With live pricing limited for this pair, base your decision on the spec differences above — particularly VRAM and power draw — and check current stock before buying.
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?
Does the GeForce RTX 3080 have enough VRAM advantage to matter?
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 |