Skip to content

GeForce GTX 1080 vs Radeon RX Vega 56

Quick Verdict

Performance-wise the GeForce GTX 1080 is out front, noticeably faster, roughly 8% up on the Radeon RX Vega 56. Value tips toward the Radeon RX Vega 56, though: $47,891 JPY cheaper for what you get.

Maximum Capacity Reached. Remove a model to add another. (2/2)

VS
NVIDIA GeForce
GTX 1080
Price
Β₯108,801
Performance
13/100βœ“
VRAM
8 GB GDDR5Xβœ“
Key Specs Advantage
+18% Boost Clock (1,733 MHz vs 1,471 MHz)
AMD Radeon
RX Vega 56
Price
Β₯60,910βœ“
Performance
12/100
VRAM
8 GB HBM2βœ“
Key Specs Advantage
+700% Memory Bus (2048-bit vs 256-bit)
+40% Stream Processors (3,584 vs 2,560)
+28% Bandwidth (409.6 GB/s vs 320 GB/s)

GeForce GTX 1080 vs Radeon RX Vega 56: In-Depth Breakdown

Performance: GeForce GTX 1080 vs Radeon RX Vega 56

The GeForce GTX 1080 is noticeably faster, around 8% ahead of the Radeon RX Vega 56. Both cards sit in the same broad class, well suited to entry-level 1080p.

Price & Value

Right now the Radeon RX Vega 56 starts at $60,910 JPY against $108,801 JPY for the GeForce GTX 1080. Despite being slower, the Radeon RX Vega 56 offers the better performance-per-dollar (~65% better value), so budget-focused buyers should weigh it carefully. The Radeon RX Vega 56 still sits about $60,511 JPY above its $399 JPY MSRP. The GeForce GTX 1080 still sits about $108,202 JPY above its $599 JPY MSRP.

Power & Efficiency

The GeForce GTX 1080 sips power at 180W next to the Radeon RX Vega 56's 210W, and still leads on performance-per-watt β€” quieter, cooler, and gentler on your PSU.

Features & Ecosystem

Beyond raw numbers, the GeForce GTX 1080 brings NVIDIA DLSS upscaling/frame generation and stronger ray tracing, while the Radeon RX Vega 56 offers AMD FSR upscaling and strong rasterization value. If you lean on upscaling or ray tracing, that ecosystem difference can matter as much as the frame-rate gap.

Which should you buy: GeForce GTX 1080 or Radeon RX Vega 56?

Choose the GeForce GTX 1080 if you want the most performance and can absorb the higher price. If you're optimizing for value, the Radeon RX Vega 56 stretches your money further for only slightly lower performance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the GeForce GTX 1080 better than the Radeon RX Vega 56?

The GeForce GTX 1080 is noticeably faster, roughly 8% ahead. The Radeon RX Vega 56 is still worth it if value matters more than top-end frames.

Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce GTX 1080 or the Radeon RX Vega 56?

Neither is a dedicated 4K card; both are best at entry-level 1080p. For 4K you'd want a faster GPU, or lean on upscaling.

Is the GeForce GTX 1080 worth the extra $47,891 JPY over the Radeon RX Vega 56?

Only if you need the extra performance or features; on pure value the Radeon RX Vega 56 comes out ahead.

Which should you buy: GeForce GTX 1080 or Radeon RX Vega 56?

Choose the GeForce GTX 1080 if you want the most performance and can absorb the higher price. If you're optimizing for value, the Radeon RX Vega 56 stretches your money further for only slightly lower performance.

Technical Specifications Comparison

Architecture & Cores

Architecture & Cores specifications comparison between GeForce GTX 1080 and Radeon RX Vega 56
SpecificationGeForce GTX 1080Radeon RX Vega 56
ArchitecturePascalGCN 5.0 (Vega)
Process NodeTSMC 16nmGloFo 14nm
CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / Stream Processors)2,5603,584βœ“

Clock Speeds

Clock Speeds specifications comparison between GeForce GTX 1080 and Radeon RX Vega 56
SpecificationGeForce GTX 1080Radeon RX Vega 56
Base Clock1,607 MHzβœ“1,156 MHz
Boost Clock1,733 MHzβœ“1,471 MHz

Memory

Memory specifications comparison between GeForce GTX 1080 and Radeon RX Vega 56
SpecificationGeForce GTX 1080Radeon RX Vega 56
VRAM Capacity8 GB8 GB
Memory TypeGDDR5XHBM2
Memory Bus256-bit2048-bitβœ“
Memory Speed10 Gbpsβœ“1.6 Gbps
Bandwidth320 GB/s409.6 GB/sβœ“

Connectivity & Power

Connectivity & Power specifications comparison between GeForce GTX 1080 and Radeon RX Vega 56
SpecificationGeForce GTX 1080Radeon RX Vega 56
InterfacePCIe 3.0 x16PCIe 3.0 x16
TDP180 Wβœ“210 W
Power Connectors1x 8-pin2x 8-pin
ReleasedMay 2016Aug 2017