GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER vs GeForce RTX 4090
The GeForce RTX 4090 is a big jump in performance — leading the GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER by roughly 29% in our performance index. It also comes out ahead on value, making it the straightforward pick if the price fits your budget.
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GeForce RTX 4090 vs GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER: In-Depth Breakdown
Performance: GeForce RTX 4090 vs GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER
The GeForce RTX 4090 is significantly faster, around 29% ahead of the GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER. That gap is enough to move it up a tier: the GeForce RTX 4090 is comfortable at 4K and high-refresh 1440p, while the GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER is better matched to 4K with upscaling and native 1440p. The GeForce RTX 4090 packs 16,384 CUDA cores versus 10,240 on the GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER. The GeForce RTX 4090 also has more RT cores (128 vs 80) and more AI cores (512 vs 320), strengthening its ray-tracing and AI-upscaling performance.
Price & Value
On price, expect to pay $170 USD for the GeForce RTX 4090 versus $6,556 USD for the GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER. Because it's both faster and competitively priced, the GeForce RTX 4090 wins on performance-per-dollar by about 4845%. The GeForce RTX 4090 is trading below its $1,599 USD MSRP — a genuine deal. The GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER still sits about $5,557 USD above its $999 USD MSRP.
Power & Efficiency
The GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER draws just 320W versus 450W for the GeForce RTX 4090, and it also delivers more performance per watt — so it runs cooler and quieter and needs less PSU headroom.
VRAM & Future-Proofing
With 24GB against 16GB, the GeForce RTX 4090 has more headroom for 4K textures and memory-hungry creative/AI tasks where the GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER's 16GB can fall short. The GeForce RTX 4090's memory is also faster — 1,008 GB/s versus 736 GB/s (384-bit vs 256-bit bus) — which helps feed the GPU at 4K and with heavy textures.
Generation & Longevity
The GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER is roughly 2 years newer than the GeForce RTX 4090, so it generally benefits from a more modern architecture and longer driver-support runway.
Which should you buy: GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER or GeForce RTX 4090?
The GeForce RTX 4090 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 4080 SUPER if you find it at a steep discount.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the GeForce RTX 4090 better than the GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER?
Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER or the GeForce RTX 4090?
Is the GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER worth the extra $6,385 USD over the GeForce RTX 4090?
Does the GeForce RTX 4090 have enough VRAM advantage to matter?
Which is better for ray tracing, the GeForce RTX 4090 or the GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER?
Which should you buy: GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER or GeForce RTX 4090?
Technical Specifications Comparison
Architecture & Cores
| Specification | GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER | GeForce RTX 4090 |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Ada Lovelace | Ada Lovelace |
| Process Node | TSMC 4N | TSMC 4N |
| CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / CUDA Cores) | 10,240 | 16,384✓ |
| Ray Tracing Cores | 80 | 128✓ |
| Tensor / AI Cores | 320 | 512✓ |
Clock Speeds
| Specification | GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER | GeForce RTX 4090 |
|---|---|---|
| Base Clock | 2,295 MHz✓ | 2,235 MHz |
| Boost Clock | 2,550 MHz✓ | 2,520 MHz |
Memory
| Specification | GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER | GeForce RTX 4090 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 16 GB | 24 GB✓ |
| Memory Type | GDDR6X | GDDR6X |
| Memory Bus | 256-bit | 384-bit✓ |
| Memory Speed | 23 Gbps✓ | 21 Gbps |
| Bandwidth | 736 GB/s | 1,008 GB/s✓ |
Connectivity & Power
| Specification | GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER | GeForce RTX 4090 |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe 4.0 x16 | PCIe 4.0 x16 |
| TDP | 320 W✓ | 450 W |
| Power Connectors | 1x 16-pin | 1x 16-pin |
| Released | Jan 2024 | Sep 2022 |
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