GeForce GTX 1080 Ti vs GeForce RTX 2060 12GB
The GeForce GTX 1080 Ti is a big jump in performance — leading the GeForce RTX 2060 12GB by roughly 21% in our performance index. It also comes out ahead on value, making it the straightforward pick if the price fits your budget.
Maximum Capacity Reached. Remove a model to add another. (2/2)
GeForce GTX 1080 Ti vs GeForce RTX 2060 12GB: In-Depth Breakdown
Performance: GeForce GTX 1080 Ti vs GeForce RTX 2060 12GB
The GeForce GTX 1080 Ti is significantly faster, around 21% ahead of the GeForce RTX 2060 12GB. Both cards sit in the same broad class, well suited to 1080p. The GeForce GTX 1080 Ti packs 3,584 CUDA cores versus 2,176 on the GeForce RTX 2060 12GB.
Price & Value
On price, expect to pay $194 GBP for the GeForce GTX 1080 Ti versus $287 GBP for the GeForce RTX 2060 12GB. Because it's both faster and competitively priced, the GeForce GTX 1080 Ti wins on performance-per-dollar by about 79%. The GeForce GTX 1080 Ti is trading below its $699 GBP MSRP — a genuine deal.
Power & Efficiency
The GeForce RTX 2060 12GB draws just 184W versus 250W for the GeForce GTX 1080 Ti, and it also delivers more performance per watt — so it runs cooler and quieter and needs less PSU headroom. Its more modern Turing architecture on a TSMC 12nm process is part of why it does more with each watt.
VRAM & Future-Proofing
With 12GB against 11GB, the GeForce RTX 2060 12GB has more headroom for 4K textures and memory-hungry creative/AI tasks where the GeForce GTX 1080 Ti's 11GB can fall short. The GeForce GTX 1080 Ti's memory is also faster — 484 GB/s versus 336 GB/s (352-bit vs 192-bit bus) — which helps feed the GPU at 4K and with heavy textures.
Generation & Longevity
The GeForce RTX 2060 12GB is roughly 4 years newer than the GeForce GTX 1080 Ti (Turing vs Pascal), so it generally benefits from a more modern architecture and longer driver-support runway.
Which should you buy: GeForce GTX 1080 Ti or GeForce RTX 2060 12GB?
The GeForce GTX 1080 Ti 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 2060 12GB if you find it at a steep discount.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the GeForce GTX 1080 Ti better than the GeForce RTX 2060 12GB?
Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce GTX 1080 Ti or the GeForce RTX 2060 12GB?
Is the GeForce RTX 2060 12GB worth the extra $92 GBP over the GeForce GTX 1080 Ti?
Does the GeForce RTX 2060 12GB have enough VRAM advantage to matter?
Which should you buy: GeForce GTX 1080 Ti or GeForce RTX 2060 12GB?
Technical Specifications Comparison
Architecture & Cores
| Specification | GeForce GTX 1080 Ti | GeForce RTX 2060 12GB |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Pascal | Turing |
| Process Node | TSMC 16nm | TSMC 12nm |
| CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / CUDA Cores) | 3,584✓ | 2,176 |
Clock Speeds
| Specification | GeForce GTX 1080 Ti | GeForce RTX 2060 12GB |
|---|---|---|
| Base Clock | 1,480 MHz✓ | 1,470 MHz |
| Boost Clock | 1,582 MHz | 1,650 MHz✓ |
Memory
| Specification | GeForce GTX 1080 Ti | GeForce RTX 2060 12GB |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 11 GB | 12 GB✓ |
| Memory Type | GDDR5X | GDDR6 |
| Memory Bus | 352-bit✓ | 192-bit |
| Memory Speed | 11 Gbps | 14 Gbps✓ |
| Bandwidth | 484 GB/s✓ | 336 GB/s |
Connectivity & Power
| Specification | GeForce GTX 1080 Ti | GeForce RTX 2060 12GB |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe 3.0 x16 | PCIe 3.0 x16 |
| TDP | 250 W | 184 W✓ |
| Power Connectors | 1x 8-pin + 1x 6-pin | 1x 8-pin |
| Released | Mar 2017 | Dec 2021 |