GPU Comparison

Select up to 2 GPUs to analyze their pricing, performance, and specifications side-by-side.

Quick Verdict

The GeForce RTX 2080 is dramatically faster than the Geforce GTX 1050, leading by roughly 533% in our performance index. It is also the stronger value pick here, so it's the easy recommendation if your budget allows.

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

VS
Price
$65 USD
Performance
3%
VRAM
2 GB GDDR5
Key Specs Advantage

Comparable or lower specs

NVIDIA
GeForce RTX 2080
Price
$200 USD
Performance
19%
VRAM
8 GB GDDR6
Key Specs Advantage
+360% CUDA Cores (2,944 vs 640)
+300% Bandwidth (448 GB/s vs 112 GB/s)
+100% Memory Bus (256-bit vs 128-bit)

GeForce RTX 2080 vs Geforce GTX 1050: In-Depth Breakdown

Performance: GeForce RTX 2080 vs Geforce GTX 1050

The GeForce RTX 2080 is dramatically faster, around 533% ahead of the Geforce GTX 1050. That gap is enough to move it up a tier: the GeForce RTX 2080 is comfortable at 1080p, while the Geforce GTX 1050 is better matched to entry-level 1080p. The GeForce RTX 2080 packs 2,944 CUDA cores versus 640 on the Geforce GTX 1050.

Price & Value

Right now the Geforce GTX 1050 starts at $65 USD against $200 USD for the GeForce RTX 2080. Because it's both faster and competitively priced, the GeForce RTX 2080 wins on performance-per-dollar by about 106%. The Geforce GTX 1050 is trading below its $109 USD MSRP — a genuine deal. The GeForce RTX 2080 is trading below its $699 USD MSRP — a genuine deal.

Power & Efficiency

The Geforce GTX 1050 pulls less power (75W vs 225W), so it's the easier card to cool and the lighter load on your PSU. The faster GeForce RTX 2080 draws more overall but extracts more performance from each watt — plan for a sturdier power supply if you pick it. Its more modern Turing architecture on a TSMC 12nm process is part of why it does more with each watt.

VRAM & Future-Proofing

With 8GB against 2GB, the GeForce RTX 2080 has more headroom for 4K textures and memory-hungry creative/AI tasks where the Geforce GTX 1050's 2GB can fall short. The GeForce RTX 2080's memory is also faster — 448 GB/s versus 112 GB/s (256-bit vs 128-bit bus) — which helps feed the GPU at 4K and with heavy textures.

Generation & Longevity

The GeForce RTX 2080 is roughly 2 years newer than the Geforce GTX 1050 (Turing vs Pascal), so it generally benefits from a more modern architecture and longer driver-support runway.

Which should you buy: Geforce GTX 1050 or GeForce RTX 2080?

The GeForce RTX 2080 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 GTX 1050 if you find it at a steep discount.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the GeForce RTX 2080 better than the Geforce GTX 1050?

The GeForce RTX 2080 is dramatically faster, roughly 533% ahead. If your budget allows, it's the stronger pick.

Which is better for 4K gaming, the Geforce GTX 1050 or the GeForce RTX 2080?

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

Is the GeForce RTX 2080 worth the extra $135 USD over the Geforce GTX 1050?

Often yes — despite the higher price the GeForce RTX 2080 delivers better performance-per-dollar here.

Does the GeForce RTX 2080 have enough VRAM advantage to matter?

Its 8GB (vs 2GB) gives real headroom for 4K, heavy texture mods, and creative/AI work. At 1080p the gap matters less.

Technical Specifications Comparison

Architecture & Cores

SpecificationGeforce GTX 1050GeForce RTX 2080
ArchitecturePascalTuring
Process NodeSamsung 14nmTSMC 12nm
CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / CUDA Cores)6402,944
Ray Tracing Cores46
Tensor / AI Cores368

Clock Speeds

SpecificationGeforce GTX 1050GeForce RTX 2080
Base Clock1,354 MHz1,515 MHz
Boost Clock1,455 MHz1,710 MHz

Memory

SpecificationGeforce GTX 1050GeForce RTX 2080
VRAM Capacity2 GB8 GB
Memory TypeGDDR5GDDR6
Memory Bus128-bit256-bit
Memory Speed7 Gbps14 Gbps
Bandwidth112 GB/s448 GB/s

Connectivity & Power

SpecificationGeforce GTX 1050GeForce RTX 2080
InterfacePCIe 3.0 x16PCIe 3.0 x16
TDP75 W225 W
Power ConnectorsNone1x 6-pin + 1x 8-pin
ReleasedOct 2016Sep 2018