GeForce GTX 980 Ti vs GeForce RTX 2080 Ti
On raw speed the GeForce RTX 2080 Ti comes out ahead: far and away the quicker card, about 150% ahead of the GeForce GTX 980 Ti. That said, the GeForce GTX 980 Ti is the smarter buy on value — $195 USD less for the performance on offer.
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GeForce RTX 2080 Ti vs GeForce GTX 980 Ti: In-Depth Breakdown
Performance: GeForce RTX 2080 Ti vs GeForce GTX 980 Ti
The GeForce RTX 2080 Ti is dramatically faster, around 150% ahead of the GeForce GTX 980 Ti. That gap is enough to move it up a tier: the GeForce RTX 2080 Ti is comfortable at 1080p, while the GeForce GTX 980 Ti is better matched to entry-level 1080p. The GeForce RTX 2080 Ti packs 4,352 CUDA cores versus 2,816 on the GeForce GTX 980 Ti.
Price & Value
The GeForce GTX 980 Ti currently lists from $125 USD, $195 USD less than the GeForce RTX 2080 Ti at $320 USD. Despite being slower, the GeForce GTX 980 Ti offers the better performance-per-dollar, so budget-focused buyers should weigh it carefully. The GeForce GTX 980 Ti is trading below its $649 USD MSRP — a genuine deal. The GeForce RTX 2080 Ti is trading below its $999 USD MSRP — a genuine deal.
VRAM & Future-Proofing
VRAM favors the GeForce RTX 2080 Ti at 11GB versus 6GB on the GeForce GTX 980 Ti — that extra 5GB matters most at 4K, with high-res texture packs, and for content-creation/local-AI work. The GeForce RTX 2080 Ti's memory is also faster — 616 GB/s versus 337 GB/s (352-bit vs 384-bit bus) — which helps feed the GPU at 4K and with heavy textures.
Generation & Longevity
The GeForce RTX 2080 Ti is roughly 3 years newer than the GeForce GTX 980 Ti (Turing vs Maxwell), so it generally benefits from a more modern architecture and longer driver-support runway.
Which should you buy: GeForce GTX 980 Ti or GeForce RTX 2080 Ti?
Choose the GeForce RTX 2080 Ti if you want the most performance and can absorb the higher price. If you're optimizing for value, the GeForce GTX 980 Ti stretches your money further for only slightly lower performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the GeForce RTX 2080 Ti better than the GeForce GTX 980 Ti?
Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce GTX 980 Ti or the GeForce RTX 2080 Ti?
Is the GeForce RTX 2080 Ti worth the extra $195 USD over the GeForce GTX 980 Ti?
Does the GeForce RTX 2080 Ti have enough VRAM advantage to matter?
Which should you buy: GeForce GTX 980 Ti or GeForce RTX 2080 Ti?
Technical Specifications Comparison
Architecture & Cores
| Specification | GeForce GTX 980 Ti | GeForce RTX 2080 Ti |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Maxwell | Turing |
| Process Node | TSMC 28nm | TSMC 12nm |
| CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / CUDA Cores) | 2,816 | 4,352✓ |
| Ray Tracing Cores | — | 68 |
| Tensor / AI Cores | — | 544 |
Clock Speeds
| Specification | GeForce GTX 980 Ti | GeForce RTX 2080 Ti |
|---|---|---|
| Base Clock | 1,000 MHz | 1,350 MHz✓ |
| Boost Clock | 1,075 MHz | 1,545 MHz✓ |
Memory
| Specification | GeForce GTX 980 Ti | GeForce RTX 2080 Ti |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 6 GB | 11 GB✓ |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR6 |
| Memory Bus | 384-bit✓ | 352-bit |
| Memory Speed | 7 Gbps | 14 Gbps✓ |
| Bandwidth | 336.5 GB/s | 616 GB/s✓ |
Connectivity & Power
| Specification | GeForce GTX 980 Ti | GeForce RTX 2080 Ti |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe 3.0 x16 | PCIe 3.0 x16 |
| TDP | 250 W | 250 W |
| Power Connectors | 1x 6-pin + 1x 8-pin | 2x 8-pin |
| Released | Jun 2015 | Sep 2018 |