GeForce RTX 2080 Ti vs GeForce RTX 3080 Ti
Performance-wise the GeForce RTX 3080 Ti is out front, dramatically faster, roughly 56% up on the GeForce RTX 2080 Ti. Value tips toward the GeForce RTX 2080 Ti, though: $230 USD cheaper for what you get.
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GeForce RTX 3080 Ti vs GeForce RTX 2080 Ti: In-Depth Breakdown
Performance: GeForce RTX 3080 Ti vs GeForce RTX 2080 Ti
The GeForce RTX 3080 Ti is dramatically faster, around 56% ahead of the GeForce RTX 2080 Ti. That gap is enough to move it up a tier: the GeForce RTX 3080 Ti is comfortable at 1440p, while the GeForce RTX 2080 Ti is better matched to 1080p. The GeForce RTX 3080 Ti packs 10,240 CUDA cores versus 4,352 on the GeForce RTX 2080 Ti.
Price & Value
Right now the GeForce RTX 2080 Ti starts at $320 USD against $550 USD for the GeForce RTX 3080 Ti. Despite being slower, the GeForce RTX 2080 Ti offers the better performance-per-dollar (~10% better value), so budget-focused buyers should weigh it carefully. The GeForce RTX 2080 Ti is trading below its $999 USD MSRP — a genuine deal. The GeForce RTX 3080 Ti is trading below its $1,199 USD MSRP — a genuine deal.
Power & Efficiency
The GeForce RTX 2080 Ti is the lighter draw at 250W against the GeForce RTX 3080 Ti's 350W, making it the easier card to power and cool. The GeForce RTX 3080 Ti draws more in absolute terms but squeezes out more performance per watt, so budget for a beefier PSU if you go that route. Its more modern Ampere architecture on a Samsung 8nm process is part of why it does more with each watt.
VRAM & Future-Proofing
The GeForce RTX 3080 Ti's 12GB (vs 11GB on the GeForce RTX 2080 Ti) gives it more room for 4K textures and memory-hungry creative or AI workloads. The GeForce RTX 3080 Ti's memory is also faster — 912 GB/s versus 616 GB/s (384-bit vs 352-bit bus) — which helps feed the GPU at 4K and with heavy textures.
Generation & Longevity
The GeForce RTX 3080 Ti is roughly 3 years newer than the GeForce RTX 2080 Ti (Ampere vs Turing), so it generally benefits from a more modern architecture and longer driver-support runway.
Which should you buy: GeForce RTX 2080 Ti or GeForce RTX 3080 Ti?
Choose the GeForce RTX 3080 Ti if you want the most performance and can absorb the higher price. If you're optimizing for value, the GeForce RTX 2080 Ti stretches your money further for only slightly lower performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the GeForce RTX 3080 Ti better than the GeForce RTX 2080 Ti?
Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce RTX 2080 Ti or the GeForce RTX 3080 Ti?
Is the GeForce RTX 3080 Ti worth the extra $230 USD over the GeForce RTX 2080 Ti?
Does the GeForce RTX 3080 Ti have enough VRAM advantage to matter?
Which should you buy: GeForce RTX 2080 Ti or GeForce RTX 3080 Ti?
Technical Specifications Comparison
Architecture & Cores
| Specification | GeForce RTX 2080 Ti | GeForce RTX 3080 Ti |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Turing | Ampere |
| Process Node | TSMC 12nm | Samsung 8nm |
| CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / CUDA Cores) | 4,352 | 10,240✓ |
| Ray Tracing Cores | 68 | 80✓ |
| Tensor / AI Cores | 544✓ | 320 |
Clock Speeds
| Specification | GeForce RTX 2080 Ti | GeForce RTX 3080 Ti |
|---|---|---|
| Base Clock | 1,350 MHz | 1,365 MHz✓ |
| Boost Clock | 1,545 MHz | 1,665 MHz✓ |
Memory
| Specification | GeForce RTX 2080 Ti | GeForce RTX 3080 Ti |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 11 GB | 12 GB✓ |
| Memory Type | GDDR6 | GDDR6X |
| Memory Bus | 352-bit | 384-bit✓ |
| Memory Speed | 14 Gbps | 19 Gbps✓ |
| Bandwidth | 616 GB/s | 912 GB/s✓ |
Connectivity & Power
| Specification | GeForce RTX 2080 Ti | GeForce RTX 3080 Ti |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe 3.0 x16 | PCIe 4.0 x16 |
| TDP | 250 W✓ | 350 W |
| Power Connectors | 2x 8-pin | 1x 12-pin |
| Released | Sep 2018 | May 2021 |