GTX 1080 Ti vs RTX 3080
If you like how NVIDIA does things, the GTX 1080 Ti and the RTX 3080 are two different answers from the same company. Here the verdict on paper is fairly clear. The RTX 3080 takes 1 of 3 areas against the GTX 1080 Ti, starting with gpu & performance.
At a glance
- GPU & Performance RTX 3080 wins
- Memory Trade-off
- Power & Thermals GTX 1080 Ti wins
- Price Tie
- GPU & Performance0.8
- Memory4.5
- Power & Thermals5.3
- GPU & Performance6.0
- Memory5.1
- Power & Thermals0.0
Spec scores (0 to 10) are calculated from manufacturer specs against other models in the same class. See how the formula works. They are not reviews or user ratings.
Key Differences
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The RTX 3080 has 164% more theoretical FP32 compute
For fp32 compute, the RTX 3080 leads by a wide margin: 29.8 TFLOPS versus 11.3 TFLOPS. FP32 compute is a theoretical peak that combines shader count and clock speed, a quick way to size up raw power.
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The RTX 3080 has 143% more shader units
This is a headline difference. With 8,704 to the GTX 1080 Ti’s 3,584, the RTX 3080 has a lead that’s easy to see on paper and in practice. Treat shader count as a strong hint about performance tier, then check benchmarks for the games you actually play.
-
The GTX 1080 Ti has 70 W lower board power
Put simply, the GTX 1080 Ti is far ahead here: 250 W compared with 320 W. Higher board power often comes with higher performance, so the RTX 3080’s appetite may be part of the price of its speed.
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The RTX 3080 has 57% more memory bandwidth
The RTX 3080’s 760 GB/s leaves the GTX 1080 Ti’s 484 GB/s well behind, so if this spec matters to you, the choice is easy. The RTX 3080 has more bandwidth to work with, helping it hold up in memory-heavy games.
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The GTX 1080 Ti has 1 GB more VRAM
Only a little separates them: 11 GB on the GTX 1080 Ti, 10 GB on the RTX 3080. At high resolutions or with texture packs, running out of VRAM can hurt more than a small speed gap.
Design & Size
- GTX 1080 Ti 10.51 in × 2 slots
- RTX 3080 11.22 in × 2 slots
The RTX 3080 has the bigger footprint. That can mean more room to work with, but also more to carry, park or pocket.
Size & Connectivity
| Spec | GTX 1080 Ti | RTX 3080 |
|---|---|---|
| Reference card length | 10.51 in | 11.22 in |
| Slot width | 2 slots | 2 slots |
| Display outputs | 3x DisplayPort 1.4, 1x HDMI 2.0b | 3x DisplayPort 1.4a, 1x HDMI 2.1 |
GPU & Performance
RTX 3080 leads
The RTX 3080 clearly takes the gpu & performance round. Choose the RTX 3080 and you get 164% more theoretical FP32 compute. The RTX 3080 has more theoretical compute, which often, but not always, translates into higher frame rates. For anyone who cares most about gpu & performance, the RTX 3080 is the safer choice.
FP32 compute
GTX 1080 Ti: 11.3 TFLOPS RTX 3080: 29.8 TFLOPS Architectures use their compute differently, so treat the gap as a guide and look at game benchmarks for the details.
Shader units
GTX 1080 Ti: 3,584 RTX 3080: 8,704 Shader units do most of the heavy lifting in games, so more of them usually means more frames per second within the same architecture.
Memory
Trade-off
No clean winner on memory. The GTX 1080 Ti has 1 GB more VRAM; the RTX 3080 has 57% more memory bandwidth. If you’re torn on memory, the other sections may help break the tie.
Memory bandwidth
GTX 1080 Ti: 484 GB/s RTX 3080: 760 GB/s Memory bandwidth decides how quickly the GPU can feed itself with data, which matters most at 1440p and 4K.
VRAM
GTX 1080 Ti: 11 GB RTX 3080: 10 GB More VRAM lets the card hold higher-resolution textures and bigger scenes without stutter.
Features
For features, the spec sheet lists components and formats rather than figures we can rank. The table shows what the GTX 1080 Ti and the RTX 3080 each bring.
Power & Thermals
GTX 1080 Ti leads
When it comes to power & thermals, the GTX 1080 Ti is comfortably ahead. The GTX 1080 Ti takes this one with 70 W lower board power. Lower board power means less heat, quieter cooling and a smaller impact on your electricity bill. The power & thermals verdict goes to the GTX 1080 Ti.
Total board power
GTX 1080 Ti: 250 W RTX 3080: 320 W The GTX 1080 Ti draws less power, which makes it easier to cool in compact cases.
Recommended PSU
GTX 1080 Ti: 600 W RTX 3080: 750 W With the GTX 1080 Ti, you’re more likely to keep your existing power supply, which can save real money.
Full Specifications
GPU & Performance
| Spec | GTX 1080 Ti | RTX 3080 |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Pascal | Ampere |
| GPU die | GP102 | GA102 |
| Process | TSMC 16nm FinFET | Samsung 8N |
| Shader units | 3,584 | 8,704 (winner) |
| Ray tracing units | N/A (not specified) | 68 |
| Base clock | 1,480 MHz | 1,440 MHz Lowest base clock |
| Boost clock | 1,582 MHz Lowest boost clock | 1,710 MHz (winner) |
| FP32 computeTheoretical peak; AMD counts dual-issue, so compare within a brand only | 11.3 TFLOPS | 29.8 TFLOPS (winner) |
Memory
| Spec | GTX 1080 Ti | RTX 3080 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM | 11 GB (winner) | 10 GB |
| Memory type | GDDR5X | GDDR6X |
| Memory bus | 352-bit (winner) Widest memory bus | 320-bit |
| Memory bandwidth | 484 GB/s | 760 GB/s (winner) |
Features
| Spec | GTX 1080 Ti | RTX 3080 |
|---|---|---|
| Upscaling | None (no DLSS) | DLSS Super Resolution |
| Frame generation | None | No DLSS Frame Generation |
| PCIe interface | PCIe 3.0 x16 | PCIe 4.0 x16 |
Power & Thermals
| Spec | GTX 1080 Ti | RTX 3080 |
|---|---|---|
| Total board power | 250 W (winner) | 320 W Most power-hungry in class |
| Recommended PSU | 600 W (winner) | 750 W |
| Power connector | 1x 8-pin + 1x 6-pin | 1x 12-pin |
Size & Connectivity
| Spec | GTX 1080 Ti | RTX 3080 |
|---|---|---|
| Reference card length | 10.51 in | 11.22 in |
| Slot width | 2 slots | 2 slots |
| Display outputs | 3x DisplayPort 1.4, 1x HDMI 2.0b | 3x DisplayPort 1.4a, 1x HDMI 2.1 |
Price
| Spec | GTX 1080 Ti | RTX 3080 |
|---|---|---|
| Launch price (MSRP) | $699 | $699 |
“N/A” means the manufacturer does not specify the value or we could not confirm it. Figures marked “manufacturer rating” are the maker’s own claims, not our measurements.
Price & Value
The GTX 1080 Ti and the RTX 3080 launched at the same price, so this comes down to the specs.
Based on US launch pricing as of September 2020. Deals and regional pricing can change the picture.
Which One Should You Buy?
Choose the GTX 1080 Ti if…
- you care about your power bill and a quieter case (250 W vs 320 W)
- you want more video memory for the years ahead (11 GB vs 10 GB)
- you want to keep your current power supply (600 W vs 750 W recommended PSU)
- you push high resolutions where memory width helps (352-bit vs 320-bit bus)
Choose the RTX 3080 if…
- you want more theoretical compute (29.8 TFLOPS vs 11.3 TFLOPS)
- you want more raw GPU hardware (8,704 vs 3,584 shader units)
- you game at high resolutions where bandwidth matters (760 GB/s vs 484 GB/s)
- you want the higher boost clock (1,710 MHz vs 1,582 MHz)
Also Compared
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I buy the GTX 1080 Ti or the RTX 3080?
The RTX 3080 makes more sense overall. Consider the alternative only if your top priority is 70 W lower board power.
Is the GTX 1080 Ti bigger than the RTX 3080?
The RTX 3080 takes that one. With dimensions of 11.22 in, it is larger than the GTX 1080 Ti (10.51 in).
Does the GTX 1080 Ti perform better than the RTX 3080?
On paper, the RTX 3080 is the stronger performer, with 164% more theoretical FP32 compute and 143% more shader units.
Executive Summary
The GTX 1080 Ti and the RTX 3080 sit next to each other in the same lineup. Here’s my honest read on which one makes more sense. The single spec I’d point a friend to is this: the RTX 3080 has 164% more theoretical FP32 compute. Then there’s 57% more memory bandwidth, another point for the RTX 3080. The GTX 1080 Ti isn’t without merit: 70 W lower board power is a real advantage.
For power & thermals, the GTX 1080 Ti fits better. For gpu & performance, the RTX 3080 is the better match.
My pick: the RTX 3080, though I’d happily point you to the GTX 1080 Ti if you need 70 W lower board power, which only the GTX 1080 Ti offers.
Personal opinion based on the data above. Your priorities may differ.