RTX 2080 Ti vs RTX 3090
Both carry the same family name, but the RTX 2080 Ti and the RTX 3090 don’t carry the same spec sheet. The spec sheets tilt toward the RTX 3090, which leads in 2 of 3 areas and opens its biggest gap on gpu & performance. And the price tags aren’t close: the RTX 2080 Ti came in $500 below the RTX 3090 at launch.
At a glance
- GPU & Performance RTX 3090 wins
- Memory RTX 3090 wins
- Power & Thermals RTX 2080 Ti wins
- Price RTX 2080 Ti wins
- GPU & Performance0.0
- Memory0.6
- Power & Thermals10.0
- GPU & Performance2.4
- Memory4.8
- Power & Thermals7.0
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 3090 has 166% more theoretical FP32 compute
Big gap, real consequences. The RTX 3090’s 35.6 TFLOPS versus the RTX 2080 Ti’s 13.4 TFLOPS changes how the two compare in daily use. 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 3090 has 13 GB more VRAM
The RTX 2080 Ti is clearly behind on vram (11 GB against 24 GB), and that’s one of its biggest weak spots in this matchup. At high resolutions or with texture packs, running out of VRAM can hurt more than a small speed gap.
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The RTX 3090 has 141% more shader units
On this line of the spec sheet, the RTX 3090 is in a different league: 10,496, next to 4,352 for the RTX 2080 Ti. The RTX 3090’s extra shaders give it more raw muscle, although comparisons across different architectures aren’t one-to-one.
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The RTX 2080 Ti has 100 W lower board power
For total board power, the RTX 2080 Ti leads by a wide margin: 250 W versus 350 W. The RTX 2080 Ti draws less power, which makes it easier to cool in compact cases.
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The RTX 3090 has 52% more memory bandwidth
This is a headline difference. With 936 GB/s to the RTX 2080 Ti’s 616 GB/s, the RTX 3090 has a lead that’s easy to see on paper and in practice. Memory bandwidth decides how quickly the GPU can feed itself with data, which matters most at 1440p and 4K.
Design & Size
- RTX 2080 Ti 10.51 in × 2 slots
- RTX 3090 12.32 in × 3 slots
The RTX 2080 Ti is the smaller card here, which some buyers will see as a plus and others as a compromise.
Size & Connectivity
| Spec | RTX 2080 Ti | RTX 3090 |
|---|---|---|
| Reference card length | 10.51 in | 12.32 in |
| Slot width | 2 slots | 3 slots |
| Display outputs | 3x DisplayPort 1.4a, 1x HDMI 2.0b, 1x USB-C (VirtualLink) | 3x DisplayPort 1.4a, 1x HDMI 2.1 |
GPU & Performance
RTX 3090 leads
If gpu & performance is high on your list, the RTX 3090 makes the stronger case by a wide margin. The RTX 3090 scores with 166% more theoretical FP32 compute. The RTX 3090 has more theoretical compute, which often, but not always, translates into higher frame rates. For anyone who cares most about gpu & performance, the RTX 3090 is the safer choice.
FP32 compute
RTX 2080 Ti: 13.4 TFLOPS RTX 3090: 35.6 TFLOPS Architectures use their compute differently, so treat the gap as a guide and look at game benchmarks for the details.
Shader units
RTX 2080 Ti: 4,352 RTX 3090: 10,496 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
RTX 3090 leads
This section belongs to the RTX 3090. In memory, it leads the RTX 2080 Ti by a margin that’s hard to ignore. Point to the RTX 3090 for 13 GB more VRAM. More VRAM lets the card hold higher-resolution textures and bigger scenes without stutter. Bottom line for memory: the RTX 3090 has the edge.
VRAM
RTX 2080 Ti: 11 GB RTX 3090: 24 GB Newer games tend to ask for more video memory, so the RTX 3090’s extra VRAM helps the card age better.
Memory bandwidth
RTX 2080 Ti: 616 GB/s RTX 3090: 936 GB/s The RTX 3090 has more bandwidth to work with, helping it hold up in memory-heavy games.
Features
Names, not numbers: the features rows below show what each one is built with, and it’s worth reading them side by side.
Power & Thermals
RTX 2080 Ti leads
Look at the power & thermals table and one name keeps coming out on top: the RTX 2080 Ti. The RTX 2080 Ti makes its case with 100 W lower board power. Higher board power often comes with higher performance, so the RTX 3090’s appetite may be part of the price of its speed. Anyone shopping mainly on power & thermals should start with the RTX 2080 Ti.
Total board power
RTX 2080 Ti: 250 W RTX 3090: 350 W Lower board power means less heat, quieter cooling and a smaller impact on your electricity bill.
Recommended PSU
RTX 2080 Ti: 650 W RTX 3090: 750 W With the RTX 2080 Ti, you’re more likely to keep your existing power supply, which can save real money.
Full Specifications
GPU & Performance
| Spec | RTX 2080 Ti | RTX 3090 |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Turing | Ampere |
| GPU die | TU102 | GA102 |
| Process | TSMC 12nm FFN | Samsung 8N |
| Shader units | 4,352 Fewest shader units | 10,496 (winner) Fewest shader units |
| Ray tracing units | 68 Fewest ray tracing units | 82 (winner) Fewest ray tracing units |
| Base clock | 1,350 MHz Lowest base clock | 1,395 MHz (winner) Lowest base clock |
| Boost clock | 1,545 MHz Lowest boost clock | 1,695 MHz (winner) Lowest boost clock |
| FP32 computeTheoretical peak; AMD counts dual-issue, so compare within a brand only | 13.4 TFLOPS Least compute in class | 35.6 TFLOPS (winner) Least compute in class |
Memory
| Spec | RTX 2080 Ti | RTX 3090 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM | 11 GB Least VRAM in class | 24 GB (winner) |
| Memory type | GDDR6 | GDDR6X |
| Memory bus | 352-bit | 384-bit |
| Memory bandwidth | 616 GB/s Least memory bandwidth | 936 GB/s (winner) Least memory bandwidth |
Features
| Spec | RTX 2080 Ti | RTX 3090 |
|---|---|---|
| Upscaling | DLSS Super Resolution | DLSS Super Resolution |
| Frame generation | No DLSS Frame Generation | No DLSS Frame Generation |
| PCIe interface | PCIe 3.0 x16 | PCIe 4.0 x16 |
Power & Thermals
| Spec | RTX 2080 Ti | RTX 3090 |
|---|---|---|
| Total board power | 250 W (winner) Lowest power draw in class | 350 W Lowest power draw in class |
| Recommended PSU | 650 W (winner) Smallest PSU requirement | 750 W Smallest PSU requirement |
| Power connector | 2x 8-pin | 1x 12-pin |
Size & Connectivity
| Spec | RTX 2080 Ti | RTX 3090 |
|---|---|---|
| Reference card length | 10.51 in | 12.32 in |
| Slot width | 2 slots | 3 slots |
| Display outputs | 3x DisplayPort 1.4a, 1x HDMI 2.0b, 1x USB-C (VirtualLink) | 3x DisplayPort 1.4a, 1x HDMI 2.1 |
Price
| Spec | RTX 2080 Ti | RTX 3090 |
|---|---|---|
| Launch price (MSRP) | $999 (winner) | $1,499 Lowest price in class |
“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
That’s $500 between the two launch prices, a spread of 50% that makes the RTX 2080 Ti the value-minded choice. The extra $500 for the RTX 3090 buys 166% more theoretical FP32 compute and 13 GB more VRAM.
These are US launch prices, recorded September 2020; what you pay today may be higher or lower.
Which One Should You Buy?
Choose the RTX 2080 Ti if…
- you care about your power bill and a quieter case (250 W vs 350 W)
- you want to keep your current power supply (650 W vs 750 W recommended PSU)
- you’re working to a firm budget and $500 matters
Choose the RTX 3090 if…
- you run compute-heavy work alongside gaming (35.6 TFLOPS vs 13.4 TFLOPS FP32)
- you want more video memory for the years ahead (24 GB vs 11 GB)
- you want more shader units working on every frame (10,496 vs 4,352)
- you game at high resolutions where bandwidth matters (936 GB/s vs 616 GB/s)
- you want the newer generation
Also Compared
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better for most people, the RTX 2080 Ti or the RTX 3090?
The RTX 3090 makes more sense overall. Consider the alternative only if you care more about 100 W lower board power than anything else.
Should I upgrade from the RTX 2080 Ti to the RTX 3090?
If those changes matter to you, yes: the RTX 3090 adds 166% more theoretical FP32 compute, 13 GB more VRAM and 141% more shader units compared with the RTX 2080 Ti.
Is the RTX 2080 Ti bigger than the RTX 3090?
Going by the official dimensions, the RTX 3090 is the larger one: 12.32 in against the RTX 2080 Ti’s 10.51 in.
Does the RTX 2080 Ti perform better than the RTX 3090?
On paper, the RTX 3090 is the stronger performer, with 166% more theoretical FP32 compute and 141% more shader units.
Which costs less, the RTX 2080 Ti or the RTX 3090?
At launch, the RTX 2080 Ti undercut the RTX 3090 by $500. These figures are as of September 2020, and street prices can change.
Executive Summary
The RTX 2080 Ti and the RTX 3090 share a family name, so let me focus on what doesn’t match. The RTX 3090 earns my vote first and foremost with 166% more theoretical FP32 compute. There’s a bonus as well: the RTX 3090 has 13 GB more VRAM. The RTX 2080 Ti’s strongest argument is 100 W lower board power.
A quick self-test: do you care more about power & thermals or gpu & performance? The first answer means the RTX 2080 Ti, the second means the RTX 3090.
My pick: if it were my money, the RTX 3090, unless you’d rather have 100 W lower board power on the RTX 2080 Ti.
Personal opinion based on the data above. Your priorities may differ.