GeForce RTX 3090 vs RTX 2080 Super

Place in the ranking	54	24
Place by popularity	not in top-100	not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation	32.28	14.89
Power efficiency	14.02	13.68
Architecture	Turing (2018−2022)	Ampere (2020−2024)
GPU code name	TU104	GA102
Market segment	Desktop	Desktop
Release date	23 July 2019 (5 years ago)	1 September 2020 (4 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)	$699	$1,499

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance to price ratio. The higher, the better.

RTX 2080 Super has 117% better value for money than RTX 3090.

Detailed specifications

General parameters such as number of shaders, GPU core base clock and boost clock speeds, manufacturing process, texturing and calculation speed. Note that power consumption of some graphics cards can well exceed their nominal TDP, especially when overclocked.

Pipelines / CUDA cores	3072	10496
Core clock speed	1650 MHz	1395 MHz
Boost clock speed	1815 MHz	1695 MHz
Number of transistors	13,600 million	28,300 million
Manufacturing process technology	12 nm	8 nm
Power consumption (TDP)	250 Watt	350 Watt
Texture fill rate	348.5	556.0
Floating-point processing power	11.15 TFLOPS	35.58 TFLOPS
ROPs	64	112
TMUs	192	328
Tensor Cores	384	328
Ray Tracing Cores	48	82

Form factor & compatibility

Information on compatibility with other computer components. Useful when choosing a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. For desktop graphics cards it's interface and bus (motherboard compatibility), additional power connectors (power supply compatibility).

Interface	PCIe 3.0 x16	PCIe 4.0 x16
Length	267 mm	336 mm
Width	2-slot	3-slot
Supplementary power connectors	1x 6-pin + 1x 8-pin	1x 12-pin

VRAM capacity and type

Parameters of VRAM installed: its type, size, bus, clock and resulting bandwidth. Integrated GPUs have no dedicated video RAM and use a shared part of system RAM.

Memory type	GDDR6	GDDR6X
Maximum RAM amount	8 GB	24 GB
Memory bus width	256 Bit	384 Bit
Memory clock speed	1937 MHz	1219 MHz
Memory bandwidth	495.9 GB/s	936.2 GB/s
Shared memory	-	-

Connectivity and outputs

Types and number of video connectors present on the reviewed GPUs. As a rule, data in this section is precise only for desktop reference ones (so-called Founders Edition for NVIDIA chips). OEM manufacturers may change the number and type of output ports, while for notebook cards availability of certain video outputs ports depends on the laptop model rather than on the card itself.

Display Connectors	1x HDMI, 3x DisplayPort, 1x USB Type-C	1x HDMI, 3x DisplayPort
HDMI	+	+
G-SYNC support	+	-

Supported technologies

Supported technological solutions. This information will prove useful if you need some particular technology for your purposes.

VR Ready

no data

API compatibility

List of supported 3D and general-purpose computing APIs, including their specific versions.

DirectX	12 Ultimate (12_1)	12 Ultimate (12_2)
Shader Model	6.5	6.5
OpenGL	4.6	4.6
OpenCL	1.2	2.0
Vulkan	1.2.131	1.2
CUDA	7.5	8.5

Synthetic benchmark performance

Non-gaming benchmark results comparison. The combined score is measured on a 0-100 point scale.

Combined synthetic benchmark score

This is our combined benchmark score. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.

RTX 2080 Super 50.72

RTX 3090 69.29
+36.6%

Passmark

This is the most ubiquitous GPU benchmark. It gives the graphics card a thorough evaluation under various types of load, providing four separate benchmarks for Direct3D versions 9, 10, 11 and 12 (the last being done in 4K resolution if possible), and few more tests engaging DirectCompute capabilities.

RTX 2080 Super 19568

RTX 3090 26731
+36.6%

3DMark 11 Performance GPU

3DMark 11 is an obsolete DirectX 11 benchmark by Futuremark. It used four tests based on two scenes, one being few submarines exploring the submerged wreck of a sunken ship, the other is an abandoned temple deep in the jungle. All the tests are heavy with volumetric lighting and tessellation, and despite being done in 1280x720 resolution, are relatively taxing. Discontinued in January 2020, 3DMark 11 is now superseded by Time Spy.

RTX 2080 Super 40963

RTX 3090 61518
+50.2%

3DMark Fire Strike Graphics

Fire Strike is a DirectX 11 benchmark for gaming PCs. It features two separate tests displaying a fight between a humanoid and a fiery creature made of lava. Using 1920x1080 resolution, Fire Strike shows off some realistic graphics and is quite taxing on hardware.

RTX 2080 Super 27398

RTX 3090 47241
+72.4%

3DMark Cloud Gate GPU

Cloud Gate is an outdated DirectX 11 feature level 10 benchmark that was used for home PCs and basic notebooks. It displays a few scenes of some weird space teleportation device launching spaceships into unknown, using fixed resolution of 1280x720. Just like Ice Storm benchmark, it has been discontinued in January 2020 and replaced by 3DMark Night Raid.

RTX 2080 Super 140388

RTX 3090 231612
+65%

GeekBench 5 OpenCL

Geekbench 5 is a widespread graphics card benchmark combined from 11 different test scenarios. All these scenarios rely on direct usage of GPU's processing power, no 3D rendering is involved. This variation uses OpenCL API by Khronos Group.

RTX 2080 Super 115551

RTX 3090 191377
+65.6%

3DMark Ice Storm GPU

Ice Storm Graphics is an obsolete benchmark, part of 3DMark suite. Ice Storm was used to measure entry level laptops and Windows-based tablets performance. It utilizes DirectX 11 feature level 9 to display a battle between two space fleets near a frozen planet in 1280x720 resolution. Discontinued in January 2020, it is now superseded by 3DMark Night Raid.

RTX 2080 Super 515887

RTX 3090 779348
+51.1%

GeekBench 5 Vulkan

RTX 2080 Super 111511

RTX 3090 178421
+60%

GeekBench 5 CUDA

RTX 2080 Super 126056

RTX 3090 238123
+88.9%

SPECviewperf 12 - specvp12 maya-04

RTX 2080 Super 132

RTX 3090 300
+127%

SPECviewperf 12 - specvp12 sw-03

RTX 2080 Super 71

RTX 3090 105
+47%

SPECviewperf 12 - specvp12 snx-02

RTX 2080 Super 13

RTX 3090 16
+28.1%

SPECviewperf 12 - specvp12 catia-04

RTX 2080 Super 107

RTX 3090 170
+59%

SPECviewperf 12 - specvp12 creo-01

RTX 2080 Super 53

RTX 3090 93
+76.4%

SPECviewperf 12 - specvp12 mediacal-01

RTX 2080 Super 42

RTX 3090 86
+105%

SPECviewperf 12 - specvp12 showcase-01

RTX 2080 Super 141

RTX 3090 262
+85.4%

SPECviewperf 12 - specvp12 energy-01

RTX 2080 Super 13

RTX 3090 26
+103%

SPECviewperf 12 - specvp12 3dsmax-05

RTX 2080 Super 221

RTX 3090 368
+66.2%

Gaming performance

Let's see how good the compared graphics cards are for gaming. Particular gaming benchmark results are measured in FPS.

Average FPS across all PC games

Here are the average frames per second in a large set of popular games across different resolutions:

Full HD	140 −45%	203 +45%
1440p	94 −39.4%	131 +39.4%
4K	70 −28.6%	90 +28.6%

Cost per frame, $

1080p	4.99	7.38
1440p	7.44	11.44
4K	9.99	16.66

FPS performance in popular games

Full HD
Low Preset

Cyberpunk 2077

90−95

−123%

207
+123%

Full HD
Medium Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey	99 −60.6%	159 +60.6%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla	94 −21.3%	114 +21.3%
Battlefield 5	194 −14.4%	220−230 +14.4%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare	127 +6.7%	110−120 −6.7%
Cyberpunk 2077	90−95 −89.2%	176 +89.2%
Far Cry 5	141 +20.5%	110−120 −20.5%
Far Cry New Dawn	170 +0.6%	160−170 −0.6%
Forza Horizon 4	266 +11.8%	230−240 −11.8%
Hitman 3	113 −3.5%	117 +3.5%
Horizon Zero Dawn	301 +19%	250−260 −19%
Metro Exodus	144 +0%	144 +0%
Red Dead Redemption 2	122 −6.6%	130 +6.6%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider	198 −47.5%	290−300 +47.5%
Watch Dogs: Legion	227 +13.5%	200 −13.5%

Full HD
High Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey	142 −73.9%	247 +73.9%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla	79 −32.9%	105 +32.9%
Battlefield 5	182 −22%	220−230 +22%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare	120 +0.8%	110−120 −0.8%
Cyberpunk 2077	90−95 −62.4%	151 +62.4%
Far Cry 5	112 −4.5%	110−120 +4.5%
Far Cry New Dawn	128 −32%	160−170 +32%
Forza Horizon 4	258 +8.4%	230−240 −8.4%
Hitman 3	116 −0.9%	117 +0.9%
Horizon Zero Dawn	283 +11.9%	250−260 −11.9%
Metro Exodus	144 +0%	144 +0%
Red Dead Redemption 2	100 −22%	120−130 +22%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider	225 −78.7%	402 +78.7%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt	100−110 −41.9%	140−150 +41.9%
Watch Dogs: Legion	211 +6%	199 −6%

Full HD
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey	68 −58.8%	108 +58.8%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla	70 −30%	91 +30%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare	90 −32.2%	110−120 +32.2%
Cyberpunk 2077	89 −50.6%	134 +50.6%
Far Cry 5	79 −48.1%	110−120 +48.1%
Forza Horizon 4	133 −63.2%	217 +63.2%
Hitman 3	108 −7.4%	116 +7.4%
Horizon Zero Dawn	162 −82.1%	295 +82.1%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider	189 −85.7%	351 +85.7%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt	109 −66.1%	181 +66.1%
Watch Dogs: Legion	75 −42.7%	107 +42.7%

Full HD
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2

118

−9.3%

129
+9.3%

1440p
High Preset

Battlefield 5	134 −23.1%	160−170 +23.1%
Far Cry New Dawn	93 −18.3%	110−120 +18.3%

1440p
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey	58 −60.3%	93 +60.3%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla	57 −38.6%	79 +38.6%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare	65 −24.6%	80−85 +24.6%
Cyberpunk 2077	57 −63.2%	93 +63.2%
Far Cry 5	70 −15.7%	80−85 +15.7%
Forza Horizon 4	249 −8.8%	270−280 +8.8%
Hitman 3	79 −45.6%	115 +45.6%
Horizon Zero Dawn	127 −83.5%	233 +83.5%
Metro Exodus	90 −54.4%	139 +54.4%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider	141 −88.7%	266 +88.7%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt	80−85 −87.7%	152 +87.7%
Watch Dogs: Legion	211 +3.9%	203 −3.9%

1440p
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2

107

−18.7%

127
+18.7%

4K
High Preset

Battlefield 5	62 −40.3%	85−90 +40.3%
Far Cry New Dawn	53 −30.2%	65−70 +30.2%
Hitman 3	40−45 −97.6%	83 +97.6%
Horizon Zero Dawn	131 −72.5%	220−230 +72.5%
Metro Exodus	89 −58.4%	141 +58.4%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt	79 −93.7%	153 +93.7%

4K
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey	41 −70.7%	70 +70.7%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla	36 −58.3%	57 +58.3%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare	39 −30.8%	50−55 +30.8%
Cyberpunk 2077	31 −48.4%	46 +48.4%
Far Cry 5	40 −25%	50−55 +25%
Forza Horizon 4	81 −88.9%	153 +88.9%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider	82 −93.9%	159 +93.9%
Watch Dogs: Legion	34 −76.5%	60 +76.5%

4K
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2

−85%

111
+85%

This is how RTX 2080 Super and RTX 3090 compete in popular games:

RTX 3090 is 45% faster in 1080p
RTX 3090 is 39% faster in 1440p
RTX 3090 is 29% faster in 4K

Here's the range of performance differences observed across popular games:

in Far Cry 5, with 1080p resolution and the Medium Preset, the RTX 2080 Super is 21% faster.
in Cyberpunk 2077, with 1080p resolution and the Low Preset, the RTX 3090 is 123% faster.

All in all, in popular games:

RTX 2080 Super is ahead in 11 tests (15%)
RTX 3090 is ahead in 59 tests (82%)
there's a draw in 2 tests (3%)

Pros & cons summary

Performance score	50.72	69.29
Recency	23 July 2019	1 September 2020
Maximum RAM amount	8 GB	24 GB
Chip lithography	12 nm	8 nm
Power consumption (TDP)	250 Watt	350 Watt

RTX 2080 Super has 40% lower power consumption.

RTX 3090, on the other hand, has a 36.6% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 1 year, a 200% higher maximum VRAM amount, and a 50% more advanced lithography process.

The GeForce RTX 3090 is our recommended choice as it beats the GeForce RTX 2080 Super in performance tests.

Should you still have questions concerning choice between the reviewed GPUs, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.