GeForce RTX 3080 12 GB vs RTX 2080

Place in the ranking	64	25
Place by popularity	not in top-100	not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation	27.57	40.88
Power efficiency	15.80	13.76
Architecture	Turing (2018−2022)	Ampere (2020−2024)
GPU code name	TU104	GA102
Market segment	Desktop	Desktop
Release date	20 September 2018 (6 years ago)	11 January 2022 (2 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)	$699	$799

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance to price ratio. The higher, the better.

RTX 3080 12 GB has 48% better value for money than RTX 2080.

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	2944	8960
Core clock speed	1515 MHz	1260 MHz
Boost clock speed	1710 MHz	1710 MHz
Number of transistors	13,600 million	28,300 million
Manufacturing process technology	12 nm	8 nm
Power consumption (TDP)	215 Watt	350 Watt
Texture fill rate	314.6	478.8
Floating-point processing power	10.07 TFLOPS	30.64 TFLOPS
ROPs	64	96
TMUs	184	280
Tensor Cores	368	280
Ray Tracing Cores	46	70

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	285 mm
Width	2-slot	2-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	12 GB
Memory bus width	256 Bit	384 Bit
Memory clock speed	1750 MHz	1188 MHz
Memory bandwidth	448.0 GB/s	912.4 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 2.1, 3x DisplayPort 1.4a
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	6.6
OpenGL	4.6	4.6
OpenCL	1.2	3.0
Vulkan	1.2.131	1.3
CUDA	7.5	8.6

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 48.74

RTX 3080 12 GB 69.09
+41.8%

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 18798

RTX 3080 12 GB 26647
+41.8%

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 40278

RTX 3080 12 GB 217116
+439%

3DMark Vantage Performance

3DMark Vantage is an outdated DirectX 10 benchmark using 1280x1024 screen resolution. It taxes the graphics card with two scenes, one depicting a girl escaping some militarized base located within a sea cave, the other displaying a space fleet attack on a defenseless planet. It was discontinued in April 2017, and Time Spy benchmark is now recommended to be used instead.

RTX 2080 66631
+49.6%

RTX 3080 12 GB 44533

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 17810

RTX 3080 12 GB 35922
+102%

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 143576

RTX 3080 12 GB 549644
+283%

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 436117
+858398%

RTX 3080 12 GB 51

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	143 −32.2%	189 +32.2%
1440p	99 −23.2%	122 +23.2%
4K	70 −24.3%	87 +24.3%

Cost per frame, $

1080p	4.89	4.23
1440p	7.06	6.55
4K	9.99	9.18

FPS performance in popular games

Full HD
Low Preset

Cyberpunk 2077

85−90

−50.6%

130−140
+50.6%

Full HD
Medium Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey	105 −35.2%	140−150 +35.2%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla	98 −26.5%	120−130 +26.5%
Battlefield 5	194 −13.9%	220−230 +13.9%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare	132 +10.9%	110−120 −10.9%
Cyberpunk 2077	85−90 −50.6%	130−140 +50.6%
Far Cry 5	127 +8.5%	110−120 −8.5%
Far Cry New Dawn	165 −2.4%	160−170 +2.4%
Forza Horizon 4	262 +10.5%	230−240 −10.5%
Hitman 3	135 +4.7%	120−130 −4.7%
Horizon Zero Dawn	263 +4.4%	250−260 −4.4%
Metro Exodus	144 −7.6%	150−160 +7.6%
Red Dead Redemption 2	109 −11%	120−130 +11%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider	215 −34.9%	290−300 +34.9%
Watch Dogs: Legion	253 +66.4%	150−160 −66.4%

Full HD
High Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey	153 +7.7%	140−150 −7.7%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla	83 −49.4%	120−130 +49.4%
Battlefield 5	182 −21.4%	220−230 +21.4%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare	117 −1.7%	110−120 +1.7%
Cyberpunk 2077	85−90 −50.6%	130−140 +50.6%
Far Cry 5	102 −14.7%	110−120 +14.7%
Far Cry New Dawn	126 −34.1%	160−170 +34.1%
Forza Horizon 4	243 +2.5%	230−240 −2.5%
Hitman 3	131 +1.6%	120−130 −1.6%
Horizon Zero Dawn	254 +0.8%	250−260 −0.8%
Metro Exodus	144 −7.6%	150−160 +7.6%
Red Dead Redemption 2	117 −3.4%	120−130 +3.4%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider	180−190 −90.4%	356 +90.4%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt	100−110 −46.5%	140−150 +46.5%
Watch Dogs: Legion	243 +59.9%	150−160 −59.9%

Full HD
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey	68 −109%	140−150 +109%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla	73 −69.9%	120−130 +69.9%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare	90 −32.2%	110−120 +32.2%
Cyberpunk 2077	85−90 −50.6%	130−140 +50.6%
Far Cry 5	81 −44.4%	110−120 +44.4%
Forza Horizon 4	132 −79.5%	230−240 +79.5%
Hitman 3	115 −12.2%	120−130 +12.2%
Horizon Zero Dawn	169 −55.6%	263 +55.6%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider	180−190 −67.9%	314 +67.9%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt	106 −55.7%	165 +55.7%
Watch Dogs: Legion	79 −20.3%	95 +20.3%

Full HD
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2

−22.2%

120−130
+22.2%

1440p
High Preset

Battlefield 5	123 −34.1%	160−170 +34.1%
Far Cry New Dawn	88 −25%	110−120 +25%

1440p
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey	58 −39.7%	80−85 +39.7%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla	60 −46.7%	85−90 +46.7%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare	69 −17.4%	80−85 +17.4%
Cyberpunk 2077	40−45 −69.8%	70−75 +69.8%
Far Cry 5	70 −15.7%	80−85 +15.7%
Forza Horizon 4	212 −27.8%	270−280 +27.8%
Hitman 3	80 −26.3%	100−110 +26.3%
Horizon Zero Dawn	129 −59.7%	206 +59.7%
Metro Exodus	89 −30.3%	116 +30.3%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider	120−130 −90.3%	236 +90.3%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt	75−80 −61%	120−130 +61%
Watch Dogs: Legion	239 +0%	230−240 +0%

1440p
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2

−20%

110−120
+20%

4K
High Preset

Battlefield 5	66 −31.8%	85−90 +31.8%
Far Cry New Dawn	50 −38%	65−70 +38%
Hitman 3	48 −62.5%	78 +62.5%
Horizon Zero Dawn	117 −93.2%	220−230 +93.2%
Metro Exodus	82 −32.9%	100−110 +32.9%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt	76 −73.7%	132 +73.7%

4K
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey	41 −39%	55−60 +39%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla	38 −42.1%	50−55 +42.1%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare	38 −34.2%	50−55 +34.2%
Cyberpunk 2077	18−20 −78.9%	30−35 +78.9%
Far Cry 5	39 −28.2%	50−55 +28.2%
Forza Horizon 4	81 −46.9%	110−120 +46.9%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider	70−75 −103%	142 +103%
Watch Dogs: Legion	35 −57.1%	55 +57.1%

4K
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2

−25.4%

70−75
+25.4%

This is how RTX 2080 and RTX 3080 12 GB compete in popular games:

RTX 3080 12 GB is 32% faster in 1080p
RTX 3080 12 GB is 23% faster in 1440p
RTX 3080 12 GB is 24% faster in 4K

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

in Watch Dogs: Legion, with 1080p resolution and the Medium Preset, the RTX 2080 is 66% faster.
in Assassin's Creed Odyssey, with 1080p resolution and the Ultra Preset, the RTX 3080 12 GB is 109% faster.

All in all, in popular games:

RTX 2080 is ahead in 11 tests (15%)
RTX 3080 12 GB is ahead in 60 tests (83%)
there's a draw in 1 test (1%)

Pros & cons summary

Performance score	48.74	69.09
Recency	20 September 2018	11 January 2022
Maximum RAM amount	8 GB	12 GB
Chip lithography	12 nm	8 nm
Power consumption (TDP)	215 Watt	350 Watt

RTX 2080 has 62.8% lower power consumption.

RTX 3080 12 GB, on the other hand, has a 41.8% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 3 years, a 50% higher maximum VRAM amount, and a 50% more advanced lithography process.

The GeForce RTX 3080 12 GB is our recommended choice as it beats the GeForce RTX 2080 in performance tests.

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