Hi there, welcome to our comprehensive specs and performance breakdown between Nvidia‘s RTX 3080 and RTX 3080 Ti graphics cards. If you‘re looking to maximize 4K gaming power or need graphics horsepower for creative work, but not sure whether the 3080 Ti justifies its higher cost, this guide is for you.
We‘ll analyze differences in architecture and hardware to see how the upgrades physically manifest in faster frame rates and application performance. You‘ll leave knowing exactly how these pixel pushing behemoths compare and which better fits your needs.
Introduction to Turing vs Ampere
First, some scene setting. Nvidia‘s previous generation RTX 2080 and 2080 Ti were built on their Turing architecture, which introduced dedicated ray tracing cores and tensor cores for AI enhanced graphics techniques. These were excellent cards, but left performance headroom on the table.
Ampere powers the new GeForce RTX 3080 series, built using an optimized 8nm Samsung manufacturing process. This enabled Nvidia to pack in more cores and memory bandwidth. Combined with architectural improvements, Ampere delivers up to 2x the performance efficiency over Turing.
The RTX 3080 stormed onto the scene in September 2020 with blistering speeds, while the 3080 Ti followed in June 2021. Let‘s break down their hardware..
RTX 3080 vs 3080 Ti Spec Comparison
On paper, both graphics cards boast immense rendering capabilities. But Nvidia enhanced the 3080 Ti even further. Here‘s a snapshot of how the silicon differs.
Core Counts – 20% More Cores
The RTX 3080 Ti wields a mighty 10,240 CUDA processing cores spread over 80 second generation streaming multiprocessors (SMs). This allows it to schedule more simultaneous work across all those computing units. Compare that to 8,704 cores and 68 SMs in the non-Ti model for a healthy 20% core count increase.
Both GPUs also contain RT (ray tracing) cores and Tensor cores. These specialized processors enable advanced gaming effects and AI algorithms respectively. Again, the 3080 Ti simply integrates more to drive higher throughput.
Video Memory – 2 Extra GB VRAM
Memory also sees a nice upgrade as the RTX 3080 Ti boasts 12GB of cutting edge GDDR6X video RAM, running across a wide 384-bit interface. The base 3080 isn‘t far behind with 10GBs across a 320-bit bus, but extra headroom gives you flexibility to use higher texture and mesh detail.
Clock Speeds
Here the vanilla RTX 3080 holds a slight edge with its 1,440MHz base clock edging out the 3080 Ti‘s 1,365MHz. However when both GPUs shift into their boost states, they hit similar frequencies around 1,700MHz real-world. The 3080 Ti makes up ground with its extra cores and memory bandwidth here.
Clearly though, the RTX 3080 Ti brings more rendering muscle. How does that translate into tangible frames per second?
Gaming Performance Benchmarks
Let‘s examine how these mighty GPUs compare when it comes to real world game benchmarks across the popular 1080p, 1440p and 4K UHD resolutions. We‘ll evaluate over 10 demanding titles to see whether the 3080 Ti‘s upgrades give it a decisive performance margin.
1080p and 1440p
At 1920 x 1080, both the RTX 3080 and 3080 Ti produce frame rates dramatically over 60 FPS, even at maxed graphical settings. Competitive titles easily surpass 144 Hz allowing you to take full advantage of high refresh rate displays.
The cards run neck and neck here, although the 3080 Ti does pull 5-10% ahead in particularly heavy games like Cyberpunk 2077. Still, at these resolutions you won‘t notice the difference.
4K Ultra HD Resolution
As you increase demand by cranking the pixel count up to 3840 x 2160, separation starts to emerge between the two cards with the 3080 Ti‘s upgraded hardware demonstrating its strengths.
Looking at benchmarks from reputable sources like Tom‘s Hardware and TechPowerUp reveals roughly 10-15% higher average FPS from the 3080 Ti in strenuous titles like Horizon Zero Dawn, Watch Dogs Legion and Assassin‘s Creed Valhalla at 4K Ultra settings.
For example, Horizon Zero Dawn runs at 102 FPS on the 3080 Ti versus 89 FPS on the RTX 3080. Similarly, the 3080 Ti hits 99 FPS in heavy hitter Red Dead Redemption 2, outgunning the 3080‘s 86 FPS average.
99th Percentile and 1% Low FPS
Average FPS metrics don‘t tell the whole story though. Deep dives into frame time testing show the 3080 Ti also provides noticeably better 99th percentile and 1% low FPS metrics too.
This means higher minimum frame rates for smoother all round performance, fewer intermittent stutters, and boosted responsiveness during intensive gaming sequences with lots of on-screen action.
Upgraded memory capacity and bandwidth contributes here so the 3080 Ti can fetch textures and geometry faster to maintain fluidity.
Ray Tracing and DLSS Performance
Ray tracing realistically simulates how light behaves in a scene. It looks gorgeous but tanks performance, so leveraging AI powered upscaling through Nvidia DLSS is key to playable frame rates with RT effects fully cranked.
Both the RTX 3080 and 3080 Ti smash previous generations here thanks to their 2nd gen RT cores and 3rd gen Tensor cores specialized for these exact tasks. But again, the 3080 Ti provides extra headroom.
In Control with maxed quality ray tracing, it achieves 88 FPS over the 3080‘s 78 FPS when paired with DLSS. Similarly, Call of Duty Black Ops Cold War sees the 3080 Ti deliver 138 FPS with ray tracing versus 121 FPS on the regular 3080.
The Value of High FPS Gaming
Okay, so at 1440p and 4K resolutions, the GeForce RTX 3080 Ti demonstrates approximately 15% faster average frame rates over the RTX 3080 depending on the title. For some gamers spending big on high refresh rate monitors, that incremental FPS boost may be worth paying more for.
Higher FPS translates directly into noticeably smoother motion and increased perceived visual responsiveness. So for intensely competitive esports gamers wanting to max out 360 Hz monitors, chasing every last frame makes sense.
Similarly, those playing fast paced first person shooters will appreciate the higher 99th percentile and 1% low metrics from the 3080 Ti that reduce intermittent stuttering.
For gamers still on 60 Hz displays, frame rates far exceed monitor refresh rates already so you may not benefit as much from spending extra here.
Now let‘s move on from gaming benchmarks to see how these beasts perform in creative production.
Creative Workloads Performance
Beyond gaming, both the RTX 3080 and 3080 Ti also excel when it comes to accelerating GPU-accelerated tasks like 3D rendering, video editing, game development and more. Home users, digital creatives, rendering houses and researchers all have workflows that benefit.
Applications like Blender, Maya, Cinema 4D, Premier Pro, DaVinci Resolve, and code compiling tasks harness the immense parallel processing power of modern GPUs through interfaces like CUDA, OptiX and Vulkan.
For example, the 3080 Ti is capable of rendering complete Blender scenes up to 25% faster than the RTX 3080 which already massively outpaced previous generation cards in these creators centric benchmarks. Effects heavy video editing and color grading sees similar differences.
The upgrade to a newer architecture in Ampere along with increased cores, memory and bandwidth combines to deliver obvious productivity improvements for creative professionals.
Why GPU Compute Performance Matters
Workstation users spend big on professional graphics cards for good reason – they slash the time required to visualize designs, render final scenes, or compile code down from hours to minutes. Time equals money for many creators.
While CPU cores continue slowly advancing on node shrinks, GPU power progresses exponentially thanks to their massively parallelized designs. Harnessing all those FLOPs pays big dividends.
Nvidia invests heavily not just in gaming, but also developing hardware and software specifically targeting creative fields. For example, NVIDIA Studio laptops and desktops fine tune drivers while guaranteeing stability and support for mission critical applications.
So if your daily workflow involves creating high resolution content for clients on tight deadlines, the 3080 Ti certainly tempts. But does the performance justify costs?
Power Consumption, Thermals and Noise
Cranking out so many frames per second requires serious power. The RTX 3080 Ti matches the RTX 3090 with its whopping 350 watt total board power rating, while the RTX 3080 isn‘t far behind at 320 watts. Factor in another 50 or so watts for the rest of a high end system.
Power Supply Requirements
You‘ll want a reputable 850W+ unit at minimum to feed these cards, and that allows ample overclocking headroom too. Aim higher for 1000W+ PSUs if housing them inside a maxed out workstation class build.
Monitor 12V rail amperage ratings with transient load testing too – peak current draws can exceed capacitor aging ratings on cheaper units. These are extremely power hungry flagship GPUs after all.
Thermals
Expect temperatures around 70 degrees Celsius on both cards out of the box, creeping higher still when you manually overclock. Nvidia vastly improved cooling over RTX 2000 models via the new flow through thermal solution and sizable vapor chamber heatsink, although the beefy GA102 processor still outputs substantial heat into your system.
Aftermarket cards with extra cooling fans or liquid AIO coolers can help further, but know that pushing 350W through a large die requires careful engineering. Review cooling thoroughly before purchase if thermals are a concern.
Acoustics
With great power comes a bunch of fan noise keeping those temperatures in check. The RTX 3080 Ti hits 46 dBA on average during gaming sessions – loud, but a notable 11 dBA quieter than the RTX 2080 Ti. Plus the tones shift to less intrusive frequencies compared to last gen.
Still, if your PC resides in your office or living room, you may want to skip the reference blower designs and seek out aftermarket alternatives with larger, quieter fans. The 3080 Ti certainly isn‘t silent under load. But it won‘t deafen you either which is an improvement.
Okay, hopefully I‘ve given you a comprehensive overview of exactly where the RTX 3080 Ti outguns the RTX 3080 namely through its upgraded silicon providing extra performance headroom. Now let‘s summarize everything into some final recommendations.
Closing Recommendations
The GeForce RTX 3080 Ti asserts itself as the 4K gaming king by building upon the RTX 3080‘s already spectacular specs to become Nvidia‘s ultimate gaming GPU.
If you want to game at UHD 120+ FPS on high refresh monitors with every visual setting cranked up, there are no better options. Its bountiful CUDA cores, RT cores and ludicrously wide memory bus devour AAA titles while serving up gorgeous ray traced effects.
The RTX 3080 still operates as an immensely capable 4K gaming card in its own right though, often coming tantalizingly close to the 3080 Ti‘s frame rates despite costing $500 less.
For 1440p gamers running slower 60-144 Hz panels, the RTX 3080 likely makes more price-to-performance sense, where frame rates already vastly exceed monitor refresh rates. Similarly, competitive esports gamers chasing extreme 360Hz speeds need the 3080 Ti, while casual players do not.
On the creative front, if you rely on GPU accelerated workflows for a living, the 3080 Ti could pay for itself through meaningful time savings that improve productivity and client turnaround.
Both cards remain overpriced at certain retailers, but supply has improved recently offering hope. If pricing is close and you want the best consumer GPU money can buy, snag the 3080 Ti. But deals on the 3080 present great value too.
I hope this RTX 3080 versus 3080 Ti breakdown has offered useful guidance in determining which option better fits your budget. Let me know in the comments if you have any other questions!
