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Abde Manaf

At HI Digital I test and write about different hardware configurations to show other PC users what they can expect from their build. My end goal is to educate the masses to make the right decision when they are looking for new PC parts to buy

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Pros And Cons

Comparison Table

Architecture Differences

1. Architecture: The RTX 2080 Ti is based on Turing architecture, while the GTX 1080 Ti is based on Pascal architecture. Turing introduces advancements like DLSS and Ray Tracing, setting a new standard for GPU capabilities.
2. Clock Speeds: The base clock of the RTX 2080 Ti is 1350MHz, with a boost clock of 1545MHz. The GTX 1080 Ti has a higher base clock of 1481MHz and a higher boost clock of 1582MHz.
3. Process Size: The RTX 2080 Ti utilizes a 12nm process size, while the GTX 1080 Ti utilizes a 16nm process size.
4. VRAM: The RTX 2080 Ti has 11GB of GDDR6 memory, while the GTX 1080 Ti has 11GB of GDDR5X memory.

The release of the RTX series of graphics cards brought with them some exciting features like DLSS and ray-tracing, but does the raw improvement in performance in the higher-end cards warrant an upgrade? In the GTX 1080 Ti vs RTX 2080 Ti comparison, I will test both GPUs in real-world gaming scenarios to help you decide on your upgrade.

Gaming Performance Benchmarks

These tests were done in a controlled environment utilizing a test bench, the specifications of which are listed below:

Testing Rig

• OS – Windows 11
• CPU – Intel Core i5-13600K 
• Motherboard – MSI MEG Z790 ACE MAX Motherboard
• RAM – G.SKILL Trident Z5 RGB 32GB DDR5 6000MHz
• CPU Cooler – MSI MAG CORELIQUID C360
• SSD – XPG GAMMIX S70 BLADE 2TB NVMe SSD
• Power Supply – ENERMAX REVOLUTION D.F. X 1050W

Atomic Heart (Max Settings)

• In the first game of our testing, the RTX 2080 Ti managed to get 78 FPS on average, whereas the GTX 1080 Ti managed to get 60 FPS. 
• The RTX 2080 Ti had smooth 1% lows of 65 FPS, whereas the RTX 1080 Ti gave a slightly stuttery performance with 1% lows of 40 FPS.

Red Dead Redemption 2 (Ultra Settings)

• Both cards gave respectable numbers in Red Dead Redemption 2. The GTX 1080 Ti managed an average of 59 FPS, whereas the RTX 2080 Ti had an average of around 78 FPS. 
• The 1% lows in this title were not bad either, with the GTX 1080 Ti having 1% lows of 50 FPS and the RTX 2080 Ti having lows of about 61 FPS.

The Last Of Us Part 1 (Ultra Settings)

• The Last of Us Part 1 did not run great on either of the cards. The GTX 1080 Ti achieved an average of 33 FPS, while the RTX 2080 Ti demonstrated a higher average of 46 FPS, providing smoother gameplay.
• The 1% lows in this badly-optimized game were not incredible either. The RTX 2080 Ti had a 1% lows of 27 FPS, whereas the GTX 1080 Ti had a worse 1% low of 21 FPS.

Cyberpunk 2077 (High Settings)

• The RTX 2080 Ti managed a frame rate of about 50 FPS, whereas the GTX 1080 Ti barely got 38 FPS on average.
• The 1% lows were much closer to the average FPS in this title than the last one, which is always a good sign for smoothness. The RTX 2080 Ti had 1% lows at 41 FPS, while the GTX 1080 Ti had 30 FPS in this metric.

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 (Ultra Settings)

• Keeping the demanding game trend, Microsoft Flight Simulator performed better on these cards than the last two titles. On average, the GTX 1080 Ti got 40 FPS, whereas the RTX 2080 Ti got 54 FPS.
•  The GTX 1080 Ti got a 1% lows of 35 FPS, whereas the RTX 2080 Ti got a 1% lows of 42 FPS. This closeness of the averages and 1% lows indicate good optimization.

Hitman 3 (Ultra Settings)

• The GTX 1080 Ti averaged 92 FPS, whereas the RTX 2080 Ti had an average framerate of around 113 FPS.
• 1% lows were also respectable for both graphics cards in this game. The GTX 1080 Ti had a 1% lows of 69 FPS, whereas the RTX 2080 Ti had a 1% lows of 83 FPS.

Forza Horizon 5 (Ultra Settings)

• The RTX 2080 Ti showcased an average of approximately 85 FPS, surpassing the GTX 1080 Ti’s average of 64 FPS.
• Regarding 1% lows, the RTX 2080 Ti also outperformed the GTX 1080 Ti, with 75 FPS and 55 FPS, respectively. 

Hogwarts Legacy (Ultra Settings)

•  For the last game in the tests, the RTX 200 Ti had a higher frame rate of about 86 FPS, whereas the GTX 1080 Ti had an average of 56 FPS.
• Regarding 1% lows, the RTX 2080 Ti also outperformed the GTX 1080 Ti, with 70 FPS compared to 46 FPS, respectively.

Overall Gaming Performance

Frame Rate

The GTX 1080 Ti had a 55 FPS average over 8 games in our testing. In contrast, the RTX 2080 Ti had an average of 74 FPS in the same 8 games. Switching gears to 1% lows, both the cards had sub-sixty scores on average. The 1080 Ti had a 1% lows of 43 FPS, whereas the RTX 2080 Ti was almost there with 58 FPS.

Winner: RTX 2080 Ti 

Power

Surprisingly, both these GPUs had similar numbers in terms of power consumption. The RTX 2080 Ti had an average power consumption of 242 watts, whereas the GTX 1080 Ti had a slightly lower power consumption of 235 watts.

This and the higher FPS counts allow the RTX 2080 Ti to reach a much higher performance per watt than the GTX 1080 Ti. The difference here was about 30% favoring the RTX 2080 Ti.

Winner: GTX 1080 Ti 

Temperatures

The temperatures in these tests were nothing to worry about for either of these cards. The GTX 1080 Ti had an average peak temperature of 63°C, whereas the RTX 2080 Ti had an average peak temperature of 66°C.  The temperature difference between these cards does not suggest any benefit or drawback.

Winner: GTX 1080 Ti 

Price And Availability 

The RTX 2080 Ti has a performance per dollar of 0.18 frames/dollar, whereas the GTX 1080 Ti has a much better performance of 0.26 frames/dollar. The difference here comes out to about 42% favoring the 1080 Ti.

Final Verdict – Which One Should You Go For?

RTX 2080 Ti: Though It has a hefty price tag on average, you will likely find a great deal because of the age of this card. You will get buttery 1080p performance and enjoyable 1440p Ultra performance for this. This, along with its other bells and whistles like DLSS and Ray-Tracing support, makes it the more desirable card. 

GTX 1080 Ti: On the other hand, the GTX 1080 Ti has merits and demerits. Though it is a noticeably slower GPU than the RTX 2080 Ti, with almost no modern creature comforts, it is still a great performer for the price. Because of the performance per dollar, this card would be an easy recommendation to anyone on a tighter budget looking to play high-end games.

In summary, if you want to spend more on the best performance and features, go for the RTX 2080 Ti. However, if you’re looking for a more budget-friendly option without sacrificing too much performance, the GTX 1080 Ti is still a solid choice.

More From RTX 2080 Ti

• RTX 2080 Ti vs RTX 3090 Ti
• RTX 4060 Ti (16GB) Vs RTX 2080 Ti
• RTX 4060 Ti Vs RTX 2080 Ti

More From GTX 1080 Ti

• RTX 2060 Vs GTX 1080 Ti

Abde Manaf

[How-To Guides Expert]

Laiba, our tech guru at HI Digital, simplifies and crafts How-To Guides with a Google IT Support Certificate. Beyond tech, she captures the city’s aesthetics through her lens. Join her journey where tech meets creativity!

Get In Touch: Laiba@hidgt.com