NVIDIA RTX 2080 vs. RTX 2080 Ti: The Ray Tracing Forerunners’ One-on-one

Austin
| Last Updated: March 22, 2022

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There’s a lot of ray tracing hype right now, and NVIDIA’s RTX 20 series flagship cards, the RTX 2080 and RTX 2080 Ti, are among the best GPUs that support this technology.

Both cards offer gamers and professionals excellent performance, making it harder to choose which one is the best for you. In this article, we dive deep into key differences to help you figure out which GPU you should be considering.

Here is a look at how these two cards compare. Keep reading to find out more about each GPU and what it offers!

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 is one of the best-performing GPUs right now. An overclocking powerhouse, this video card can handle games and software at 1080p and 1440p. Plus, it runs quietly even when you crank up the clock speed. So if you're in the market for a new graphics card, don't miss out on this one.

  • Remarkable overclocking
  • One of the best-performing GPUs
  • Cools quietly
  • Great for 1080p and 1440p
  • Worth it upgrade from a GTX 1080
  • Not 4K ready
  • High power requirement

Featuring real-time ray tracing and DLSS technology, the RTX 2080 Ti is engineered to deliver the best graphics possible. The 4K-ready device comes with a USB-C port for connecting monitors, making it a smart and future-proof upgrade. This card is one of the fastest available, and its silent cooling capability makes it an excellent choice for gamers and enthusiasts alike.

  • Smooth 4K performance
  • USB-C port for monitors
  • Real-time ray tracing and DLSS
  • One of the fastest GPUs
  • Silent cooling mechanism
  • Expensive
  • Bulky and heavy

NVIDIA RTX 2080 Overview

Introducing the NVIDIA RTX 2080, a great graphics card that offers incredible clock boosting performance. This powerful GPU is one of the best-performing cards on the market, as it runs quietly and cools effectively. 

Built with Turing architecture, this video card can easily handle 1080p and 1440p gaming. While it's not 4K resolution ready, the RTX 2080 will provide you with the power you need to play the latest games at high settings without any lag or slowdown. 

Offering a significantly better performance than a GTX 1080, the RTX 2080 will surely take your gaming adventures to the next level. On the other hand, it requires more energy to run, so make sure that you have the right PSU for your rig.

NVIDIA RTX 2080 Ti Overview

Looking to enjoy a smooth 4K performance without sacrificing speed? Then you’re going to need the NVIDIA RTX 2080 Ti graphics card. It's one of the fastest GPUs on the market, and its silent cooling mechanism ensures that your gaming experience is always smooth and uninterrupted.

It features a USB-C port for connecting to monitors and a powerful processor that delivers stunning visuals. Additionally, it's built with durable materials that make it tough enough to withstand heavy use. 

With real-time ray tracing and DLSS, this card provides lifelike visuals and allows you to see things you've never seen before in a game. On the flip side, it also comes with a hefty price tag, but it's worth every penny if you're serious about gaming.

Specifications Comparison Table

Features NVIDIA RTX 2080 NVIDIA RTX 2080 Ti
Base Clock (MHz) 1,515 1,350
Boost Clock (MHz) 1,710 1,545
Memory Size (GB) 8 11
Memory Type GDDR6 GDDR6X
Power Supply (W) 650 650

NVIDIA RTX 2080 vs. NVIDIA RTX 2080 Ti Features Showdown

Boost Clock: Winner  - NVIDIA RTX 2080 

The NVIDIA RTX 2080 video card comes with overclocking at 1,710 MHz for an outstanding gaming experience. Also, it supports innovative new technologies like ray tracing and DLSS for ultra-realistic graphics. 

While the RTX 2080 Ti is a bit slow in terms of clock boost, it’s still a reliable and top-of-the-line graphics card since a mere 200 MHz difference is not that noticeable at first glance.

If clock boost is your priority, step up to the exceptional performance of the RTX 2080.

Memory: Winner - NVIDIA RTX 2080 Ti

The RTX 2080 Ti was built to win with its 11GB GDDR6 VRAM and hitting speeds of up to 14Gbps on a 352-bit bus. That means faster renders, smoother gameplay, and more beautiful graphics than ever before. 

Although the RTX 2080 falls a bit short in terms of VRAM capacity, it’s also equipped with a GDDR6 memory processor. Recent buyers report that at least 8 GB is already a viable memory size for 1080p and 1440p applications.

For graphics-intensive software requiring much VRAM, pick up an RTX 2080 Ti.

Power Requirement: Tie - NVIDIA RTX 2080 & NVIDIA RTX 2080 Ti

Check out the NVIDIA RTX 2080 or RTX 2080 Ti. Both graphics cards require a minimum 650W power supply and come with one 6-pin and one 8-pin PCI Express supplementary power connector. 

Since these cards consume less power than next-generation cards RTX 30 series, you'll be able to play games longer and harder without worrying about your system's energy usage.

With either of these cards, you'll enjoy ultra-smooth gameplay in a fraction of the usual power draw for high-end GPUs. 

Ray Tracing: Tie - NVIDIA RTX 2080 & NVIDIA RTX 2080 Ti

With the release of the RTX cards, NVIDIA has ushered in a new era of graphics. The Turing architecture introduces Tensor cores for Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS) and Ray Tracing (RT) cores for real-time ray tracing. This means that your favorite games will look better than ever before.

The RTX 2080 and RTX 2080 Ti can deliver the power to create lifelike images with unparalleled realism, lighting, and reflections. Whether you're playing games, creating content, or doing both at the same time, these cards will give you the power to do it all.

Though most users describe the RTX 2080 Ti as more capable than an RTX 2080 overall, the ray-tracing capability, including its host of other features, is available for both devices.

Advantages of NVIDIA RTX 2080

If you're a serious gamer or video editor, you'll want to check out the NVIDIA RTX 2080. It's one of the best-performing GPUs around, and it can easily render game and software titles at 1080p and 1440p resolutions. 

This card is capable of fantastic clock boosts, meaning you can get more out of its image processing functions. It runs very quietly, so you don't have to worry about annoying anyone while you're playing games.

The RTX 2080 is a fantastic upgrade from the GTX model series. It packs a powerful punch for your gaming or professional PC with ray tracing capability. Finally, it's a slightly cheaper pick than the RTX 2080 Ti, which favors users working with a tight budget.

Advantages of NVIDIA RTX 2080 Ti

NVIDIA’s RTX 2080 Ti gives you the power to do more with your gaming. Its smooth 4K performance and USB-C port for monitors make it an impeccable choice for gamers who wants a GPU that can be used for the long haul. 

This card has a new and improved cooling mechanism that keeps it silent even when running at full speed so that you can focus on your game without any distractions. Plus, its blistering speed means you'll have smoother and more fun gaming sessions.

With real-time ray tracing and DLSS, this GPU provides gamers with an immersive experience that is second to none. The RTX 2080 Ti offers unmatched power and flexibility to handle even the most demanding workloads for professionals.

Conclusion

So, which card should you choose? It all depends on what games you want to play, what kind of work you do, and the resolution you prefer to use.

If you aim to experience the latest games at their full potential, then the RTX 2080 Ti is the card for you. However, this video card is quite expensive, so be prepared to spend big money if you want to enjoy its benefits.

For users who are focused on 1080p and 1440p visual quality, the RTX 2080 is a great option that will save you some money. It's powerful enough to handle even the most demanding game titles at high frame rates, and it'll also make your video playbacks look great. 

Check out our other informative GPU comparison and tech stuff reviews. Bye for now, and as always, thanks for reading!


Austin

When the tech company I worked for restructured and I ended up jobless, I decided to put the wealth of knowledge and management skills to use somewhere new. I’d checked out a few buyer’s guides on the site in the past and reached out to the previous owner. A few months later, here we are. Now, I get to be behind the scenes, helping people find the best tech.