GeForce GTX 1080 vs GeForce RTX 2070

G3D Mark is a standard benchmark that measures graphics performance in real-world gaming scenarios. It simplifies comparing cards from different brands, where higher scores directly correlate with better fps and smoother gaming experiences.

Value Upgrade Path

This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (G3D Mark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.

MSRP is the manufacturer's suggested retail price.•
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.

Performance Per Dollar

Based on actual market prices and performance benchmarks.

Performance Per Dollar

Based on actual market prices and performance benchmarks.

Why is GeForce RTX 2070 better than GeForce GTX 1080?

The GeForce GTX 1080 and RTX 2070 show the progression of high-end graphics into the Ray Tracing era. The RTX 2070 is roughly 10-15% faster than the GTX 1080 and brings support for DLSS 2, which significantly extends its viability in modern titles. Both cards feature 8GB of VRAM and are very capable of high-refresh 1080p or smooth 1440p gaming.

Technically, the GTX 1080 is a legendary card known for its incredible reliability and raw rasterization power. However, the RTX 2070 is the smarter investment due to its AI-powered features. DLSS allows the 2070 to punch way above its weight class in new games, whereas the 1080 has to rely purely on raw power. If you are looking for a reliable high-end card on a budget, the 2070 is the clear winner for its superior feature set and more modern architecture.

Performance Comparison

About G3D Mark

🏆 Chipversus Verdict

⚠️ Generational Difference

The GeForce RTX 2070 uses modern memory architecture. The GeForce RTX 2070 likely supports modern features like Ray Tracing, Tensor Cores, and DLSS/FSR upscaling, which act as force multipliers for performance. The GeForce GTX 1080 lacks this hardware feature set, limiting its longevity in modern titles despite any raw power similarities.

🚀 Performance Leadership

The GeForce RTX 2070 is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 2.9% higher G3D Mark score. This advantage makes it significantly better for higher resolutions (1440p/4K) and graphic-intensive titles compared to the GeForce GTX 1080.

Insight	GeForce GTX 1080	GeForce RTX 2070
Performance	❌Lower raw frame rates (-2.9%)	✅Leading raw performance (+2.9%)
Longevity	🛑Obsolete Architecture (2016 / Pascal (2016−2021))	🛑Obsolete Architecture (2018 / Turing (2018−2022))
Ecosystem	Supports FSR Upscaling	✨ DLSS 2 Upscaling
VRAM	❌ Less VRAM capacity	✅ More VRAM (+0%)
Efficiency	Normal Efficiency	Normal Efficiency
Case Fit	Standard Size (267mm)	Standard Size (267mm)

💎 Value Proposition

The GeForce GTX 1080 offers a compelling cost-to-performance ratio. Priced at $91 versus $180 for the GeForce RTX 2070, it costs 49% less. While it maintains competitive performance, this results in a 92.2% higher cost efficiency score.

Insight	GeForce GTX 1080	GeForce RTX 2070
Cost Efficiency	✅Better overall value (+92.2%)	❌Lower cost efficiency
Upfront Cost	✅More affordable ($91)	⚠️Higher upfront cost ($180)

Performance Check

Real-world benchmarks and performance projections based on comprehensive hardware analysis and comparative metrics. Values represent expected performance on High/Ultra settings at 1080p, 1440p, and 4K. Modeled using a Ryzen 7 7800X3D reference profile to minimize specific CPU bottlenecks.

Note: Performance behavior can vary per game. Specific architectures may perform better or worse depending on game engine optimizations and API implementation.

GeForce GTX 1080 Benchmark Check

GeForce RTX 2070 Benchmark Check

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce GTX 1080 and GeForce RTX 2070

GeForce GTX 1080

The GeForce GTX 1080 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in May 27 2016. It features the Pascal architecture. The core clock ranges from 1607 MHz to 1733 MHz. It has 2560 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 180W. Manufactured using 16 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 15,609 points. Launch price was $599.

GeForce RTX 2070

The GeForce RTX 2070 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in October 17 2018. It features the Turing architecture. The core clock ranges from 1410 MHz to 1620 MHz. It has 2304 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 175W. Manufactured using 12 nm process technology. It features 36 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 16,068 points. Launch price was $499.

⚡

Graphics Performance

The GeForce GTX 1080 scores 15,609 and the GeForce RTX 2070 reaches 16,068 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 2.9% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The GeForce GTX 1080 is built on Pascal while the GeForce RTX 2070 uses Turing, both on 16 nm vs 12 nm. Shader units: 2,560 (GeForce GTX 1080) vs 2,304 (GeForce RTX 2070). Raw compute: 8.873 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 1080) vs 7.465 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 2070). Boost clocks: 1733 MHz vs 1620 MHz.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1080	GeForce RTX 2070
G3D Mark Score	15,609	16,068+3%
Architecture	Pascal	Turing
Process Node	16 nm	12 nm
Shading Units	2560+11%	2304
Compute (TFLOPS)	8.873 TFLOPS+19%	7.465 TFLOPS
Boost Clock	1733 MHz+7%	1620 MHz
ROPs	64	64
TMUs	160+11%	144
L1 Cache	0.94 MB	2.3 MB+145%
L2 Cache	2 MB	4 MB+100%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

Feature	GeForce GTX 1080	GeForce RTX 2070
Upscaling Tech	FSR 2.1 (Compatible)	DLSS 2.0
Frame Generation	FSR 3 (Compatible)	FSR 3 / AFMF (Compatible)
Ray Reconstruction	No	No
Low Latency	Standard	NVIDIA Reflex

💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

Both cards feature 8 GB of video memory. Memory bandwidth: 320 GB/s (GeForce GTX 1080) vs 448 GB/s (GeForce RTX 2070) — a 40% advantage for the GeForce RTX 2070. Bus width: 256-bit vs 256-bit. L2 Cache: 2 MB (GeForce GTX 1080) vs 4 MB (GeForce RTX 2070) — the GeForce RTX 2070 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1080	GeForce RTX 2070
VRAM Capacity	8 GB	8 GB
Memory Type	GDDR5X	GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth	320 GB/s	448 GB/s+40%
Bus Width	256-bit	256-bit
L2 Cache	2 MB	4 MB+100%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12.1 (GeForce GTX 1080) vs 12.1 (GeForce RTX 2070). Vulkan: 1.4 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1080	GeForce RTX 2070
DirectX	12.1	12.1
Vulkan	1.4+8%	1.3
OpenGL	4.6	4.6
Max Displays	4	4

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC 6th gen (GeForce GTX 1080) vs NVENC 6.0 (GeForce RTX 2070). Decoder: NVDEC 3rd gen vs PureVideo HD VP9. Supported codecs: H.264,H.265/HEVC,VP8,VP9,MPEG-2,VC-1 (GeForce GTX 1080) vs MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9 (GeForce RTX 2070).

Feature	GeForce GTX 1080	GeForce RTX 2070
Encoder	NVENC 6th gen	NVENC 6.0
Decoder	NVDEC 3rd gen	PureVideo HD VP9
Codecs	H.264,H.265/HEVC,VP8,VP9,MPEG-2,VC-1	MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 1080 draws 180W versus the GeForce RTX 2070's 175W — a 2.8% difference. The GeForce RTX 2070 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 500W (GeForce GTX 1080) vs 550W (GeForce RTX 2070). Power connectors: 8-pin vs 8-pin. Card length: 267mm vs 267mm, occupying 2 vs 2 slots. Typical load temperature: 75°C vs 80°C.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1080	GeForce RTX 2070
TDP	180W	175W-3%
Recommended PSU	500W-9%	550W
Power Connector	8-pin	8-pin
Length	267mm	267mm
Height	111mm	112mm
Slots	2	2
Temp (Load)	75°C-6%	80°C
Perf/Watt	86.7	91.8+6%

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce GTX 1080 launched at $599 MSRP and currently averages $91, while the GeForce RTX 2070 launched at $599 and now averages $180. The GeForce GTX 1080 costs 49.4% less ($89 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 171.5 (GeForce GTX 1080) vs 89.3 (GeForce RTX 2070) — the GeForce GTX 1080 offers 92% better value. The GeForce RTX 2070 is the newer GPU (2018 vs 2016).