GeForce RTX 5080 vs GeForce RTX 5090

NVIDIA

GeForce RTX 5080

2025Core: 2295 MHzBoost: 2617 MHz
RTX family
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VS
NVIDIA

GeForce RTX 5090

2025Core: 2017 MHzBoost: 2407 MHz
RTX family
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GeForce RTX 5080 vs GeForce RTX 5090 Performance Spectrum

About G3D Mark

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.

GeForce RTX 5080 vs GeForce RTX 5090 FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with Ryzen 7 9800X3D to isolate GPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

GeForce RTX 5080 vs GeForce RTX 5090: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each GPU makes more sense in practice: raw FPS, VRAM, features, power draw, pricing, and long-term headroom.

GeForce RTX 5080

2025

Why buy it

  • Costs $1,000 less on MSRP ($999 MSRP vs $1,999 MSRP).
  • Delivers 84.9% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 36.0 vs 19.4 G3D/$ ($999 MSRP vs $1,999 MSRP).
  • Draws 360W instead of 575W, a 215W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 5090 across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
  • Less VRAM, with 16 GB vs 32 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
  • Fewer Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation (336 vs 680), which can reduce FPS gains in supported games.

GeForce RTX 5090

2025

Why buy it

  • 4.7% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
  • 102.4% more Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation, which can increase overall FPS in supported games (680 vs 336).
  • 100% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (32 GB vs 16 GB).

Trade-offs

  • 100.1% HIGHER MSRP
    $1,999 MSRPvs$999 MSRP
  • Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 19.4 vs 36.0 G3D/$ ($1,999 MSRP vs $999 MSRP).
  • 59.7% higher power demand at 575W vs 360W.

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?
GeForce RTX 5090 is the faster gaming card right now. In our data, it leads by 4.7% in average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and by 8.2% in PassMark G3D (38,867 vs 35,924), so the answer here is pretty clean.
Which GPU is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond?
GeForce RTX 5080 is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond because it comes out ahead on the available hardware-headroom signals for this matchup.
Which GPU is the better buy today?
GeForce RTX 5080 makes the most sense to buy today. It is $1,000 cheaper on MSRP at $999 vs $1,999, and it leads G3D-per-dollar by 84.9% (36.0 vs 19.4), which is enough to swing the recommendation its way. GeForce RTX 5090 still makes more sense if max raw gaming performance matters more than value.

GeForce RTX 5080 vs GeForce RTX 5090 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

NVIDIA

GeForce RTX 5080

The GeForce RTX 5080 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in January 30 2025. It features the Blackwell 2.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 2295 MHz to 2617 MHz. It has 10752 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 360W. Manufactured using 5 nm process technology. It features 84 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 35,924 points. Launch price was $999.

NVIDIA

GeForce RTX 5090

The GeForce RTX 5090 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in January 30 2025. It features the Blackwell 2.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 2017 MHz to 2407 MHz. It has 21760 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 575W. Manufactured using 5 nm process technology. It features 170 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 38,867 points. Launch price was $1,999.

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 5080 scores 35,924 versus the GeForce RTX 5090's 38,867 — the GeForce RTX 5090 leads by 8.2%. The GeForce RTX 5080 is built on Blackwell 2.0 while the GeForce RTX 5090 uses Blackwell 2.0, both on a 5 nm process. Shader units: 10,752 (GeForce RTX 5080) vs 21,760 (GeForce RTX 5090). Raw compute: 56.28 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 5080) vs 104.8 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 5090). Boost clocks: 2617 MHz vs 2407 MHz. Ray tracing: 84 RT cores (GeForce RTX 5080) vs 170 (GeForce RTX 5090) with 336 Tensor cores vs 680.

FeatureGeForce RTX 5080GeForce RTX 5090
G3D Mark Score
35,924
38,867+8%
Architecture
Blackwell 2.0
Blackwell 2.0
Process Node
5 nm
5 nm
Shading Units
10752
21760+102%
Compute (TFLOPS)
56.28 TFLOPS
104.8 TFLOPS+86%
Boost Clock
2617 MHz+9%
2407 MHz
ROPs
112
176+57%
TMUs
336
680+102%
L1 Cache
10.5 MB
21.3 MB+103%
L2 Cache
64 MB
96 MB+50%
Ray Tracing Cores
84
170+102%
Tensor Cores
336
680+102%

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

Both cards support Frame Generation in supported games, so this part of the feature set is broadly comparable.

FeatureGeForce RTX 5080GeForce RTX 5090
Upscaling Tech
DLSS 4 Super Resolution
DLSS 4 Super Resolution
Frame Generation
DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation
DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation
Ray Reconstruction
Yes (DLSS 4)
Yes (DLSS 4)
Low Latency
NVIDIA Reflex
NVIDIA Reflex
💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce RTX 5080 has 16 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce RTX 5090 carries 32 GB. GeForce RTX 5090 gives you 100% more memory capacity, which matters more once you move into heavier textures, mods, or higher resolutions. Memory bandwidth: 1024 GB/s (GeForce RTX 5080) vs 1792 GB/s (GeForce RTX 5090) — a 75% advantage for the GeForce RTX 5090. Memory bus width is 256-bit on the GeForce RTX 5080 and 512-bit on the GeForce RTX 5090. L2 Cache: 64 MB (GeForce RTX 5080) vs 96 MB (GeForce RTX 5090) — the GeForce RTX 5090 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

FeatureGeForce RTX 5080GeForce RTX 5090
VRAM Capacity
16 GB
32 GB+100%
Memory Type
GDDR7
GDDR7
Memory Bandwidth
1024 GB/s
1792 GB/s+75%
Bus Width
256-bit
512-bit+100%
L2 Cache
64 MB
96 MB+50%
🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12.2 (GeForce RTX 5080) vs 12.2 (GeForce RTX 5090). Vulkan: 1.4 vs 1.4. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

FeatureGeForce RTX 5080GeForce RTX 5090
DirectX
12.2
12.2
Vulkan
1.4
1.4
OpenGL
4.6
4.6
Max Displays
4
4
🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: 9th Gen NVENC (2x) (GeForce RTX 5080) vs 9th Gen NVENC (2x) (GeForce RTX 5090). Decoder: 6th Gen NVDEC vs 6th Gen NVDEC. Supported codecs: MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1 (GeForce RTX 5080) vs MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1 (GeForce RTX 5090).

FeatureGeForce RTX 5080GeForce RTX 5090
Encoder
9th Gen NVENC (2x)
9th Gen NVENC (2x)
Decoder
6th Gen NVDEC
6th Gen NVDEC
Codecs
MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1
MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1
🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 5080 draws 360W versus the GeForce RTX 5090's 575W — a 46% difference. The GeForce RTX 5080 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 850W (GeForce RTX 5080) vs 1000W (GeForce RTX 5090). Power connectors: 16-pin (12VHPWR) vs 16-pin (12VHPWR). Card length: 304mm vs 304mm, occupying 2 vs 2 slots. Typical load temperature: 80°C vs 85°C.

FeatureGeForce RTX 5080GeForce RTX 5090
TDP
360W-37%
575W
Recommended PSU
850W-15%
1000W
Power Connector
16-pin (12VHPWR)
16-pin (12VHPWR)
Length
304mm
304mm
Height
137mm
137mm
Slots
2
2
Temp (Load)
80°C-6%
85°C
Perf/Watt
99.8+48%
67.6
💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the GeForce RTX 5080 came in at $999, while the GeForce RTX 5090 launched at $1999. On MSRP, GeForce RTX 5080 was 50% cheaper ($1000 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 36.0 (GeForce RTX 5080) vs 19.4 (GeForce RTX 5090) — the GeForce RTX 5080 offers 85.6% better value.

FeatureGeForce RTX 5080GeForce RTX 5090
MSRP
$999-50%
$1999
Performance per Dollar
36.0+86%
19.4
Codename
GB203
GB202
Release
January 30 2025
January 30 2025
Ranking
#5
#3

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