NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 vs RTX 4080 Super: Comparing Performance and Features

NVIDIA faced significant challenges with the pricing of the RTX 4080 at its launch, which raised concerns over potential backlash. Subsequently, the company introduced the RTX 4080 Super, which was anticipated to be a notable upgrade. However, it turned out to be a modest enhancement of the original RTX 4080, reducing the price by $200 but offering only marginal performance enhancements.

Now, NVIDIA has announced the GeForce RTX 5080 as part of the new Blackwell architecture. Expectations were high for this graphics card, which, despite showing some performance improvements over its predecessors, did not fully meet the anticipated benchmarks. According to NVIDIA, the RTX 5080 is positioned not solely for gaming but also emphasizes its advanced AI capabilities, leveraging the revolutionary Blackwell architecture.

If you’re considering whether upgrading to the GeForce RTX 5080 is worthwhile compared to the RTX 4080 or 4080 Super models (or even the RTX 4070), keep reading. This article will provide an in-depth look at the RTX 5080, covering its architecture, gaming benchmarks, and technological advancements.

Specifications Breakdown: RTX 5080 vs RTX 4080 Super

Specs/GPU	RTX 5080	RTX 4080 Super
Architecture	Blackwell	Ada Lovelace
GPU Die Size	GB203 (378 mm²)	AD103 (379 mm²)
Process Node	TSMC 5nm	TSMC 5nm
CUDA Cores	10, 752	10, 240
Streaming Multiprocessors (SMs)	84	80
RT Cores	84	80
Tensor Cores	336	320
L2 Cache	64 MB	64 MB
FP32 Performance	56.28 TFLOPS	52.22 TFLOPS
FP4 Performance	1801 TFLOPS	836 TFLOPS
VRAM	16 GB GDDR7	16 GB GDDR6X
Memory Bus Width	256-bit	256-bit
Memory Speed	30 Gbps	23 Gbps
Memory Bandwidth	960GB/s	736.3 GB/s
Base/Boost Clock	2295/2617 MHz	2295/2550 MHz
PCI-E Interface	5.0	4.0
TDP	360W	320W
MSRP	$999	$999

Key Architectural Enhancements

The transition from Ada Lovelace to Blackwell architecture in the RTX 50 series facilitates several critical improvements. Notably, NVIDIA has redesigned the Streaming Multiprocessors (SMs) to increase efficiency. By merging the FP32 and INT32 cores, the new architecture enables double throughput for INT32, significantly enhancing the execution speed for mixed workloads.

In previous generations, the SM architecture included separate blocks for FP32 and INT32 cores, which limited efficiency. With the introduction of the Blackwell Shader Execution Reordering, workloads can be redistributed to either Tensor Cores or Shader Cores, optimizing processing speed. This results in a roughly two-fold increase in Shader Execution Reordering, enhancing overall performance against the Ada cards.

Beyond core design, the RTX 5080 features advanced 4th Generation RT and 5th Generation Tensor cores, which incorporate a new Triangle Cluster Intersection Engine, specifically optimized for large-scale geometry. NVIDIA claims these improvements can lead to a 25% reduction in memory usage while enhancing Ray Triangle Intersection rates by double compared to the RTX 4080 Super. Thus, the RTX 5080 and other 50-series GPUs are engineered for superior Ray Tracing performance.

Performance Specifications: RTX 5080 vs RTX 4080 Super

Despite its architectural updates, the RTX 5080’s specifications reveal that the upgrades aren’t as revolutionary as one might expect. The comparison table above illustrates modest enhancements across the board, often less than 10%.For instance, the CUDA Core count increased by 5%, and while the SMs, RT, and Tensor Core counts saw generational improvements, the actual performance uplifts largely depend on these specifications.

While minor boosts in specs can enhance performance, it’s notable that FP4 performance has notably surpassed that of the RTX 4080 Super, achieved through efficient data handling capabilities aimed primarily at AI computations. This conversion allows the RTX 5080 to outperform in AI tasks, but gamers looking for significant upgrades may find themselves disappointed.

Advancements in Upscaling Technology

As competition heats up in the GPU sector, improvements in upscaling technologies are critical. The RTX 5080 supports the recently launched DLSS 4, which includes Multi-Frame Generation (MFG), an innovation that NVIDIA asserts enhances the gaming experience. While both the RTX 4080 Super and RTX 5080 support DLSS 4, MFG is exclusive to the newer model.

MFG is designed to generate three additional frames instead of just one, effectively doubling frame rates compared to traditional methods, which could offer a smoother experience for gamers. Both the 40 and 50 series benefit from the latest Transformer models for Super Resolution and Ray Reconstruction, though the RTX 5080 gains an edge with MFG.

Performance in Synthetic and Gaming Tests

Initial reviews of the RTX 5080 have compared its synthetic and gaming performance against the RTX 4080 Super. In synthetic benchmarking tests, such as FireStrike and Time Spy, the RTX 5080 usually demonstrates only an 8-15% uplift in performance. This improvement is modest when considering the advancements offered by the RTX 4080/Super over the RTX 3080.

Gaming benchmarks reflect similar results as the synthetic tests, leading to criticisms about the RTX 5080’s performance. Though NVIDIA had billed the RTX 5080 as a nearly twice-as-powerful alternative to the RTX 4080, our testing reveals it generally falls short, showing only a 10-15% increase in performance from its predecessor, with or without Ray Tracing enabled.

Power Consumption Insights

Although the GeForce RTX 5080 carries a higher Thermal Design Power (TDP) of 360W compared to the RTX 4080’s 320W, actual power consumption varies based on usage. The RTX 5080 tends to consume around 300W during gaming, slightly exceeding the RTX 4080 Super, which is typically 10-15W lower.

In synthetic benchmarks where both GPUs are pushed to their limits, the RTX 5080 maxes out at approximately 328W while the RTX 4080 Super caps at around 315W. Despite the slight increase in power requirements, the RTX 5080 exhibits better performance per watt than the RTX 4080 Super, which is commendable. Additionally, aftermarket editions demonstrate improved thermal management.

Cost and Value Assessment

Ultimately, pricing plays a pivotal role in determining value. Both the RTX 5080 and RTX 4080 Super launched at a price point of $999. However, given the enhancements in performance, thermal efficiency, and upscaling technology, the RTX 5080 certainly provides better value in comparative assessments.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the GeForce RTX 5080 outperforms the RTX 4080 Super across multiple metrics. However, a couple of key considerations remain: first, the RTX 5080 is indeed a successor to the RTX 4080 Super; thus, it’s critical to benchmark it against its predecessor and not just based on generational expectations. Second, the value proposition for users contemplating an upgrade from an RTX 4080 Super to a RTX 5080 is minimal.

For most, swapping an RTX 4080 Super for an RTX 5080 may not be a financially sound decision. However, for users upgrading from notably slower models such as the RTX 4060 or RTX 3070, the RTX 5080 offers substantial improvements and is an attractive option for building a high-end gaming rig or future-proofing your setup.

In summary, while the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 is an excellent choice for new builds or upgrades from older GPUs, current RTX 4080 or RX 7900 XTX owners may find their investment better placed elsewhere.

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