One frequently asked question is, “Which graphics card is better between the RTX 2080 Super vs 3070?” In today’s article, we’ll go over everything and find out the final answer. There has never been a better time purchase a new graphics card for your PC or upgrade to a gaming laptop with a more recent GPU. Because prices are finally beginning to fall after a long season of inflated prices and scarcity, now is an excellent time to consider upgrading.
With so many options available, deciding on the best graphics card for you can be difficult. There are numerous ambiguous terms and names in the GPU world. That’s why we’re here: to break everything down into simple terms and assist you in deciding which GPU is best for you.
The Nvidia RTX 2080 Super and RTX 3070 are both appealing choices for gaming, streaming, and video editing. But which is truly superior? We’ll look at full side-by-side comparisons, specs, and pricing to help you choose the best GPU.
Nvidia RTX 2080 Super vs 3070: Side-By-Side Comparison
The RTX 2080 Super vs RTX 3070 are very similar cards that may be difficult to distinguish at first glance. The fact that one newer than the other can add to the confusion. Check out the comparison table below to see how the specs of these two graphics cards stack up:
| RTX 2080 Super | RTX 3070 | |
|---|---|---|
| Graphics Processor: | TU104 | GA104 |
| Shader Cores: | 3072 | 5888 |
| TMUs: | 192 | 184 |
| ROPs: | 64 | 96 |
| VRAM Type: | GDDR6 | GDDR6 |
| VRAM Capacity: | 8 GB | 8 GB |
| Bus Width: | 256 bit | 256 bit |
| GPU Clock: | 1650 MHz | 1500 MHz |
| Boost Clock: | 1815 MHz | 1725 MHz |
| Memory Clock: | 1937 MHz | 1750 MHz |
| Texture Fill Rate: | 348.5 GTexel/s | 317.4 GTexel/s |
| Pixel Rate: | 116.2 GPixel/s | 165.6 GPixel/s |
| Double Floating-point Performance: | 348.5 GFLOPS | 317.4 GFLOPS |
As we can see, the RTX 2080 Super and RTX 3070 are very similar graphics cards, with similar VRAM capacity and type, as well as memory bandwidth and theoretical performance. However, the RTX 3070 appears to be the winner in a few key areas, including more shader cores and rasterization output pipelines. As a result, the RTX 3070 has a significantly higher pixel rate than the RTX 2080 Super.
RTX 2080 Super vs 3070: Five Must-Know Facts
- Both GPUs have full support for hardware Ray Tracing.
- Both the RTX 2080 Super and 3070 are DirectX 12 Ultimate capable GPUs.
- The RTX 2080 Super and 3070 make use of Nvidia’s DLSS technology.
- Both graphics cards meet the requirements for 99% of current games.
- Both GPUs use the latest GDDR6 video memory.
RTX 2080 Super vs 3070: A Brief History
Nvidia released the RTX 2080 Super on July 23rd, 2019, as a minor upgrade to the base model RTX 2080, which was released almost a year earlier. Both the standard RTX 2080 and the RTX 2080 Super have an MSRP of $699, making the RTX 2080 Super the clear winner. Those who waited to upgrade from an older model, such as the GTX 1080, would have been rewarded handsomely.
The famous chip shortages had already begun when Nvidia released the RTX 3070 on September 1st, 2020, making the new release out of reach for most gamers from the start. The new 3070 series GPUs were not as appealing to those who had already decided to upgrade to an RTX 2080 Super. The fact that the RTX 3070’s original MSRP of $499 was impossible to find on store shelves made it difficult for anyone on a tight budget to get their hands on one, even if they wanted to.
With the RTX 3070’s price approaching MSRP once more, you may be tempted to upgrade. The good news is that Nvidia made sure to significantly improve the RTX 3070 over its predecessor, the RTX 2070. The RTX 3070 is a clear upgrade over the previous generation, with higher specifications and better benchmark performance. If you already own an RTX 2080 or RTX 2080 Super, the improvements may be less noticeable.
In terms of competition from Nvidia’s main rival, AMD, both graphics cards easily outperform their opponents. According to benchmarks and user reports, the closest AMD equivalent to the RTX 2080 Super is the AMD Radeon VII, which is about 24% slower. The AMD Radeon RX 6800-XT is the closest equivalent to the RTX 3070 in terms of performance, but it is still rated about 2% slower overall.
Dimensions and Connectivity
Knowing how much power is required to run them is an important part of the buying decision when looking for a new graphics card. As you might expect, newer GPUs are typically more energy-efficient, and the RTX 2080 Super vs 3070 is no exception.
The RTX 2080 Super has a maximum TDP of 250 watts when fully loaded, implying that a 600-watt or higher power supply is required. The GPU receives power from one 6-pin and one 8-pin connector. The RTX 3070 is a little more efficient, with a maximum TDP of 220 watts. Power is supplied to the card via two 6-pin power connectors, and the manufacturer recommends a 550-watt power supply.
The RTX 3070 is also slightly smaller in size than the RTX 2080 Super, which is great news if you don’t have a massive PC case to house it in. The standard edition of the RTX 2080 Super is approximately 10.5 inches long, whereas the RTX 3070 is only 9.5 inches long. Because both graphics cards are dual-slot, they will fit in the vast majority of standard PC cases and motherboard configurations.
Both GPUs have similar connectivity, and you will be able to connect a wide range of gaming monitors regardless of which card you choose. The RTX 3070 really shines with newer HDMI 2.1 technology, as opposed to the RTX 2080 Super’s older HDMI 2.0. This is useful if you value the increased bandwidth and refresh rates provided by HDMI 2.1.
RTX 2080 Super vs 3070: Which One is Better for Gaming?
The RTX 2080 Super and RTX 3070 can be used for a variety of tasks such as video editing, graphic design, and even complex modelling, but gaming is the true litmus test. Testing how well a GPU performs in the latest games is one of the best benchmarks for determining how well it performs. That’s why we compiled benchmarks from all of the most popular games to see how these two graphics cards compare.
Because both the RTX 2080 Super and RTX 3070 are mid-tier graphics cards capable of 1080p gaming all the way up to Ultra 4K HD, we decided to test them at 1440p. One of the most popular resolutions, 1440p, is sufficient to demonstrate the capabilities of these GPUs and enjoy a truly immersive gaming experience. Check out the table below to see how the RTX 2080 Super compares to the 3070 when playing games at their highest settings.
| Game | RTX 2080 Super | RTX 3070 |
|---|---|---|
| Assassin’s Creed Valhalla | 47+ FPS | 57+ FPS |
| Microsoft Flight Simulator | 31+ FPS | 37+ FPS |
| Valorant | 198+ FPS | 236+ FPS |
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 51+ FPS | 61+ FPS |
| Apex Legends | 96+ FPS | 116+ FPS |
| Shadow of the Tomb Raider | 75+ FPS | 84+ FPS |
| Red Dead Redemption 2 | 46+ FPS | 55+ FPS |
| GTA V | 88+ FPS | 100+ FPS |
| Rocket League | 218+ FPs | 265+ FPS |
The RTX 3070 is the clear winner in gaming, as evidenced by the benchmark results. Most games easily scale up to 4K, and older titles like Rocket League and Valorant are no match for either graphics card.
Only the most demanding games, such as Microsoft Flight Simulator and Red Dead Redemption 2, pose a challenge to either GPU, but even these run flawlessly. Read More; Nvidia RTX 4090 – Release Date, Price, Specs
Which One Should You Pick?
Looking at the benchmarks, it’s clear that the RTX 3070 is the superior choice, particularly if you want an immersive gaming experience with the highest frame rates. When it comes to price and power consumption, the RTX 3070 even outperforms the RTX 2080 Super. If you’re replacing an older graphics card, the RTX 3070 is the obvious choice.
If you already own an RTX 2080 Super and want to upgrade to the RTX 3070, the decision becomes more difficult. Even if there are noticeable performance improvements, they may not be sufficient to justify switching GPUs. In any case, both the RTX 2080 Super and RTX 3070 are excellent choices for gamers seeking a good balance of value and performance. Read also; NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 vs RTX 2060: The Difference
Nvidia RTX 2080S (Super) vs 3070: FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Is the RTX 2080 Super better than the 3070?
Because of its newer GPU architecture, higher shader core count, and faster clock speeds, the RTX 3070 outperforms the RTX 2080 Super on gaming benchmarks and is the best overall.
What’s the difference between the RTX 2080 Super and the 3070?
The RTX 3070 is based on the GA104 graphics architecture, which provides improved performance while consuming less power and costing less money. The RTX 2080 Super is a legacy card that uses the TU104 graphics architecture.
What are the best features of the RTX 2080 Super and the 3070?
Both cards support Nvidia DLSS, G-Sync, and Nvidia Broadcast in full. Both the RTX 2080 Super and RTX 3070 support DirectX 12 Ultimate, ensuring compatibility with the most recent games.
How much are the RTX 2080 Super and the 3070
The RTX 2080 Super has a starting price of $699. The RTX 3070 has a starting price of $499. Finding either graphics card at or near MSRP is still a fantastic deal.
