Are you the type who will wait until the newest generation of components is released before purchasing the previous generation? That was the best budget-friendly option until three years ago, but after the great GPU shortage and scalping era, that may no longer be the case. Prices are only now returning to “normal,” and the once-trustworthy used market has devolved into a wasteland of abused mining cards and 10-year-old cards fetching five times the previous price.
Don’t be discouraged if you want to save money by purchasing a few generations behind the latest. The GTX 1080-Ti may still be a good buy. Rumor has it that the 1080-Ti will be reintroduced, which means you won’t have to buy a used GPU for much longer. I remember when the GTX 1080-Ti was the god of NVIDIA GPUs, and owning one made you quite the cool person. So, with this comparison, I am attempting to answer the question. Is it worth the nostalgia of owning one of the best GPUs over owning the most recent RTX 3070?
RTX 3070 vs 1080 Ti: Side-by-Side Comparison
| RTX 3070 | GTX 1080-Ti | |
|---|---|---|
| Release Date: | September 17, 2020 | March 10, 2017 |
| Original MSRP: | $499 | $699 |
| Actual Price Today: | ≈ $615 | ≈ $450-$1,099(New) |
| CUDA Cores: | 5,888 | 3,584 |
| Boost Clock/ Base Clock: | 1.725GHz/1.5GHz | 1.48GHz/1.58GHz |
| VRAM: | 8GB GDDR6 | 11 GB GDDR5X |
| Memory Interface: | 256 Bit | 352 Bit |
| TDP: | 220W | 250W |
RTX 3070 vs 1080 Ti: What’s the Difference?
Gaming Efficiency
Given that the GTX 1080-Ti is two generations behind the RTX 3070 in terms of technology, we’ll look at the performance results for gaming 3D rendering and a synthetic stress test via 3DMark.
Starting with the most important test, we will examine four games. All of these will be compared in 1080p. Normally, we look at 1440p results, but 1440p wasn’t as popular when the GTX 10808-Ti was released.
So, look at these results and remember that these cards are three years apart. Although the RTX 3070 outperforms the GTX 1080-Ti in all of these games, they are all playable at ultra settings. If you want to play games in 1440p or push into 4k, a GTX 1080-Ti will not be an option.
The four letters DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling), which have made Nvidia’s new GPUs an incredibly powerful choice for gaming, allow the GPU to boost performance by 30 to 50% without sacrificing image quality. This feature is available on the RTX 3070 but not on the GTX 1080-Ti, making higher-resolution gaming even more enjoyable on the 3070.
3D Rendering Performance
Both cards have proven their worth in gaming, but now we must consider creative programs. In this test, we’ll look at each card’s score after rendering three scenes in Blender.
The RTX 3070 completely outperforms the GTX 1080-Ti in this test. This is primarily due to the RTX 3070’s newer architecture and higher base clock/turbo clock. After comparing these two for 3D rendering, the choice is clear: go with the RTX 3070. Unless you want to save all your renders overnight and return to them a couple of days later, you will have a better time rendering.
The RTX architecture will outperform the older GTX models in Adobe Creative Suite. If you want to buy a generation later, I recommend the RTX 2000 series cards over the GTX 1080-Ti.
3DMark Benchmark Performance
The final performance test we’ll look at is 3DMark’s Timespy benchmark. This stress test determines how well a computer can handle a heavy load. These results are from 3DMark’s leaderboard in PCs with only one card installed and not overclocked.
These last two performance results demonstrate how far Nvidia’s GPUs have advanced in three years. Having said that, the GTX 1080-Ti’s numbers are still quite impressive compared to a modern-day GPU. However, performance is everything. Thermal capability and power are critical considerations.
Thermals and power
One of the reasons you might consider a GTX 1080-Ti is to build a small form factor PC with a capable GPU that doesn’t produce much heat.
ITX enthusiasts will adore the GTX 1080-Ti. The founder’s edition is well-known for its performance in small form factors. The RTX 3070, on the other hand, can be quite suffocated and suffer from thermal throttling quickly and depending on the model, it will not even fit in an ITX case. Read More; NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 vs RTX 2060: The Difference
RTX 3070 vs GTX 1080-Ti: Four Must-Know Facts
- The RTX 3070 supports DLSS or Deep Learning Super Sampling and Ray Tracing; the GTX 1080-Ti does not. DLSS allows the GPU to boost performance from 30 to 50% without losing image quality.
- Nvidia is rumored to bring the GTX 1080-Ti back into regular production.
- The GTX 1080-Ti has onboard support for DVI video signal still.
- The RTX 3070 runs on PCI Gen 4.0, and the GTX 1080-Ti runs on PCI Gen 3.0.
NVIDIA GEFORCE GTX 1080 Ti – FE Founders Edition (Renewed)
- Package Weight, 1.926 kilograms
- Package Dimensions, 9.5 L x 32.8 H x 17.6 W (centimeters)
$599.99 Buy on Amazon
RTX 3070 vs 1080-Ti: Who Wins?
So the question is, which card should you buy: the RTX 3070 or the GTX 1080-Ti? This would be a different conversation if not for the GPU shortage and scalping craze. Because a new GTX 1080-Ti costs roughly the same as an RTX 3080-Ti, it’s difficult to justify buying a GTX 1080-Ti over an RTX 3070.
Only in two cases would I recommend the GTX 1080-Ti over the RTX 3070: for a small form factor or for someone who still requires a DVI port on their GPU. Even though DVI may appear to be a dead signal type, it is still in use today. Situation number two is if you can find a killer deal on it or they finally drop their scarcity prices. However, its current price will almost always be a pass.
Overall, purchasing a GTX 1080-Ti would be more of a nostalgia trip than anything else. Who can say? It could become a collector’s item one day! Read Also; Nvidia RTX 2080 Super vs 3070: Full Comparison
RTX 3070 vs 1080-Ti: FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
How much better is 3070 than 1080 TI?
In 1080p gaming, the two are relatively competitive, but in creative workstation uses and simulated stress tests, the RTX 3070 blows the GTX 1080-Ti out of the water.
How much do the RTX 3070 and GTX 1080 ti cost?
The RTX 3070 originally cost $499, but it is now available for around $615. The GTX 1080-Ti originally cost $699, but it is now available for around $450 or $1,099.
What features should I look for in an RTX 3070 and GTX 1080 ti?
The RTX 3070’s standout features are DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) and Ray Tracing. The GTX 1080-Ti has a DVI port, making it more backward compatible and a lower operating temperature, making it easier to run in small form factor cases.
When were the RTX 3070 and GTX 1080 ti released?
The RTX 3070 was released on 9/17/2020, and the GTX 1080-Ti was released on 3/10/2017.
