Among the previous generations of graphics cards that Nvidia has released, the RTX 2080 series has always been a very "special" existence.
Although the card has been on the market for a long time and lags behind in all aspects of craftsmanship, it is strong enough to stand out from the entry-level models of the RTX 30 and RTX 40 series graphics cards (see the image below), and as such, it has been popular in the second-hand market for many years.
Objectively speaking, if the requirements are not too high, the performance of the GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER is still enough to run most mainstream games smoothly without problems. In this article, we'll compare the gaming performance of the GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER and GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER, two next-generation "SUPER" series graphics cards.
1. Parameter comparison
GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER was released on July 23, 2019, with a TU104 GPU, based on the Turing architecture, TSMC's 12nm process, with 3072 CUDA cores, 192 texture units, 64 raster units, 48 ray tracing units, 48 multi-unit stream processors, 384 tensor cores, and 4MB of L2-level cache.
It runs at 1650 MHz as standard, 1815 MHz at its highest speed, 8GB of GDDR6 memory, 15.5 Gbps memory speed, 256 bit memory bit width, 495.9GB/s memory bandwidth, 250W power consumption, and a suggested retail price of $699.
Released on January 8, 2024, the GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER is powered by the AD103 GPU, based on the Ada Lovelace architecture, TSMC's 5nm process, and has 10,240 CUDA cores, 80 ray tracing units, 112 raster units, 320 texture units, 320 tensor cores, 80 multi-unit stream processors, and 64MB L2 cache.
It runs at 2295 MHz as standard, 2550 MHz as it operates at a maximum frequency, and is equipped with 16GB of GDDR6X memory memory with 256 bit bit width, 23 Gbps memory speed, 736.3GB/s memory bandwidth, 52.22 TFLOPS FP32 floating-point performance, 320W power consumption, and a suggested retail price of $999.
Second, the test platform configuration
The main configurations are as follows:
The processor is Core i9-13900K, the motherboard is ASUS ROG Strix Z790-E Gaming, the memory is 32GB DDR5 6000MHz, the hard disk is two Samsung 970, and the operating system is Windows 11.
3. Game measurement
Seven games will be tested separately below, all in 1440p quality, with the GeForce RTX 2080 on the left and the GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER on the right.
The first game was Alan Wake 2.
The GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER platform has an average frame rate of 13 FPS, a minimum instantaneous frame rate of 7 FPS, a frame time of 75.5ms, a CPU usage of 6%, a power consumption of 44W, a temperature of 44 degrees, a memory usage of 13.2GB, a GPU usage of 98%, a video memory usage of 7.8GB, a power consumption of 178W, and a temperature of 53 degrees.
The GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER platform has an average frame rate of 57 FPS, a minimum instantaneous frame rate of 49 FPS, a frame time of 18.0ms, a CPU usage of 6%, a power consumption of 45W, a temperature of 41 degrees, a memory usage of 10.6GB, a GPU usage of 99%, a video memory usage of 11.6GB, a power consumption of 279W, and a temperature of 58 degrees.
In this game, the CPU usage of both platforms is equal, at 6%, the memory usage of the GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER platform is 2.6GB lower than that of the rival, the GPU usage is basically the same, and the video memory usage is 3.8GB higher, and the video memory of the GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER platform is clearly insufficient.
In terms of average frame rate, the GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER platform can only run around 13 FPS and exceed 70ms frame time, while the GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER platform performs very steadily, but the power consumption is 101W higher and the temperature is 5 degrees higher.
The second game is Cyberpunk 2077.
The GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER platform has an average frame rate of 39 FPS, a minimum instantaneous frame rate of 30 FPS, a frame time of 24.7ms, a CPU usage of 25%, a power consumption of 81W, a temperature of 52 degrees, a memory usage of 11.4GB, a GPU usage of 99%, a video memory usage of 7.5GB, a power consumption of 204W, and a temperature of 55 degrees.
The GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER platform has an average frame rate of 106 FPS, a minimum instantaneous frame rate of 77 FPS, a frame time of 9.0ms, a CPU usage of 48%, a power consumption of 107W, a temperature of 55 degrees, a memory usage of 11.0GB, a GPU usage of 98%, a video memory usage of 8.6GB, a power consumption of 293W, and a temperature of 58 degrees.
In this game, the GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER platform has 23% higher CPU usage than its rivals, nearly twice as much, 0.4GB less memory usage, roughly equal GPU usage, and 1.1GB more video memory usage.
In terms of average frame rate, the GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER platform is 67 FPS higher than the GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER platform, about 2.7 (2.71) times, the lowest instantaneous frame rate is about 2.6 (2.56) times, and the frame time is equivalent to 36% of the opponent's, which is a huge advantage, but the power consumption is 89W higher and the temperature is 3 degrees higher.
The third game is Red Dead Redemption 2.
The GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER platform has an average frame rate of 66 FPS, a minimum instantaneous frame rate of 61 FPS, a frame time of 13.4ms, a CPU usage of 20%, a power consumption of 63W, a temperature of 46 degrees, a memory usage of 14.2GB, a GPU usage of 97%, a video memory usage of 5.3GB, a power consumption of 226W, and a temperature of 56 degrees.
The GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER platform has an average frame rate of 149 FPS, a minimum instantaneous frame rate of 116 FPS, a frame time of 6.4ms, CPU usage of 37%, power consumption of 89W, temperature of 49 degrees, memory usage of 16.0GB, GPU usage of 91%, video memory usage of 6.2GB, power consumption of 273W, and temperature of 59 degrees.
In this game, the GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER platform uses 17% more CPU, 1.8GB more memory, 6% lower GPU usage, and 0.9GB more memory than its rivals.
In terms of average frame rate, the GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER platform is 83 FPS higher than the GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER platform, about 2.3 (2.25) times, and the lowest instantaneous frame rate is about 1.9 (1.90) times, which is equivalent to 48% of the opponent's frame time.
While the advantage isn't as big as the previous one, it's the result of GPU usage that's 6% lower than its rivals, and the GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER still has some reservations for performance, with 47W more power and 3 degrees more temperature than its rivals.
The fourth game is Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora.
The GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER platform has an average frame rate of 34 FPS, a minimum instantaneous frame rate of 27 FPS, a frame time of 29.8ms, a CPU usage of 7%, a power consumption of 48W, a temperature of 42 degrees, a memory usage of 17.5GB, a GPU usage of 99%, a video memory usage of 7.6GB, a power consumption of 243W, and a temperature of 62 degrees.
The GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER platform has an average frame rate of 84 FPS, a minimum instantaneous frame rate of 68 FPS, a frame time of 11.7ms, a CPU usage of 13%, a power consumption of 66W, a temperature of 45 degrees, a memory usage of 16.8GB, a GPU usage of 99%, a video memory usage of 13.5GB, a power consumption of 297W, and a temperature of 59 degrees.
In this game, the GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER platform has 6% higher CPU usage than its rivals, and it is also nearly twice as much, with 0.7GB less memory usage, equal GPU usage, and 6.9GB more video memory usage.
In terms of average frame rate, the GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER platform is 50 FPS higher than the GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER platform, about 2.5 (2.47) times, the lowest instantaneous frame rate is about 2.5 (2.51) times, the frame time is equivalent to 39% of the opponent's, the power consumption is 54W higher, and the temperature is 3 degrees lower.
The fifth game is Forza Horizon 5.
The GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER platform has an average frame rate of 77 FPS, a minimum instantaneous frame rate of 70 FPS, a frame time of 12.5ms, an 8% CPU usage, a power consumption of 51W, a temperature of 42 degrees, a memory usage of 12.0GB, a GPU usage of 99%, a video memory usage of 7.8GB, a power consumption of 208W, and a temperature of 59 degrees.
The GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER platform has an average frame rate of 169 FPS, a minimum instantaneous frame rate of 150 FPS, a frame time of 6.2ms, a CPU usage of 15%, a power consumption of 72W, a temperature of 47 degrees, a memory usage of 12.2GB, a GPU usage of 98%, a video memory usage of 8.7GB, a power consumption of 257W, and a temperature of 59 degrees.
In this game, the GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER platform has 7% higher CPU usage than its rivals, which is also nearly twice as much, with 0.2GB more memory usage, GPU usage is basically equal, and video memory usage is 0.9GB higher, and the GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER platform is also strapped for video memory.
In terms of average frame rate, the GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER platform is 92 FPS higher than the GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER platform, about 2.2 (2.19) times, the lowest instantaneous frame rate is about 2.1 (2.14) times, the frame time is 50% of the opponent's, and the power consumption is 49W higher and the temperature is equal.
The sixth game is Hogwarts Legacy.
The GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER platform has an average frame rate of 31 FPS, a minimum instantaneous frame rate of 27 FPS, a frame time of 30.7ms, a CPU usage of 7%, a power consumption of 43W, a temperature of 41 degrees, a memory usage of 22.0GB, a GPU usage of 99%, a video memory usage of 7.1GB, a power consumption of 246W, and a temperature of 62 degrees.
The GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER platform has an average frame rate of 74 FPS, a minimum instantaneous frame rate of 65 FPS, a frame time of 13.2ms, a CPU usage of 13%, a power consumption of 61W, a temperature of 45 degrees, a memory usage of 21.5GB, a GPU usage of 99%, a video memory usage of 11.4GB, a power consumption of 266W, and a temperature of 60 degrees.
In this game, the GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER platform has 6% higher CPU usage than its rivals, which is also nearly twice as much, 0.5GB less memory usage, equal GPU usage, and 4.3GB more video memory usage.
In terms of average frame rate, the GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER platform is 43 FPS higher than the GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER platform, about 2.4 (2.38) times, the lowest instantaneous frame rate is about 2.4 (2.40) times, the frame time is equivalent to 43% of the opponent's, the power consumption is 20W higher, and the temperature is 2 degrees lower.
The seventh game is Starfield.
The GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER platform has an average frame rate of 36 FPS, a minimum instantaneous frame rate of 29 FPS, a frame time of 25.6ms, a CPU usage of 16%, a power consumption of 59W, a temperature of 43 degrees, a memory usage of 13.7GB, a GPU usage of 99%, a video memory usage of 6.0GB, a power consumption of 206W, and a temperature of 55 degrees.
The GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER platform has an average frame rate of 96 FPS, a minimum instantaneous frame rate of 51 FPS, a frame time of 11.0ms, CPU usage of 39%, power consumption of 100W, temperature of 51 degrees, memory usage of 15.4GB, GPU usage of 98%, video memory usage of 6.8GB, power consumption of 260W, and temperature of 58 degrees.
In this game, the GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER platform has 23% higher CPU usage than its rivals, which is already more than twice as much, 1.7GB more memory usage, almost equal GPU usage, and 0.8GB more video memory.
In terms of average frame rate, the GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER platform is 60 FPS higher than the GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER platform, about 2.7 (2.66) times, the lowest instantaneous frame rate is about 1.8 (1.75) times, the frame time is equivalent to 43% of the opponent, the power consumption is 54W, and the temperature is 3 degrees higher.
Fourth, comparative conclusions
Overall, the performance of the veteran GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER is still positive, and even at 1440p quality, the average frame rate can run above 30 FPS except for the first game, which is basically smooth.
However, compared to the GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER, the GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER can use nearly twice as much CPU usage as the GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER in most cases.
Taking the average frame rate of the second to seventh games combined, the overall performance of the GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER is about 2.5 (2.47) times that of the GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER, which is the conclusion of this article.
Overall, the GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER barely has another year or two to fight, and is close to the brink of obsolescence, so it's not recommended to buy it if the price isn't particularly cheap, but the GeForce RTX 2080 Ti 11GB with a higher performance level can still be considered.