RTX 4080 Vs 4090 – Check Which One Is Best & Why?

Computer Accessories

RTX 4080 & 4090 share many similarities, but there are also important differences, such as quality, performance, features,  and connectivity. If you want the best one between them, I Would recommend the RTX 4090 rather than the RTX 4080.

Why Do I Recommend The Nvidia RTX 4090

  • The RTX 4090’s 16,384 CUDA cores boost in processing power for smooth frame rates, rendering large scenes, executing complex simulations & efficiently handling multiple tasks at once compared to the RTX 4080’s 9,728.
  • Its 24 GB of GDDR6X memory & 1,008 GB/s bandwidth significantly handle large datasets, 3D rendering, and 8K video editing, whereas the RTX 4080’s 16 GB and 716.8 GB/s may struggle.
  • Nvidia RTX 4090’s 128 Ray Tracing cores and 512 Tensor Cores give it a substantial edge in ray-traced gaming and AI-driven tasks (e.g., DLSS). In contrast, the RTX 4080 provides a lower performance threshold.
  • The RTX 4090 has 33.75 TFLOPS higher floating-point, which translates into superior computational power for handling complex tasks such as deep learning, AI, and gaming with advanced ray-tracing features compared to the RTX 4080.
  • It has 1290 GTexels/s texture fillrate, providing significantly faster texture processing capability for rendering detailed scenes, high-resolution textures, and graphical applications, while RTX 4080 has 763.04 GTexels/s.

Maybe the RTX 4080 price can make you comfortable because it’s a little bit cheaper than the RTX 4090. But you have to compromise all the above-mentioned features. Now the Decision is Yours. I hope it was helpful to choose the right one.

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Side By Side Comparison

Feature Nvidia RTX 4090 Nvidia RTX 4080
GPU Architecture Ada Lovelace (AD102) Ada Lovelace (AD103)
CUDA Cores 16,384 9,728
Base Clock Speed 2.23 GHz 2.21 GHz
Boost Clock Speed 2.52 GHz 2.51 GHz
VRAM (Video Memory) 24 GB GDDR6X 16 GB GDDR6X
Memory Interface Width 384-bit 256-bit
Memory Bandwidth 1,008 GB/s 716.8 GB/s
Texture Mapping Units (TMUs) 512 304
ROP Units 176 112
Ray Tracing Cores 128 76
Tensor Cores 512 304
Shader Units 16,384 9,728
Die Size 608 mm² 379 mm²
Transistors 76.3 billion 45.9 billion
TDP 450W 320W
Power Supply Requirement 850W or higher 750W or higher
Max Number of Displays 4 4
Ray Tracing Performance Ultra High
DLSS Support DLSS 3 DLSS 3
Gaming Performance (4K) Outstanding Excellent
AI and Machine Learning Tasks Superior performance Strong performance
Rendering Performance Extremely fast Fast
Price Check RTX 4090 Price Check RTX 4080 Price

What Common Both Can Do?

  • Ada Lovelace Architecture: Both the RTX 4080 and RTX 4090 are built on Nvidia’s latest Ada Lovelace architecture, which brings significant advancements in performance and power efficiency compared to previous generations. This architecture includes improvements in ray tracing, AI processing, and power consumption, making both GPUs highly capable of handling the latest games and professional workloads.
  • GDDR6X Memory Type: Both GPUs use GDDR6X memory, which is among the fastest memory types available for consumer GPUs. This allows for quick data access and smooth performance in memory-intensive applications such as gaming at 4K/8K resolutions, video editing, and 3D rendering.
  • DLSS 3 and Ray Tracing Support: DLSS 3 is Nvidia’s latest AI-powered upscaling technology, supported by both GPUs. It helps boost frame rates in graphically demanding games while maintaining high visual quality. Both GPUs also excel in real-time ray tracing, providing realistic lighting, reflections, and shadows for an immersive gaming experience.
  • PCIe 4.0 Compatibility: Both the RTX 4080 and RTX 4090 support PCIe 4.0, ensuring fast data transfer rates between the GPU and the system. PCIe 4.0 is the current standard for high-end gaming and workstation PCs, offering plenty of bandwidth for these powerful GPUs.
  • 8K Resolution Support: Both cards support 8K resolution (7680×4320), making them future-proof for gamers and content creators working with ultra-high-definition displays. While the RTX 4090 handles 8K gaming more smoothly, the RTX 4080 is also capable, especially with the help of DLSS.
  • DisplayPort 1.4a and HDMI 2.1: Both GPUs come equipped with DisplayPort 1.4a and HDMI 2.1, providing high bandwidth and support for the latest display technologies. These standards allow for high frame rates and resolutions, such as 4K at 120Hz and 8K at 60Hz, ensuring compatibility with modern monitors and TVs.
  • NVENC (8th Generation): Nvidia’s 8th generation NVENC encoder is included in both cards, allowing for high-quality video encoding. This is particularly useful for content creators and streamers who want to record or stream gameplay at high resolutions (4K/8K) with minimal performance impact.
  • Tensor Cores for AI and Machine Learning: Both the RTX 4080 and RTX 4090 are equipped with Tensor Cores, which accelerate AI and machine learning tasks. These cores are especially important for features like DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling), which uses AI to upscale lower resolution images in real-time, delivering better performance in gaming without compromising on visual quality. The Tensor Cores also enable these GPUs to excel in AI workloads, such as neural network training and inferencing.
  • Nvidia G-Sync Compatibility: Both GPUs are Nvidia G-Sync compatible, which means they can synchronize their frame output with compatible monitors. This eliminates screen tearing and reduces input lag, offering a smoother and more responsive gaming experience, particularly for competitive players or those with high-refresh-rate displays.
  • Resizable BAR Support: Both the RTX 4080 and RTX 4090 support Resizable BAR, a feature that allows the CPU to access the GPU’s full memory, improving performance in certain games. This technology ensures that games and applications can fully utilize the available resources for smoother and more efficient performance.
  • AV1 Decode and Encode Support: The inclusion of AV1 encode and decode support in both GPUs is a major advantage for content creators and streamers. AV1 is a modern video codec that offers better compression efficiency than older standards like H.264 and H.265, allowing for high-quality streaming at lower bitrates, which is especially beneficial for live streamers and video editors working in 4K and 8K.

Common Features

Feature Nvidia RTX 4090 Nvidia RTX 4080
GPU Architecture Ada Lovelace (5nm) Ada Lovelace (5nm)
Memory Type GDDR6X GDDR6X
Ray Tracing Support Yes (DLSS 3) Yes (DLSS 3)
PCIe Version PCIe 4.0 PCIe 4.0
Maximum Display Resolution 8K (7680×4320) 8K (7680×4320)
Number of Displays Supported 4 4
DirectX 12 Ultimate Support Yes Yes
Vulkan API Support Yes Yes
Tensor Cores for AI Yes Yes
Nvidia Reflex Support Yes Yes
NVENC Encoding 8th Generation NVENC 8th Generation NVENC
Real-Time Ray Tracing Yes Yes
Cooling System Air-cooled, triple fan design Air-cooled, triple fan design
SLI Support No No
DisplayPort Version DisplayPort 1.4a DisplayPort 1.4a
HDMI Version HDMI 2.1 HDMI 2.1
Power Connector Type 16-pin PCIe Gen 5 16-pin PCIe Gen 5
Nvidia Broadcast Yes Yes
Ansel and Nvidia Studio Support Yes Yes
Resizable BAR Support Yes Yes
Virtual Reality (VR) Ready Yes Yes
DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) DLSS 3 DLSS 3
AV1 Decode and Encode Support Yes Yes
Nvidia G-Sync Compatibility Yes Yes
VRAM Type GDDR6X GDDR6X
Price Check RTX 4090 Price Check RTX 4080 Price

FAQ

Q: Do both GPUs support DLSS 3 and ray tracing?
A: Yes, both the RTX 4080 and RTX 4090 support DLSS 3 and real-time ray tracing. These technologies enhance gaming performance by using AI to upscale lower-resolution images while providing realistic lighting and shadow effects through ray tracing.

Q: Which GPU is better for 4K and 8K gaming?
A: Both GPUs are highly capable of 4K gaming, but the RTX 4090 is better suited for 8K gaming due to its additional memory, CUDA cores, and higher memory bandwidth. While the RTX 4080 can handle 8K gaming with DLSS, the RTX 4090 delivers smoother gameplay and higher frame rates.

Q: How much power do I need for the RTX 4080 and RTX 4090?
A: The RTX 4080 requires a power supply of 750W or higher, while the RTX 4090 requires 850W or higher. The RTX 4090 consumes more power due to its higher performance potential, and users should ensure they have a robust PSU and proper cooling.

Q: Do both cards support PCIe 4.0?
A: Yes, both the RTX 4080 and RTX 4090 are compatible with PCIe 4.0, providing high data transfer speeds between the GPU and the motherboard. This is the current standard for high-performance systems and ensures that both cards can perform optimally.

Q: Are both GPUs VR-ready?
A: Yes, both the RTX 4080 and RTX 4090 are VR-ready, offering excellent performance for virtual reality applications. They can handle high-fidelity VR gaming with reduced latency, high frame rates, and support for ray tracing and DLSS to enhance the visual experience.

Q: What kind of cooling system do these GPUs use?
A: Both the RTX 4080 and RTX 4090 use a triple fan air-cooling system. This design ensures effective heat dissipation, even under heavy workloads, such as gaming or rendering, maintaining stable performance and preventing overheating.

Q: Do these GPUs support multi-display setups?
A: Yes, both GPUs can support up to four displays simultaneously, making them suitable for multi-monitor configurations. This is beneficial for gamers, content creators, and professionals who require multiple screens for productivity or immersive gaming experiences.

Q: Are both cards compatible with DirectX 12 Ultimate?
A: Yes, both the RTX 4080 and RTX 4090 are fully compatible with DirectX 12 Ultimate, enabling advanced gaming features such as ray tracing, variable-rate shading, and mesh shading for modern games.

Q: Which GPU should I choose for AI and machine learning tasks?
A: While both GPUs have Tensor Cores for AI and machine learning tasks, the RTX 4090 is the better choice due to its higher core count and memory bandwidth. It offers superior performance for deep learning, neural network training, and other AI workloads.

Q: Are both GPUs suitable for content creation and streaming?
A: Yes, both the RTX 4080 and RTX 4090 are excellent for content creation and streaming. They feature Nvidia’s 8th generation NVENC encoder, AV1 support, and Nvidia Broadcast tools, which enhance video quality, reduce noise, and provide features like virtual backgrounds, making them ideal for professional creators.

Q: Do both GPUs support Nvidia G-Sync?
A: Yes, both the RTX 4080 and RTX 4090 are G-Sync compatible, which helps reduce screen tearing and stuttering during gameplay by synchronizing the display’s refresh rate with the GPU’s frame output, providing a smoother gaming experience.

Q: Are these cards future-proof for 8K resolution and beyond?
A: Both GPUs are designed with 8K resolution support, making them future-proof for ultra-high-definition gaming and content creation. While the RTX 4090 is better suited for 8K gaming due to its higher performance, both cards are capable of handling future display technologies.

Q: Do both the RTX 4080 and RTX 4090 support AV1 encoding and decoding?
A: Yes, both cards support AV1 encoding and decoding, which is a more efficient codec for streaming and video editing. AV1 offers better compression and video quality at lower bitrates compared to older codecs like H.264 and H.265, making it beneficial for streamers and video creators.

Q: Can I use these GPUs for professional applications like 3D rendering and video editing?
A: Yes, both the RTX 4080 and RTX 4090 are excellent for professional applications like 3D rendering, video editing, and animation. They are supported by Nvidia Studio drivers, which optimize performance in creative applications such as Adobe Premiere Pro, Blender, and Autodesk Maya. The RTX 4090 offers better performance in these tasks due to its higher CUDA core count and memory bandwidth.

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