GTX 1080 Ti vs RTX 3080

PascalvsAmpereUpdated 35 days ago

The RTX 3080 emerges as the clear winner for most cloud GPU use cases. It delivers 29.8 TFLOPS versus 8.9 TFLOPS on the GTX 1080 Ti, a 3.4 times performance edge, at an average $0.17 per hour compared to $0.60. This combination prioritizes high-throughput machine learning over legacy constraints.

GTX 1080 Ti from $0.30/hr

Specifications Compared

SpecGTX-1080RTX-3080
TDP180W320W
VRAM8-11 GB10-12 GB
CUDA Cores2,5608,704
Memory TypeGDDR5XGDDR6X
ArchitecturePascalAmpere
Form FactorsPCIePCIe
Interconnect
FP16 Performance8.9 TFLOPS29.8 TFLOPS
FP32 Performance8.9 TFLOPS29.8 TFLOPS
Memory Bandwidth320 GB/s760 GB/s

Performance Analysis

The RTX 3080 outperforms the GTX 1080 Ti significantly in compute capabilities: 29.8 TFLOPS FP16 and FP32 compared to 8.9 TFLOPS. This nearly 3.4 times higher throughput accelerates machine learning training and inference workloads substantially. Training large models benefits from the Ampere architecture's efficiency, reducing epoch times proportionally to the TFLOPS delta.

Memory bandwidth presents a key differentiator: 760 GB/s on the RTX 3080 versus 320 GB/s on the GTX 1080 Ti. Higher bandwidth supports larger batch sizes in data-intensive tasks like LLM fine-tuning, minimizing bottlenecks during data transfers. Inference at scale favors the RTX 3080, as it handles higher throughput without memory starvation.

Power consumption affects deployment density: the GTX 1080 Ti's 180W TDP allows more units per host than the RTX 3080's 320W. However, the RTX 3080's superior specs yield better overall efficiency in modern workloads.

Live Cloud Pricing

Real-time prices from 25+ providers. Updated every 60 seconds.

GTX 1080 Ti

ProviderGPU ModelVRAMHost SpecsRegionPriceStatusAction
LeaderGPU
LeaderGPU
4×NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080
8GB VRAM
$0.30/GPU/hr
$1.20/hr total (4×)
Available
LeaderGPU
LeaderGPU
8×NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti
11GB VRAM
$0.60/GPU/hr
$4.80/hr total (8×)
Available

Compare real-time pricing across 25+ providers

When to Choose the GTX 1080 Ti

The GTX 1080 Ti suits power-constrained environments: its 180W TDP enables denser deployments compared to the RTX 3080's 320W. Legacy applications optimized for Pascal architecture may run more stably on the GTX 1080 Ti without recompilation needs.

Small-scale inference with batch sizes under hardware limits favors the GTX 1080 Ti, where its 320 GB/s bandwidth suffices and 8-11 GB VRAM handles modest models.

When to Choose the RTX 3080

The RTX 3080 excels in demanding machine learning tasks due to 29.8 TFLOPS FP16/FP32 performance, over three times the GTX 1080 Ti's 8.9 TFLOPS. Its 760 GB/s bandwidth supports large batch sizes in training and inference.

Cost efficiency drives selection: RTX 3080 averages $0.17 per hour across six offers, versus $0.60 for GTX 1080 Ti. Modern software leverages Ampere for faster execution.

Use Cases

LLM Training
RTX 3080

RTX 3080's 29.8 TFLOPS FP16/FP32 vastly outpaces GTX 1080 Ti's 8.9 TFLOPS, speeding up large model training. Higher 760 GB/s bandwidth handles massive datasets efficiently.

LLM Inference
RTX 3080

The 3.4x compute advantage of 29.8 TFLOPS enables higher query throughput on RTX 3080. Its pricing at $0.17 average per hour offers better value for scaled inference.

Fine-tuning
RTX 3080

RTX 3080 supports larger batches with 760 GB/s bandwidth versus 320 GB/s. Ampere architecture optimizes fine-tuning workflows over Pascal.

Stable Diffusion
RTX 3080

29.8 TFLOPS on RTX 3080 accelerates image generation cycles compared to 8.9 TFLOPS. 10-12 GB VRAM accommodates larger diffusion models.

Scientific Computing
Either

Light simulations fit GTX 1080 Ti's 8.9 TFLOPS and 180W TDP. Intensive HPC favors RTX 3080's 29.8 TFLOPS and bandwidth.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which GPU has higher performance: GTX 1080 Ti or RTX 3080?

The RTX 3080 achieves 29.8 TFLOPS in FP16 and FP32, over three times the GTX 1080 Ti's 8.9 TFLOPS. This translates to faster training and inference. Bandwidth also favors RTX 3080 at 760 GB/s versus 320 GB/s.

What is the price difference in cloud rentals?

GTX 1080 Ti rents from $0.60 per hour across one offer. RTX 3080 starts at $0.06 per hour, averaging $0.17 across six offers. RTX 3080 provides superior value.

Does RTX 3080 support larger models than GTX 1080 Ti?

RTX 3080 offers 10-12 GB GDDR6X VRAM and 760 GB/s bandwidth. GTX 1080 Ti has 8-11 GB GDDR5X at 320 GB/s. RTX 3080 handles bigger batches better.

Which has lower power consumption?

GTX 1080 Ti draws 180W TDP, half the RTX 3080's 320W. This suits power-limited setups. Performance per watt still favors RTX 3080.

Are these GPUs compatible with current ML frameworks?

Both support PCIe and run CUDA workloads. RTX 3080 leverages Ampere for newer TensorRT optimizations. GTX 1080 Ti works for Pascal-compatible code.

How much faster is RTX 3080 in ML training?

RTX 3080's 29.8 TFLOPS yields about 3.4 times the speed of GTX 1080 Ti's 8.9 TFLOPS in FP32 tasks. Real-world gains depend on memory usage.

Which is cheaper to rent, the GTX 1080 or the RTX 3080?

Cloud rental prices for both the GTX 1080 and RTX 3080 vary by provider, configuration, and availability. This page shows live pricing from 25+ providers updated every 60 seconds. Scroll to the Live Cloud Pricing section to compare current rates.

How much VRAM does the GTX 1080 have compared to the RTX 3080?

The GTX 1080 has 8 to 11 GB of GDDR5X memory. The RTX 3080 has 10 to 12 GB of GDDR6X memory.

Can I find GTX 1080 and RTX 3080 GPUs available to rent right now?

Yes. This page shows real-time availability across 25+ cloud GPU providers. The Live Cloud Pricing section displays only in-stock offers with current pricing.

What is the main difference between the GTX 1080 and the RTX 3080?

The GTX 1080 uses the Pascal architecture (2016) while the RTX 3080 uses Ampere (2020). The RTX 3080 delivers 3.3x the FP16 throughput and 2.4x the memory bandwidth of the GTX 1080.

GTX 1080 Ti vs RTX 3080: 3.3x FP16 Gap, 12GB vs 11GB | GPUPerHour