GTX 1080 vs L4

PascalvsAda LovelaceUpdated 36 days ago

The L4 emerges as the superior choice for most common use cases like AI training and inference. Its 121 TFLOPS FP16, 24 GB VRAM, and 72W TDP provide overwhelming advantages over GTX 1080's 8.9 TFLOPS and 8 to 11 GB, despite slightly higher average pricing of $0.68 per hour. Legacy tasks aside, L4's modern architecture dominates contemporary cloud GPU demands.

GTX 1080 from $0.30/hrL4 from $0.33/hr

Specifications Compared

SpecGTX-1080L4
TDP180W72W
VRAM8-11 GB24 GB
CUDA Cores2,5607,424
Memory TypeGDDR5XGDDR6
ArchitecturePascalAda Lovelace
Form FactorsPCIePCIe
InterconnectPCIe 4.0
FP16 Performance8.9 TFLOPS121 TFLOPS
FP32 Performance8.9 TFLOPS30.3 TFLOPS
Memory Bandwidth320 GB/s300 GB/s

Performance Analysis

The L4 vastly outperforms the GTX 1080 in compute capabilities critical for machine learning: its 121 TFLOPS FP16 dwarfs the GTX 1080's 8.9 TFLOPS, accelerating training and inference tasks that leverage half-precision arithmetic. Similarly, 30.3 TFLOPS FP32 on L4 exceeds GTX 1080's 8.9 TFLOPS, benefiting single-precision scientific simulations. The L4's 242 TFLOPS FP8 further optimizes low-precision inference for large language models.

Memory capacity defines workload feasibility: L4's 24 GB GDDR6 supports larger batch sizes and models compared to GTX 1080's 8 to 11 GB GDDR5X limit, reducing out-of-memory errors in deep learning. Bandwidth remains close at 300 GB/s for L4 versus 320 GB/s for GTX 1080, so data transfer rates favor GTX 1080 slightly for bandwidth-bound tasks, but L4's higher VRAM dominates for memory-intensive applications. Lower 72W TDP on L4 enhances power efficiency over GTX 1080's 180W, lowering operational costs in dense cloud environments.

These specs translate to real-world gains: L4 handles contemporary AI pipelines with larger datasets, while GTX 1080 suits lighter legacy workloads.

Live Cloud Pricing

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

GTX 1080

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

L4

ProviderGPU ModelVRAMHost SpecsRegionPriceStatusAction
Vast.ai
Vast.ai
NVIDIA L4
24GB VRAM
$0.33/GPU/hr
Available
RunPod
RunPod
NVIDIA L4
24GB VRAM
$0.39/GPU/hr
TensorDock
TensorDock
NVIDIA L40S
48GB VRAM
$0.55/GPU/hr
Available
RunPod
RunPod
NVIDIA L40
48GB VRAM
$0.82/GPU/hr
RunPod
RunPod
NVIDIA L40S
48GB VRAM
$0.86/GPU/hr

Compare real-time pricing across 25+ providers

When to Choose the GTX 1080

Opt for the GTX 1080 in scenarios demanding high memory bandwidth on a tight budget. Its 320 GB/s exceeds L4's 300 GB/s, benefiting bandwidth-sensitive tasks like certain gaming simulations or older FP32-only applications where 8.9 TFLOPS matches needs without excess. Average cloud pricing of $0.45 per hour across available offers undercuts L4's $0.68 per hour average, ideal for cost-sensitive, non-AI compute.

Legacy software compatibility favors GTX 1080, as Pascal drivers support many pre-2020 workloads without Ada-specific optimizations.

When to Choose the L4

Choose the L4 for modern AI and machine learning workloads requiring substantial VRAM and precision performance. Its 24 GB capacity enables training or inferring larger models than GTX 1080's 8 to 11 GB allows, while 121 TFLOPS FP16 and 242 TFLOPS FP8 deliver superior speed for inference. The 72W TDP ensures better efficiency than 180W on GTX 1080, suiting prolonged cloud runs.

Abundant availability with 15 live offers makes L4 practical for scalable deployments.

Use Cases

LLM Training
L4

L4's 121 TFLOPS FP16 and 24 GB VRAM handle large-scale training batches far better than GTX 1080's 8.9 TFLOPS and 8 to 11 GB. Higher FP32 at 30.3 TFLOPS supports extended sessions efficiently.

LLM Inference
L4

L4 excels with 242 TFLOPS FP8 and 121 TFLOPS FP16 for fast, low-precision serving, plus 24 GB VRAM for model hosting. GTX 1080's limited 8.9 TFLOPS FP16 restricts throughput.

Fine-tuning
L4

24 GB VRAM on L4 accommodates bigger models during fine-tuning, with 30.3 TFLOPS FP32 outperforming GTX 1080's 8.9 TFLOPS. Efficiency from 72W TDP reduces costs.

Stable Diffusion
L4

L4's 24 GB VRAM supports high-resolution image generation without swapping, leveraging 121 TFLOPS FP16. GTX 1080's 8 to 11 GB limits output quality and speed.

Scientific Computing
L4

L4's 30.3 TFLOPS FP32 and 300 GB/s bandwidth outperform GTX 1080 in simulations, with lower 72W TDP for sustained runs. Extra VRAM aids complex datasets.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which GPU has more VRAM?

The L4 provides 24 GB GDDR6 VRAM, surpassing the GTX 1080's 8 to 11 GB GDDR5X. This enables L4 to manage larger AI models and batch sizes without memory constraints.

How do their FP16 performances compare?

L4 delivers 121 TFLOPS FP16, over 13 times the GTX 1080's 8.9 TFLOPS. This gap accelerates machine learning training and inference significantly on L4.

What are the cloud pricing differences?

GTX 1080 starts at $0.30 per hour averaging $0.45 per hour across 2 offers, while L4 begins at $0.32 per hour averaging $0.68 per hour across 15 offers. L4 offers more availability despite higher average cost.

Which is more power efficient?

L4 consumes 72W TDP compared to GTX 1080's 180W, making it far more efficient for cloud deployments. Lower power reduces heat and operational expenses.

Is memory bandwidth better on GTX 1080?

GTX 1080 achieves 320 GB/s bandwidth versus L4's 300 GB/s. This slight edge benefits specific data-transfer heavy tasks on the older GPU.

What architectures do they use?

GTX 1080 uses Pascal from 2016, while L4 employs Ada Lovelace from 2023. The seven-year advancement gives L4 superior AI features like FP8 support at 242 TFLOPS.

Which is cheaper to rent, the GTX 1080 or the L4?

Cloud rental prices for both the GTX 1080 and L4 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 L4?

The GTX 1080 has 8 to 11 GB of GDDR5X memory. The L4 has 24 GB of GDDR6 memory.

Can I find GTX 1080 and L4 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 L4?

The GTX 1080 uses the Pascal architecture (2016) while the L4 uses Ada Lovelace (2023). The L4 delivers 13.6x the FP16 throughput and 1.1x the memory bandwidth of the GTX 1080.

GTX 1080 vs L4: 13.6x FP16 Gap, 24GB vs 11GB | GPUPerHour