GTX 1080 vs RTX 2060

PascalvsTuringUpdated 35 days ago

The RTX 2060 emerges as the winner for most common cloud use cases like fine-tuning and inference. Its $0.04 per hour average pricing delivers 6.5 TFLOPS at a fraction of the GTX 1080's $0.45 per hour cost, yielding superior value despite the 37 percent flops deficit.

GTX 1080 from $0.30/hr

Specifications Compared

SpecGTX-1080RTX-2060
TDP180W160W
VRAM8-11 GB6-12 GB
CUDA Cores2,5601,920
Memory TypeGDDR5XGDDR6
ArchitecturePascalTuring
Form FactorsPCIePCIe
Interconnect
FP16 Performance8.9 TFLOPS6.5 TFLOPS
FP32 Performance8.9 TFLOPS6.5 TFLOPS
Memory Bandwidth320 GB/s336 GB/s

Performance Analysis

Raw compute performance favors the GTX 1080: its 8.9 TFLOPS in FP16 and FP32 exceeds the RTX 2060's 6.5 TFLOPS by 37 percent. This delta translates to faster training and inference on compute-bound tasks, such as matrix multiplications in neural networks, where the GTX 1080 completes iterations quicker.

Memory bandwidth differences are minor: 336 GB/s on the RTX 2060 edges out 320 GB/s on the GTX 1080 by 5 percent. Higher bandwidth supports larger batch sizes in training, reducing memory bottlenecks and enabling more efficient data throughput before VRAM limits at 8 GB minimum for GTX 1080 versus 6 GB for RTX 2060.

Power efficiency tilts toward the RTX 2060 at 160 W TDP compared to 180 W, yielding better performance per watt. For prolonged cloud sessions, this lowers effective costs beyond raw pricing. Turing's architecture adds tensor core advantages for FP16 in deep learning, though base specs show GTX 1080 leading in flops.

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

Compare real-time pricing across 25+ providers

When to Choose the GTX 1080

The GTX 1080 suits scenarios demanding peak FP32 performance, such as scientific simulations requiring 8.9 TFLOPS versus 6.5 TFLOPS. Its minimum 8 GB VRAM handles larger models without swapping, ideal for batch sizes constrained by the RTX 2060's 6 GB floor.

Users with budgets tolerating $0.45 per hour average select it for raw speed in non-real-time compute tasks.

When to Choose the RTX 2060

The RTX 2060 excels in cost-sensitive deployments, offering identical PCIe form factors at $0.04 per hour average: a tenth the GTX 1080's cost. Its 336 GB/s bandwidth and 160 W TDP optimize for extended inference runs where efficiency matters.

Turing architecture benefits ray-tracing workloads or tensor-accelerated FP16 tasks, providing value despite lower 6.5 TFLOPS.

Use Cases

LLM Training
GTX 1080

GTX 1080's 8.9 TFLOPS FP16 outperforms RTX 2060's 6.5 TFLOPS for compute-intensive training epochs. Higher minimum 8 GB VRAM supports larger models.

LLM Inference
RTX 2060

RTX 2060's lower $0.04 per hour cost and 336 GB/s bandwidth enable high-volume inference at scale. Efficiency suits real-time serving.

Fine-tuning
Either

Both offer similar PCIe compatibility and 6 to 11 GB VRAM ranges. Choice depends on budget versus 8.9 TFLOPS speed of GTX 1080.

Stable Diffusion
RTX 2060

RTX 2060's Turing tensor cores and $0.02 per hour low enhance diffusion model generation. Bandwidth aids image batch processing.

Scientific Computing
GTX 1080

GTX 1080's 8.9 TFLOPS FP32 handles simulations faster than 6.5 TFLOPS. 180 W TDP supports sustained high-load computations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which GPU has higher compute performance?

The GTX 1080 delivers 8.9 TFLOPS in FP16 and FP32, surpassing the RTX 2060's 6.5 TFLOPS by 37 percent. This advantage applies to training and simulations.

How do memory specs compare?

RTX 2060 provides 6 to 12 GB GDDR6 with 336 GB/s bandwidth, slightly above GTX 1080's 8 to 11 GB GDDR5X at 320 GB/s. Bandwidth edge supports larger batches.

What are the cloud rental prices?

GTX 1080 starts at $0.30 per hour, averaging $0.45 across two offers. RTX 2060 is from $0.02 per hour, averaging $0.04 across two offers.

Which is more power efficient?

RTX 2060 consumes 160 W TDP versus GTX 1080's 180 W. This yields better performance per watt for long cloud sessions.

Is RTX 2060 better for machine learning?

RTX 2060's Turing architecture and low $0.04 per hour cost favor cost-sensitive ML inference. GTX 1080 leads in raw 8.9 TFLOPS for training.

Can both fit standard cloud setups?

Both use PCIe form factors with no interconnect specified. They integrate equally in most cloud instances.

Which is cheaper to rent, the GTX 1080 or the RTX 2060?

Cloud rental prices for both the GTX 1080 and RTX 2060 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 2060?

The GTX 1080 has 8 to 11 GB of GDDR5X memory. The RTX 2060 has 6 to 12 GB of GDDR6 memory.

Can I find GTX 1080 and RTX 2060 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 2060?

The GTX 1080 uses the Pascal architecture (2016) while the RTX 2060 uses Turing (2019). The GTX 1080 delivers 1.4x the FP16 throughput and 1.1x the memory bandwidth of the RTX 2060.

GTX 1080 vs RTX 2060: 12GB GDDR6 vs 11GB GDDR5X | GPUPerHour