GTX 1080 vs RTX 3080 Ti

PascalvsAmpereUpdated 35 days ago

The RTX 3080 Ti emerges as the superior choice for most common use cases like machine learning and rendering. Its 29.8 TFLOPS compute, 760 GB/s bandwidth, and lower average pricing of $0.14 per hour deliver unmatched value over the GTX 1080's dated 8.9 TFLOPS and $0.30 per hour.

GTX 1080 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 Ti outperforms the GTX 1080 significantly in compute capabilities. Its 29.8 TFLOPS in FP16 and FP32 dwarfs the GTX 1080's 8.9 TFLOPS, enabling roughly 3.3 times faster processing for machine learning training and inference tasks that leverage half-precision or single-precision arithmetic. This delta translates to quicker epoch completions in training and lower latency in inference deployments.

Memory bandwidth presents another clear advantage for the RTX 3080 Ti: 760 GB/s compared to 320 GB/s on the GTX 1080. Higher bandwidth supports larger batch sizes in training, reducing overhead and improving throughput for data-intensive models. The RTX 3080 Ti's 10 to 12 GB GDDR6X VRAM exceeds the GTX 1080's 8 to 11 GB GDDR5X, accommodating bigger models without swapping to system memory.

Power consumption differs markedly, with the GTX 1080 at 180W TDP versus 320W for the RTX 3080 Ti. Both use PCIe form factors, but the RTX 3080 Ti demands more cooling and power infrastructure in cloud instances.

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 legacy applications optimized for Pascal architecture. Its 180W TDP enables deployment in power-constrained environments where the RTX 3080 Ti's 320W exceeds limits. At $0.30 per hour average pricing, it fits infrequent, low-demand tasks avoiding overprovisioning.

When to Choose the RTX 3080 Ti

The RTX 3080 Ti excels in modern workloads requiring high performance. With 29.8 TFLOPS FP16/FP32 and 760 GB/s bandwidth, it handles intensive training and inference far better than the GTX 1080's 8.9 TFLOPS and 320 GB/s. Cloud pricing from $0.08 per hour average $0.14 makes it cost-effective for production use.

Use Cases

LLM Training
RTX 3080 Ti

The RTX 3080 Ti's 29.8 TFLOPS FP16 and 760 GB/s bandwidth support larger batches and faster training than the GTX 1080's 8.9 TFLOPS and 320 GB/s.

LLM Inference
RTX 3080 Ti

RTX 3080 Ti handles high-throughput inference with 10-12 GB VRAM and 29.8 TFLOPS, outperforming GTX 1080's 8-11 GB and 8.9 TFLOPS for real-time serving.

Fine-tuning
RTX 3080 Ti

Ampere architecture and 760 GB/s bandwidth on RTX 3080 Ti accelerate fine-tuning iterations over Pascal's limitations on GTX 1080.

Stable Diffusion
RTX 3080 Ti

RTX 3080 Ti's higher FP16 performance at 29.8 TFLOPS generates images faster than GTX 1080's 8.9 TFLOPS, with more VRAM for complex prompts.

Scientific Computing
RTX 3080 Ti

The 3.3x FP32 advantage of 29.8 TFLOPS on RTX 3080 Ti speeds simulations, while GTX 1080 suffices only for small-scale computations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which GPU has more VRAM?

The RTX 3080 Ti offers 10 to 12 GB GDDR6X VRAM. The GTX 1080 provides 8 to 11 GB GDDR5X. This makes the RTX 3080 Ti better for larger models.

What is the performance difference in TFLOPS?

RTX 3080 Ti delivers 29.8 TFLOPS in FP16 and FP32. GTX 1080 achieves 8.9 TFLOPS in both. The RTX 3080 Ti is about 3.3 times faster.

How do cloud prices compare?

GTX 1080 pricing averages $0.30 per hour across one offer. RTX 3080 Ti averages $0.14 per hour from $0.08 across four offers. RTX 3080 Ti provides better value.

Which has higher memory bandwidth?

RTX 3080 Ti reaches 760 GB/s bandwidth. GTX 1080 offers 320 GB/s. Higher bandwidth on RTX 3080 Ti supports bigger batch sizes.

What are the TDP ratings?

GTX 1080 has 180W TDP. RTX 3080 Ti requires 320W TDP. GTX 1080 suits lower power setups.

Which architecture is newer?

RTX 3080 Ti uses Ampere from 2020. GTX 1080 employs Pascal from 2016. Ampere brings tensor core improvements.

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