Specifications Compared
| Spec | RTX-2080 | RTX-3080 |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 215W | 320W |
| VRAM | 8-11 GB | 10-12 GB |
| CUDA Cores | 2,944 | 8,704 |
| Memory Type | GDDR6 | GDDR6X |
| Architecture | Turing | Ampere |
| Form Factors | PCIe | PCIe |
| Interconnect | NVLink | |
| Tensor Cores | 368 | 272 |
| FP16 Performance | 10.1 TFLOPS | 29.8 TFLOPS |
| FP32 Performance | 10.1 TFLOPS | 29.8 TFLOPS |
| Memory Bandwidth | 616 GB/s | 760 GB/s |
Performance Analysis
Compute performance defines the core advantage of the RTX 3080: it provides 29.8 TFLOPS for FP16 and FP32 operations, compared to 10.1 TFLOPS on the RTX 2080. This disparity accelerates machine learning training, where FP16 enables mixed-precision techniques to cut memory usage and speed up convergence by factors approaching 3x. Inference benefits similarly, as higher FP32 throughput handles real-time predictions more efficiently.
Memory bandwidth of 760 GB/s on the RTX 3080 outpaces the RTX 2080's 616 GB/s, allowing larger batch sizes in training loops and reducing data transfer bottlenecks. The RTX 3080's 10-12 GB GDDR6X VRAM supports bigger models without out-of-memory errors, unlike the 8-11 GB GDDR6 limit on the RTX 2080. Higher TDP of 320W on the RTX 3080 reflects its power demands, versus 215W for the RTX 2080.
These specs translate to real-world gains in AI pipelines: the RTX 3080 processes complex neural networks faster, making it preferable for throughput-oriented tasks.
Live Cloud Pricing
Real-time prices from 25+ providers. Updated every 60 seconds.
RTX 2080
| Provider | GPU Model | VRAM | Host Specs | Region | Price | Status | Action | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Vast.ai | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Ti 11GB VRAM | 11GB | 32 vCPU 63GB RAM 1273GB Storage | Maryland | $0.13/GPU/hr | Available |
When to Choose the RTX 2080
The RTX 2080 excels in cost-sensitive, low-intensity scenarios: its starting cloud price of $0.05 per hour (average $0.09 across 6 offers) undercuts the RTX 3080's $0.06 (average $0.13 over 8 offers). Lower TDP of 215W minimizes electricity costs in prolonged light workloads like basic inference or prototyping with models fitting in 8-11 GB VRAM.
NVLink interconnect supports multi-GPU setups for the RTX 2080, beneficial when scaling modest 10.1 TFLOPS performance across nodes without needing Ampere-level power.
When to Choose the RTX 3080
The RTX 3080 is optimal for performance-critical applications: 29.8 TFLOPS FP16 and FP32 ratings enable rapid training and inference, far surpassing the RTX 2080's 10.1 TFLOPS. Higher memory bandwidth of 760 GB/s accommodates large batch sizes in data-heavy tasks.
Users prioritizing speed over minimal cost select the RTX 3080, as its 10-12 GB GDDR6X VRAM handles modern models effectively despite the 320W TDP.
Use Cases
The RTX 3080's 29.8 TFLOPS FP16 performance accelerates large model training compared to the RTX 2080's 10.1 TFLOPS. Higher 760 GB/s bandwidth supports bigger batches.
RTX 3080 handles high-throughput inference with 29.8 TFLOPS FP32 and 10-12 GB VRAM, outperforming the RTX 2080's 10.1 TFLOPS and 8-11 GB limits.
Fine-tuning benefits from the RTX 3080's 29.8 TFLOPS and 760 GB/s bandwidth for faster iterations on mid-sized models.
RTX 3080's 10-12 GB VRAM and 29.8 TFLOPS enable efficient image generation at higher resolutions than the RTX 2080's 8-11 GB.
Light simulations fit the RTX 2080's 10.1 TFLOPS and lower $0.05 per hour cost; intensive tasks require RTX 3080's 29.8 TFLOPS.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the FP32 performance difference between RTX 2080 and RTX 3080?▾
The RTX 3080 delivers 29.8 TFLOPS FP32, nearly three times the RTX 2080's 10.1 TFLOPS. This gap speeds up compute-intensive tasks like training. Both share equal FP16 and FP32 ratings within their architectures.
Which GPU has higher memory bandwidth?▾
RTX 3080 offers 760 GB/s bandwidth versus 616 GB/s on RTX 2080. Higher bandwidth supports larger batch sizes in ML workflows. It pairs with 10-12 GB GDDR6X VRAM.
How do cloud prices compare for these GPUs?▾
RTX 2080 starts at $0.05 per hour (average $0.09 across 6 offers), cheaper than RTX 3080's $0.06 (average $0.13 over 8 offers). Pricing reflects performance tiers. Check gpuperhour.com for live rates.
What are the TDP ratings?▾
RTX 2080 has a 215W TDP, lower than RTX 3080's 320W. Lower TDP reduces power costs for the RTX 2080. Both use PCIe form factors.
Which has more VRAM?▾
RTX 3080 provides 10-12 GB GDDR6X, exceeding RTX 2080's 8-11 GB GDDR6. More VRAM aids larger models. Bandwidth amplifies this advantage at 760 GB/s.
Does RTX 2080 support NVLink?▾
RTX 2080 includes NVLink interconnect for multi-GPU scaling, absent on RTX 3080. This suits distributed tasks at 10.1 TFLOPS per GPU. RTX 3080 relies on PCIe alone.
Which is cheaper to rent, the RTX 2080 or the RTX 3080?▾
Cloud rental prices for both the RTX 2080 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 RTX 2080 have compared to the RTX 3080?▾
The RTX 2080 has 8 to 11 GB of GDDR6 memory. The RTX 3080 has 10 to 12 GB of GDDR6X memory.
Can I find RTX 2080 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 RTX 2080 and the RTX 3080?▾
The RTX 2080 uses the Turing architecture (2018) while the RTX 3080 uses Ampere (2020). The RTX 3080 delivers 3.0x the FP16 throughput and 1.2x the memory bandwidth of the RTX 2080.