RTX 2080 vs RTX 3080 Ti

TuringvsAmpereUpdated 35 days ago

The RTX 3080 Ti emerges as the winner for prevalent cloud use cases in AI training and inference, as its 29.8 TFLOPS compute and 760 GB/s bandwidth deliver markedly superior performance over the RTX 2080's 10.1 TFLOPS and 616 GB/s, despite higher pricing and power needs.

RTX 2080 from $0.13/hr

Specifications Compared

SpecRTX-2080RTX-3080
TDP215W320W
VRAM8-11 GB10-12 GB
CUDA Cores2,9448,704
Memory TypeGDDR6GDDR6X
ArchitectureTuringAmpere
Form FactorsPCIePCIe
InterconnectNVLink
Tensor Cores368272
FP16 Performance10.1 TFLOPS29.8 TFLOPS
FP32 Performance10.1 TFLOPS29.8 TFLOPS
Memory Bandwidth616 GB/s760 GB/s

Performance Analysis

The RTX 3080 Ti's 29.8 TFLOPS in FP16 and FP32 dwarfs the RTX 2080's 10.1 TFLOPS, enabling up to three times faster deep learning training where half-precision arithmetic dominates. Inference workloads benefit similarly, processing more samples per second on the newer GPU. This compute leap reduces overall training time for models like transformers.

Higher memory bandwidth of 760 GB/s on the RTX 3080 Ti compared to 616 GB/s minimizes data transfer bottlenecks, allowing larger batch sizes in memory-bound tasks such as fine-tuning large language models. The VRAM expansion to 10 to 12 GB versus 8 to 11 GB accommodates bigger datasets or models without out-of-memory errors. These specs translate to superior throughput in AI pipelines.

Live Cloud Pricing

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

RTX 2080

ProviderGPU ModelVRAMHost SpecsRegionPriceStatusAction
Vast.ai
Vast.ai
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Ti
11GB VRAM
$0.13/GPU/hr
Available

Compare real-time pricing across 25+ providers

When to Choose the RTX 2080

The RTX 2080 fits scenarios prioritizing cost and efficiency, such as prototyping small neural networks or basic inference serving 10.1 TFLOPS workloads. Its $0.05 per hour starting price and 215W TDP appeal to low-power budgets across two cloud offers, avoiding overkill for legacy Turing-optimized code.

When to Choose the RTX 3080 Ti

Choose the RTX 3080 Ti for intensive tasks demanding 29.8 TFLOPS and 760 GB/s bandwidth, like training mid-sized LLMs or high-resolution Stable Diffusion. The 10 to 12 GB VRAM handles larger models, with four cloud offers averaging $0.14 per hour justifying the 320W draw for Ampere's advancements.

Use Cases

LLM Training
RTX 3080 Ti

The RTX 3080 Ti's 29.8 TFLOPS FP16 performance and 10-12 GB VRAM support larger models and batches than the RTX 2080's 10.1 TFLOPS and 8-11 GB.

LLM Inference
RTX 3080 Ti

Higher 29.8 TFLOPS FP32 on the RTX 3080 Ti enables greater query throughput; 760 GB/s bandwidth sustains high loads unlike the RTX 2080's 616 GB/s.

Fine-tuning
RTX 3080 Ti

RTX 3080 Ti's expanded 10-12 GB VRAM and 760 GB/s bandwidth manage bigger datasets during fine-tuning, exceeding RTX 2080 limits.

Stable Diffusion
RTX 3080 Ti

The RTX 3080 Ti's 29.8 TFLOPS accelerates image generation; 760 GB/s bandwidth prevents bottlenecks in high-res diffusion tasks.

Scientific Computing
Either

RTX 2080 suffices for lighter simulations at 10.1 TFLOPS and $0.05/hr; RTX 3080 Ti excels in complex ones with 29.8 TFLOPS.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is faster: RTX 2080 or RTX 3080 Ti?

The RTX 3080 Ti is faster with 29.8 TFLOPS in FP16 and FP32 versus the RTX 2080's 10.1 TFLOPS. This yields nearly three times the compute for AI tasks. Memory bandwidth also favors the RTX 3080 Ti at 760 GB/s over 616 GB/s.

What is the VRAM difference between RTX 2080 and RTX 3080 Ti?

RTX 2080 offers 8-11 GB GDDR6 while RTX 3080 Ti provides 10-12 GB GDDR6X. The upgrade supports larger models in machine learning. Bandwidth rises from 616 GB/s to 760 GB/s.

How do cloud prices compare for RTX 2080 vs RTX 3080 Ti?

RTX 2080 pricing starts at $0.05/hr, averaging $0.07/hr across two offers. RTX 3080 Ti begins at $0.08/hr, averaging $0.14/hr over four offers. Cost scales with performance gains.

What are the power requirements for these GPUs?

RTX 2080 has a 215W TDP; RTX 3080 Ti requires 320W. Lower power suits budget cloud instances for RTX 2080. Higher TDP reflects RTX 3080 Ti's Ampere capabilities.

Is RTX 3080 Ti better for machine learning training?

Yes, RTX 3080 Ti excels with 29.8 TFLOPS FP16 and 10-12 GB VRAM for training. It outperforms RTX 2080's 10.1 TFLOPS and 8-11 GB significantly. Bandwidth at 760 GB/s aids large batches.

Do both support NVLink?

RTX 2080 includes NVLink interconnect; RTX 3080 Ti lacks it per specs. This matters for multi-GPU scaling on RTX 2080. PCIe form factor is common to both.

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.