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RTX 2080 TI vs 3070: Five Must-Know Facts
- Both GPUs use DDR6 graphics memory.
- The RTX 2080-Ti and 3070 both have DLSS support.
- Each card supports at least three monitors.
- Both cards have full DirectX-12 and OpenGL support.
- They both exceed the recommended requirements for most games.
RTX 2080-Ti vs 3070: Which one is really the better GPU? With the price of graphics cards on the way down after an almost two-year shortage, this is one question we have been hearing often. We figured now would be a great time to take a look at two of the best offerings from Nvidia: The previous generation GeForce RTX 2080-Ti and the current generation GeForce RTX 3070. We’re going to dive deep into what makes each of these GPUs tick and how they stack up against each other.
What are the similarities and differences between the RTX 2080-Ti and the 3070, and how well do they both fare when put to the test with the most popular games? These are some great questions that we’re going to unravel today.
RTX 2080-Ti and RTX 3070: Side-By-Side Comparison
Let’s take a quick look at the specs of the 2080-Ti compared to the previous generation 1080 Ti to see the improvements. When we compare the specs of both cards to the much newer RTX 3070, we can see they stack up pretty well.
| GTX 1080 Ti | RTX 2080-Ti | RTX 3070 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graphics Processor: | GP102 | TU102 | GA104 |
| Shader Cores: | 3584 | 4352 | 5888 |
| TMUs: | 224 | 272 | 184 |
| ROPs: | 88 | 88 | 96 |
| VRAM Type: | GDDR5X | GDDR6 | GDDR6 |
| VRAM Capacity: | 11 GB | 11 GB | 8 GB |
| Bus Width: | 352 bit | 352 bit | 256 bit |
| GPU Clock: | 1481 MHz | 1350 MHz | 1500 MHz |
| Boost Clock: | 1481 MHz | 1545 MHz | 1725 MHz |
| Memory Clock: | 1376 MHz | 1750 MHz | 1750 MHz |
| Texture Fill Rate: | 354.4 GTexel/s | 420.2 GTexel/s | 317.4 GTexel/s |
| Double Floating-point Performance: | 354.4 GFLOPS | 420.2 GFLOPS | 317.4 GFLOPS |
As we can see, the specs are similar across all three GPUs. The minor differences in specs can lead to some dramatic differences in performance in certain games.
RTX 2080-Ti vs RTX 3070: What’s the Difference?
When Nvidia released the RTX 2080-Ti, it was one of the best GPUs you could find. The closest competitor was AMD, with the Radeon RX 6800. When the RTX 2080-Ti came out, it introduced revolutionary new technologies into the mainstream such as more advanced Ray Tracing abilities and powerful AI-enhanced graphics. The 11GB of DDR6 video memory packed inside provides more than enough power for even the most demanding gamers.
Nvidia designed the RTX 2080-Ti to replace the GTX 1080 Ti which came out about a year and a half earlier. The RTX 3070 on the other hand, was designed to replace the previous generation RTX 2070. The RTX 3070 also has a little bit less video memory than the 2080-Ti, coming in at 8GB DDR6. Even though the RTX 3070 comes with less video memory, it makes up for it in other areas by providing a higher shader core count, and more render output units.
The RTX 3070 was released to compete with the RX 6700 XT by AMD. For a similar price range, the RTX 3070 goes head to head with the RX 6700 XT. Check out our full comparison of these two cards here.
How Much Power Do You Need for the RTX 2080-Ti and 3070?
- Great graphics details
- Comes with three fans
- Features Nvidia Turing architecture
- Real-time Ray Tracing
When we are talking about high-performance graphics cards like these, you should be prepared with a hearty power supply, with at least 600 watts or more for best results. When trying to figure out which power supply to buy for these GPUs, it is important to understand what type of connectors you will need.
The most power the RTX 2080-Ti will draw is 250 watts, and it is fed by two 8-pin connectors. Luckily, most power supplies over 600 watts will have these. The RTX 3070 is a little more efficient, and only draws 220 watts of power at the most. This will require two 6-pin connectors. Although you can get away with as little as a 550-watt power supply, at least 600-watt is recommended.
Don’t underestimate the size of these cards either. Both the RTX 2080-Ti and RTX 3070 are massive GPUs, and you will need plenty of space in your PC case to house them. On the larger side, is the RTX 2080-Ti, measuring around 10 inches for the Founder’s Edition. The RTX 3070 comes in slightly shorter, at 9.5 inches for the Founder’s Edition.
What Kind Of Connectivity do the RTX 2080-Ti and 3070 Offer?
- Ampere RTX (second generation) architecture powered
- Enhanced Tensor and RT cores, new multiprocessors specifically for streaming, as well as G6 memory, allows you to enjoy even games with very high graphical requirements.
- Includes 8GB GDDR 6 memory
- Features 1695MHz boosted clock speed
- PCI Express 4.0
Both cards are compatible with PCI-E 3.0, although the RTX 3070 has full support for PCI-E 4.0, meaning it can take full advantage of the higher bandwidth. Since both GPUs are dual-slot form factors, you get plenty of space for a variety of ports.
The RTX 2080-Ti is equipped with 1 HDMI 2.0 for compatibility with a wide range of monitors and TVs, as well as a USB Type-C port, and three DisplayPort 1.4 ports. This connectivity gives the RTX 2080-Ti full support for thousands of monitors. You’ll easily be able to find a compatible display for this card.
Similarly, the RTX 3070 offers very good connectivity options. On the back of this card, we can find 1 HDMI 2.1 port and 3 DisplayPort 1.4 ports. Although the RTX 3070 is lacking a USB Type-C connector, it still offers compatibility with a wide range of high-end gaming monitors and TVs. Whichever display you end up choosing will work great with this card as long as you have an HDMI or DisplayPort connection.
RTX 2080-Ti vs 3070: Which One Is Better For Gaming?
Thanks to the advanced Tensor Cores, you can enjoy amazing frame rates on most games on ultra settings. Both the RTX 2080-Ti and the RTX 3070 make use of Nvidia’s DLSS technology which uses artificial intelligence to upscale graphics in your games.
We compared how some of the most popular games perform on both the RTX 2080-Ti and the RTX 3070. With benchmarks compiled by running games on ultra settings in full 1080p resolution, we can see some impressive frame rates. As you can see from the table below, the average FPS between both cards is pretty similar.
| RTX 2080-Ti | RTX 3070 | |
|---|---|---|
| MS Flight Simulator: | 50+ FPS | 48+ FPS |
| Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla: | 68+ FPS | 77+ FPS |
| Red Dead Redemption 2: | 105+ FPS | 101+ FPS |
| Borderlands 3: | 110+ FPS | 108+ FPS |
| Horizon: Zero Dawn: | 110+ FPS | 110+ FPS |
| Metro Exodus: | 112+ FPS | 114+ FPS |
| Need For Speed Heat: | 115+ FPS | 115+ FPS |
| Shadow Of The Tomb Raider: | 146+ FPS | 145+ FPS |
| Control: | 119+ FPS | 118+ FPS |
The RTX 2080-Ti has been superseded by the RTX 3080 Ti. If you’re willing to pay a good chunk more for the newer model, you get rewarded with a card that is effectively 34% faster.
The RTX 3070 on the other hand, is one of the newest cards from Nvidia and isn’t going to be replaced until the 4000 series cards start coming out.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Great graphics details
- Comes with three fans
- Features Nvidia Turing architecture
- Real-time Ray Tracing
- Ampere RTX (second generation) architecture powered
- Enhanced Tensor and RT cores, new multiprocessors specifically for streaming, as well as G6 memory, allows you to enjoy even games with very high graphical requirements.
- Includes 8GB GDDR 6 memory
- Features 1695MHz boosted clock speed
- PCI Express 4.0
For now, the RTX 3070 provides a better value for your money, even though frame rates for most games come in a little shy of what the RTX 2080-Ti is capable of. Performance across most games is extremely similar and the RTX 3070 will serve you longer than the older RTX 2080-Ti. If you have an older GPU like the GTX 1080 Ti or RTX 2070, then the RTX 3070 would be a nice upgrade.
On the other hand, if you already have a 2080-Ti, is it worth going to the RTX 3070? As we see from benchmarks on the most popular games, the difference would not be an upgrade. If you already have a 2080-Ti, it would be ideal to stick with that until the 4000 series cards are released, unless you want to spend the additional money to upgrade to the RTX 3080 Ti.
Overall, both cards are some of the best on the market right now, and either one would be a solid choice. If you are trying to get a little bit higher performance, and don’t mind a little higher cost, then the RTX 2080-Ti is the card for you. If you need the newest card and want to save money, then the RTX 3070 will not disappoint.
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