The RTX 4000 series of graphics cards from Nvidia is a fantastic series of GPUs, boasting superior performance than the previous generation with cutting-edge architectural design. They are also much quieter and have less power consumption than their predecessors.
The Nvidia RTX 4090 and RTX 4080 12GB are among the most popular cards in the RTX 4000 lineup. However, it can be hard to tell which of the cards is the best for your needs.
In this article, we’ll explore the differences between these two graphics cards to help you figure out which one may be right for you.
Nvidia RTX 4090 vs. RTX 4080 12 GB: A Side-By-Side Comparison
| RTX 4090 | RTX 4080 12GB | |
|---|---|---|
| Memory | 24GB | 12GB |
| Price | $1,599 | $899 |
| CUDA Cores | 16,384 | 7,680 |
| Total Graphics Power | 450w | 285w |
| Base Clock | 2.23GHz | 2.31GHz |
| Boost Clock | 2.52GHz | 2.61GHz |
Nvidia RTX 4090 vs. RTX 4080 12 GB: Key Differences
The Nvidia RTX 4090 and RTX 4080 are two of the most popular graphics cards on the market. Both of these cards offer great performance and features. However, there are some differences between them that could make one more suitable for your needs than the other.
Let’s look at some of the key differences between them.
Price
The Nvidia RTX 4090 comes with a hefty price tag. The starting price of the RTX 4090 is $1,599, while the RTX 4080 12GB is $899. The price difference between the Nvidia RTX 4090 and RTX 4080 12GB is around $700. If you need a powerful graphics card that costs less than $1,000, then the RTX 4080 12GB may be ideal for you.
Memory
When it comes to memory, the Nvidia RTX 4090 has the edge. The RTX 4090 comes with 24GB of VRAM, while the RTX 4080 has 12GB. This means that the RTX 4090 will be able to handle more demanding games and applications than the RTX 4080.
In terms of raw performance, the RTX 4090 is approximately twice as powerful as the RTX 4080. This extra memory can be helpful for gamers who want to play at high resolutions or who want to enable advanced graphics features like anti-aliasing.
GPU Clock
The RTX 4090 has a base clock of 2235MHz and a boost clock of 2520MHz. The RTX 4080 12GB has a base clock of 2310MHz and a boost clock of 2610MHz. The higher boost clock speed of the RTX 4080 12GB gives it a slight edge over the RTX 4090 in terms of speed.
CUDA Cores
When it comes to raw power, the Nvidia RTX 4090 is in a class of its own. With 16384 CUDA cores, it is one of the most powerful consumer graphics cards on the market. The RTX 4080 12GB, by comparison, has just 7680 CUDA cores. That’s a difference of almost 50%.
The extra CUDA cores give the RTX 4090 a significant performance advantage over the RTX 4080. This difference is highly noticeable when you are playing a graphically demanding game.
The Nvidia RTX 4080 and 4090 are both top-tier graphics cards, but the 4090 wins out for gamers looking for fast speeds and better performance.
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Total Graphics Power
The RTX 4090 has a TGP of 450 Watts, while the RTX 4080 12GB has a TGP of 285 Watts. This makes the RTX 4080 12GB more energy-efficient than the RTX 4090.
Pixel Rate
The RTX 4090 has a pixel rate of 443.5 GPixel/s, while the RTX 4080 12GB has a pixel rate of 208.8 GPixel/s. The RTX 4090’s high pixel rate makes it able to process more pixels per second and handle high-resolution graphics better than the RTX 4080 12GB.
Texture Filter Rate
The RTX 4090 has a texture fill rate of 1,290 GTexel/s, while RTX 4080 12GB has a texture rate of 626.4 GTexel/s. The RTX 4090 has a higher texture rate than the RTX 4080 12GB. This means that the RTX 4090 can better handle demanding games and applications that require a lot of rapidly-changing textures and images.
Nvidia RTX 4090 vs. RTX 4080 12 GB: 7 Must-Know Facts
- Both the Nvidia RTX 4090 and RTX 4080 12GB graphics cards are based on the new Ada Lovelace architecture.
- The RTX 4080 12GB has a slightly higher clock speed than the RTX 4090.
- The RTX 4090 has a higher memory bandwidth than the RTX 4080 12GB, so it can handle more data.
- The RTX 4090 requires a higher power consumption than the RTX 4080 12GB, so it will generate more heat.
- Both cards come with new features, such as ray tracing and AI, that are designed to improve gaming performance.
- The RTX 4090 comes with 24GB of VRAM, while the RTX 4080 12GB has 12GB of VRAM.
- Both cards are capable of 4K resolution gaming.
Nvidia RTX 4090 vs. RTX 4080 12 GB: Which One is Better?
Nvidia’s RTX 4090 and RTX 4080 are both high-end graphics cards that offer great performance for gaming and other demanding tasks. However, we recommend the Nvidia RTX 4090 because of its performance. It features more CUDA cores than the RTX 4080 12GB, meaning it can handle more demanding games and applications with ease. The RTX 4090 offers unbeatable performance, making it ideal for gamers or anyone who needs a high-powered graphics card.
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