The GeForce RTX line of graphics cards is a massive step up in performance from Nvidia‘s previous generation. The Nvidia RTX 4090 and RTX 4080 16GB are two of the most powerful GPUs in the RTX series. They are designed for high-end gaming laptops and desktops and can handle some of the most complex games out there.
Nvidia RTX 4090 and RTX 4080 come with a powerful Ada Lovelace architecture. They offer unparalleled performance and features for gamers and professional users. They also deliver significant improvements in frame rates, image quality, and ease of use.
In addition to improved performance, the Ada Lovelace architecture supports real-time ray tracing, which is a cutting-edge rendering technique used in many high-end games. Despite their high efficiency, there are still several differences between both powerful graphics cards.
They differ in terms of price, power consumption, speed, performance, and technical specifications. In this article, we’ll compare both graphics cards so that you can decide for yourself which one serves your needs better.
Nvidia RTX 4090 vs RTX 4080 16GB: Side-by-Side Comparison
| RTX 4090 | RTX 4080 16 GB | |
|---|---|---|
| CUDA Cores | 16,384 | 9,728 |
| Starting Price | $1,599 | $1,199 |
| Boost Clock (GHz) | 2.52 | 2.51 |
| Memory Size | 24 GB | 16 GB |
| Maximum Resolution | 4K at 240Hz or 8K at 60 Hz | 4K at 240 Hz or 8K at 60 Hz, with DSC |
| Release Date | October 12, 2022 | November 16, 2022 |
Nvidia RTX 4090 vs RTX 4080 16GB: What’s the Difference?
The Nvidia RTX 4080 and RTX 4090 are both powerful graphics cards that deliver extreme performance. However, they differ in a few key ways. Here are some of the differences between them.
Total Graphics Power
- Has 16,384 NVIDIA CUDA Cores
- Supports 4K 120Hz HDR, 8K 60Hz HDR
- Up to 2x performance and power efficiency
- Fourth-Gen Tensor Cores that offer 2x AI performance
- Third-Gen RT Cores
- AI-Accelerated Performance: NVIDIA DLSS 3
- NVIDIA Reflex low-latency platform
One of the key differences between the Nvidia RTX 4090 and RTX 4080 16GB is their total graphics power. Nvidia RTX 4090 has a TGP (Total Graphics Power) of 450 Watts, while the RTX 4080 16GB has a TGP of 320 Watts.
However, the recommended power supply unit for the RTX 4090 is 850 Watts, while the recommended power supply unit for RTX 4080 16GB is 750 Watts.
If you’re looking for a graphics card that is very powerful but consumes less power, then the RTX 4080 16GB is your best option.
CUDA Cores
The RTX 4080 16GB has 9,728 CUDA cores, and the RTX 4090 has 16,384 CUDA cores. Clearly, the RTX 4090 has more of them. This gives it an advantage over the GeForce RTX 4080 16GB. These additional cores allow for better performance when using complex software or games.
Price
The RTX 4090 comes with a price tag of $1,599; $400 more than the RTX 4080 16GB, which costs $1,199. If you’re looking for a powerful graphics card that costs less than $1,500, then the RTX 4080 16GB is ideal for you.
Performance
Nvidia RTX 4080 16GB and RTX 4090 are based on the Ada Lovelace architecture and offer significant performance improvements over the previous-generation cards. However, the RTX 4090 offers marginally better results than the RTX 4080 16GB when it comes to general gaming use cases. The Nvidia RTX 4080 16GB is slightly slower than the Nvidia RTX 4090 but is still capable of delivering great performance.
Memory
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One of the main differences between the RTX 4080 16GB and RTX 4090 is the amount of memory they have available. The RTX 4080 16GB has 16GB of dedicated memory, while the RTX 4090 has 24GB. This means that you can run more demanding applications on RTX 4090 without having to worry about running out of memory.
Clock Speed
The RTX 4090 is the king when it comes to core clock speed. It has a base clock speed of 2,235 MHz and a boost clock speed of 2,520 MHz. Nvidia RTX 4080 16GB has a base clock speed of 2,205 MHz but boosts up to 2,505 MHz.
The increased core clock speed allows Nvidia RTX 4090 to offer significantly better performance than RTX 4080 16GB. It also results in more detailed and lifelike images and faster frame rates for gaming.
Nvidia RTX 4090 and RTX 4080 16GB: 6 Must-know Facts
- The Nvidia RTX 4090 and RTX 4080 16GB feature the new Ada Lovelace architecture that offers much more power than previous generations of GPUs.
- The RTX 4090 and RTX 4080 16GB support improved ray tracing and DLSS, which are two key technologies that set them apart from other graphics cards.
- The Nvidia RTX 4090 features 24GB of memory, whereas the Nvidia RTX 4080 16GB features only 16GB of memory.
- The RTX 4080 16GB features a base clock speed of 2,205 MHz, while the RTX 4090 has a clock speed of 2,235 MHz.
- The RTX 4090 packs more CUDA cores than the RTX 4080 16GB.
- Nvidia RTX 4090 has a higher TGP than the RTX 1080 16GB.
Nvidia RTX 4090 vs RTX 4080 16GB: Which One Is Better?
The Nvidia RTX 4090 and RTX 4080 16GB are two powerful graphics cards from the new line of Nvidia’s RTX series. They are designed for gamers who want the best performance possible. They are meant to deliver the ultimate gaming experience.
The RTX 4080 16GB is a slightly more affordable option that still offers great performance. It has 16GB of GDDR6 memory which can handle some serious gaming demands. This means that it won’t be able to run the most demanding games at high resolutions or frame rates.
However, it does not require as much power as the 4090 does in order to run optimally. It is more power efficient. It also uses the new Ada Lovelace architecture and offers top-of-the-line performance.
Nvidia RTX 4090 is a powerful gaming PC with a high-end graphics card that has been equipped with more memory, higher speed, and better design. With its higher CUDA core count and ray tracing capabilities, it’s the best choice for gaming enthusiasts. However, it comes with a higher price tag.
Both cards offer a whole new level of performance and power efficiency for gaming, professional workstations, and data center applications. However, we recommend the Nvidia RTX 4090 because of its top-tier performance, higher memory, and advanced imaging capabilities.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Ralf Liebhold/Shutterstock.com.
