GTX 1080 vs RTX 2060
Full specification comparison between the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 (2016) and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 (2019).
GTX 1080
NVIDIA Entry-level
- ✓ More VRAM (8 GB vs 6 GB)
- ✓ Wider memory bus (256-bit vs 192-bit)
RTX 2060
NVIDIA Entry-level
- ✓ Lower power draw (160 W vs 180 W)
- ✓ Cheaper at launch ($349 vs $599)
- ✓ Newer (2019 vs 2016)
- ✓ Better performance per dollar
Verdict: The GTX 1080 and RTX 2060 deliver essentially the same level of performance — the difference is within a few percent and won't be noticeable in real use. The decision comes down to price, power draw and features.
The GTX 1080 also carries more video memory (8 GB vs 6 GB), which matters for high-resolution textures, modern AAA titles and future-proofing.
At launch pricing, the RTX 2060 offers more performance per dollar, and the RTX 2060 is the more power-efficient chip.
Estimated performance
Estimated average 1440p raster gaming performance compiled from publicly available benchmark data. Individual games vary.
Specs side by side
| Specification | GTX 1080 | RTX 2060 |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Pascal | Turing |
| Release year | 2016 | 2019 |
| Est. performance | ||
| Shading units | ||
| Boost clock | ||
| FP32 compute | ||
| VRAM | ||
| Memory type | GDDR5X | GDDR6 |
| Memory bus | ||
| Board power | ||
| Launch MSRP |
Green bars mark the better value in each row (for power and price, lower wins).
Frequently asked questions
Is the GTX 1080 better than the RTX 2060?
They perform almost identically (within ~1%). Choose based on price, power consumption and platform rather than raw speed.
How much faster is the GTX 1080 than the RTX 2060?
Roughly 0% on average in raster gaming workloads. The gap varies by title, resolution and settings.
Which graphics card is better value?
Comparing launch prices, the RTX 2060 delivers more performance per dollar. Check current street prices, as market pricing often shifts the value equation.