GTX 1080 vs RTX 3090
Full specification comparison between the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 (2016) and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 (2020).
GTX 1080
NVIDIA Entry-level
- ✓ Lower power draw (180 W vs 350 W)
- ✓ Cheaper at launch ($599 vs $1499)
RTX 3090
NVIDIA High-end
- ✓ ~180% faster on average
- ✓ More VRAM (24 GB vs 8 GB)
- ✓ Wider memory bus (384-bit vs 256-bit)
- ✓ Newer (2020 vs 2016)
- ✓ Better performance per dollar
Verdict: The RTX 3090 is roughly 180% faster than the GTX 1080 on average — a clear, noticeable performance advantage.
The RTX 3090 also carries more video memory (24 GB vs 8 GB), which matters for high-resolution textures, modern AAA titles and future-proofing.
At launch pricing, the RTX 3090 offers more performance per dollar, and the RTX 3090 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 3090 |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Pascal | Ampere |
| Release year | 2016 | 2020 |
| Est. performance | ||
| Shading units | ||
| Boost clock | ||
| FP32 compute | ||
| VRAM | ||
| Memory type | GDDR5X | GDDR6X |
| 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 RTX 3090 better than the GTX 1080?
Yes — based on aggregated benchmark data, the RTX 3090 is about 180% faster than the GTX 1080 on average.
How much faster is the RTX 3090 than the GTX 1080?
Roughly 180% 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 3090 delivers more performance per dollar. Check current street prices, as market pricing often shifts the value equation.