NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER vs NVIDIA Tesla K80 Comparison

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER and NVIDIA Tesla K80 represent two very different eras of GPU design. The data shows a generational chasm between the Turing-based consumer card and the Kepler-based compute accelerator, with the newer card dominating in every shared benchmark. However, the Tesla K80 still holds relevance in specific legacy compute scenarios. This analysis uses only the provided benchmark data and specifications to break down where each card stands.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head comparison is stark, with the RTX 2070 SUPER winning both available tests by massive margins. In Geekbench OpenCL, the RTX 2070 SUPER scores 83,358 points against the Tesla K80's 18,620 points. This translates to a deltaPct of 347.7%, meaning the RTX 2070 SUPER delivers nearly four and a half times the raw compute performance in this workload. The Geekbench Vulkan test shows an even larger gap: the RTX 2070 SUPER scores 90,637 points versus the Tesla K80's 19,111 points, a deltaPct of 374.3%. These are not incremental wins; they are decisive generational victories that reflect the fundamental architectural and process node advantages of the newer card.

Looking at broader benchmark data, the RTX 2070 SUPER's average benchmark score is 20,282, placing it in the 65th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA Quadro M4000M (avg score 20,480, deltaPct -1%), the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile (avg score 20,534, deltaPct -1.2%), and Intel Arc B570 (avg score 20,556, deltaPct -1.3%). This places it in a competitive mid-to-high tier, just slightly behind several modern mid-range options.

The Tesla K80, by contrast, has an average benchmark score of 18,866, sitting in the 63rd percentile. Its nearest rivals are intriguing: the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 (avg score 18,789, deltaPct 0.4%), the NVIDIA RTX 2000 Ada Generation (avg score 18,954, deltaPct -0.5%), and the NVIDIA Quadro K6000 (avg score 19,030, deltaPct -0.9%). The K80 sits in a cluster of older and mid-range cards, showing that while it lacks the raw speed of modern parts, it is not entirely obsolete in aggregate scoring. However, the head-to-head data reveals that its strengths do not translate to the modern API benchmarks where the RTX 2070 SUPER is dominant.

Where Each One Wins

The RTX 2070 SUPER wins decisively in every shared benchmark category. In Geekbench OpenCL and Vulkan, it outperforms the Tesla K80 by over 300%. This indicates that for any modern compute workload using these APIs, the RTX 2070 SUPER is the clear choice. Its individual benchmark scores reinforce this: it achieves 18,169 in Passmark G3D, 7,557 in Passmark GPU Compute, and 878 in Passmark G2D. It also posts scores in DirectX tests, including 223 in Passmark DirectX 9, 151 in DirectX 11, and 132 in DirectX 10, though its DirectX 12 score is notably lower at 67.

The Tesla K80's only wins are not measured in the head-to-head comparison. The data shows it has no wins in the shared tests. However, it does have a significant advantage in memory capacity: 12 GB of GDDR5 versus the RTX 2070 SUPER's 8 GB of GDDR6. This makes it potentially more suitable for workloads that require holding larger datasets in VRAM, even if the bandwidth is lower. The K80 also has a higher TMU count (208 versus 160) and a wider memory bus (384-bit versus 256-bit), which could theoretically aid in certain texture-heavy or memory-latency-sensitive tasks. Yet, its lower clocks (562 MHz base, 824 MHz boost) and older architecture severely hamper its real-world performance in the benchmarks provided.

For use-case splits, the RTX 2070 SUPER is the winner for gaming, modern API compute, and any task that benefits from high FP32 throughput (9.062 TFLOPS versus 4.113 TFLOPS). The Tesla K80, with its 12 GB memory, might be considered for legacy CUDA workloads that require large memory footprints but do not leverage modern APIs. The data does not support any scenario where the K80 outperforms the RTX 2070 SUPER in speed, only in raw memory capacity.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide is the core reason for the performance gap. The RTX 2070 SUPER uses the TU104 chip built on Turing architecture and a 12 nm process node from TSMC. It packs 13,600 million transistors on a 545 mm² die, resulting in a transistor density of 25.0M per mm². The Tesla K80 uses the GK210 chip on the older Kepler 2.0 architecture, built on a 28 nm process node. It has 7,100 million transistors on a slightly larger 561 mm² die, giving a much lower transistor density of 12.7M per mm². This process node and architecture difference explains a large portion of the performance delta.

The RTX 2070 SUPER features 2,560 shading units, 160 TMUs, and 64 ROPs. Critically, it includes 40 RT cores and 320 tensor cores, which enable hardware-accelerated ray tracing and AI-based features. The Tesla K80 has 2,496 shading units, 208 TMUs, and 48 ROPs, but has no RT cores or tensor cores at all. This means the K80 lacks dedicated hardware for ray tracing and tensor operations, making it unsuitable for modern workloads that rely on these features.

Clock speeds further separate the two. The RTX 2070 SUPER runs at a base clock of 1,605 MHz and a boost clock of 1,770 MHz. The Tesla K80 runs at a mere 562 MHz base and 824 MHz boost. This clock difference is massive and directly impacts the pixel rate (113.3 GPixel/s for the RTX 2070 SUPER versus 42.85 GPixel/s for the K80) and texture rate (283.2 GTexel/s versus 171.4 GTexel/s). The FP32 performance is also stark: 9.062 TFLOPS for the RTX 2070 SUPER versus 4.113 TFLOPS for the K80. The RTX 2070 SUPER even supports FP16 with a 2:1 ratio (18.12 TFLOPS), while the K80 has no FP16 capability listed.

Memory technology differs as well. The RTX 2070 SUPER uses 8 GB of GDDR6 with a 256-bit bus, delivering 448.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The Tesla K80 uses 12 GB of GDDR5 with a 384-bit bus, delivering 240.6 GB/s. While the K80 has more capacity, the RTX 2070 SUPER has nearly double the bandwidth. The power profiles also differ significantly: the RTX 2070 SUPER has a TDP of 215 W, while the K80 draws 300 W. The K80 also requires a 700 W suggested PSU versus 550 W for the RTX 2070 SUPER, making the newer card more power-efficient per unit of performance.

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER is the superior GPU for nearly all modern tasks. It wins both head-to-head benchmarks by over 340%, has a higher average benchmark score (20,282 versus 18,866), and offers modern features like RT cores and tensor cores that the Tesla K80 completely lacks. The RTX 2070 SUPER also achieves this with a lower TDP (215 W versus 300 W) and a smaller suggested PSU (550 W versus 700 W), making it easier to integrate into a standard desktop system.

The Tesla K80's only advantage is its 12 GB of memory, which exceeds the RTX 2070 SUPER's 8 GB. For workloads that require loading models or datasets larger than 8 GB into VRAM, the K80 could be the only option between the two. However, its 240.6 GB/s bandwidth and 4.113 TFLOPS FP32 performance mean that any such workload will run significantly slower than it would on the RTX 2070 SUPER, assuming the dataset fits within 8 GB. The K80 also has no display outputs, making it a server-only card, while the RTX 2070 SUPER offers HDMI 2.0, DisplayPort 1.4a, and USB Type-C outputs.

For users building a new system, the RTX 2070 SUPER is the clear choice. It offers better performance, modern API support (DirectX 12 Ultimate, Vulkan 1.4), and a path to future gaming and compute workloads. The Tesla K80 is a relic from 2014, and while it holds a place in legacy server environments, the data shows no scenario where it is the better pick for a new purchase. The RTX 2070 SUPER's launch MSRP is 499 USD, which reflects its mid-range positioning. The K80 has no launch MSRP listed, further indicating its specialized, non-consumer nature. Anyone choosing between these two should select the RTX 2070 SUPER unless they absolutely need the extra 4 GB of VRAM and can tolerate a severe performance penalty.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has a higher Geekbench OpenCL score?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER scores 83,358 points, which is 347.7% higher than the NVIDIA Tesla K80's 18,620 points.

Q: Does the Tesla K80 support ray tracing?

A: No, the Tesla K80 has no RT cores listed in its specifications. The RTX 2070 SUPER has 40 RT cores, while the K80 has none.

Q: How much memory does each card have?

A: The RTX 2070 SUPER has 8 GB of GDDR6, while the Tesla K80 has 12 GB of GDDR5. The K80 has more capacity but lower bandwidth (240.6 GB/s versus 448.0 GB/s).

Q: What is the transistor density difference?

A: The RTX 2070 SUPER has a transistor density of 25.0M per mm², using a 12 nm process. The Tesla K80 has a density of 12.7M per mm², using a 28 nm process.

Q: Which card has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The RTX 2070 SUPER has an average benchmark score of 20,282, placing it in the 65th percentile. The Tesla K80 scores 18,866, placing it in the 63rd percentile.

Q: Are there any benchmarks where the Tesla K80 wins?

A: In the head-to-head benchmarks provided, the Tesla K80 wins zero tests. The RTX 2070 SUPER wins both Geekbench OpenCL and Vulkan tests by over 340%.