NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER vs NVIDIA Quadro RTX 5000 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a complete sweep for the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER across all nine shared benchmark tests, with no wins recorded for the NVIDIA Quadro RTX 5000. The strongest margin appears in the Passmark 2D test, where the GeForce card scores 920 against the Quadro's 709, a 29.8% advantage. This is the largest relative gap in the entire comparison, and it suggests that the GeForce card has a decisive edge in 2D workload performance despite both cards sharing the same underlying Turing architecture and TU104 chip.

In compute-oriented workloads, the RTX 2080 SUPER maintains a substantial lead. The Passmark GPU Compute test shows a score of 8290 versus 6525, a 27% difference. The GeForce card also leads in DirectX 12 performance, scoring 75 against the Quadro's 59, a 27.1% gap. These two results are nearly identical in percentage terms, indicating that the GeForce card's advantage is consistent across modern API and general-purpose compute tasks. The OpenCL benchmark reinforces this pattern: the RTX 2080 SUPER posts 99226 points against the Quadro's 78999, a 25.6% margin. Vulkan performance shows a 20.6% lead with scores of 111284 and 92309, respectively.

The older DirectX APIs tell a similar story but with slightly narrower margins. In DirectX 11, the GeForce card scores 165 versus 140, a 17.9% lead. DirectX 10 shows a 23.9% gap with scores of 140 and 113. DirectX 9, the oldest API in the test suite, yields the smallest percentage difference at 16.4%, with scores of 227 and 195. The 3DMark Steel Nomad test appears only in the GeForce card's benchmark list with a score of 1882, and no comparable Quadro result exists in the database, so it cannot be directly compared here.

The Passmark G3D score, which aggregates overall 3D rendering performance, shows the RTX 2080 SUPER at 19490 against the Quadro's 15616, a 24.8% advantage. This is broadly consistent with the compute and API-specific results. Across all nine tests, the GeForce card wins every single one, making this a one-sided comparison from a raw performance standpoint. The average benchmark score for the RTX 2080 SUPER is 24170, while the Quadro RTX 5000 averages 21629, a difference of roughly 11.7% in aggregate. The GeForce card also holds a higher percentile ranking among all GPUs at 69, compared to the Quadro's 67.

FAQ

Q: Which card wins the most benchmarks in the database?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER wins all 9 shared head-to-head tests. The NVIDIA Quadro RTX 5000 has 0 wins in this comparison.

Q: What is the largest performance gap between the two cards?

A: The largest gap is in the Passmark G2D test, where the RTX 2080 SUPER leads by 29.8% with a score of 920 versus 709.

Q: How do the two cards compare in compute workloads?

A: The RTX 2080 SUPER leads by 27% in Passmark GPU Compute (8290 vs 6525) and by 25.6% in Geekbench OpenCL (99226 vs 78999). The Quadro RTX 5000 trails in every compute test.

Q: Is the Quadro RTX 5000 faster in any DirectX version?

A: No. The GeForce card leads in all four DirectX tests: DirectX 9 (227 vs 195), DirectX 10 (140 vs 113), DirectX 11 (165 vs 140), and DirectX 12 (75 vs 59).

Q: What is the average benchmark score difference?

A: The RTX 2080 SUPER has an average benchmark score of 24170, while the Quadro RTX 5000 averages 21629. The GeForce card's nearest rival is the GeForce GTX 780 Ti at 24236 with a delta of -0.3%, while the Quadro's nearest rival is the GeForce GTX 1060 6 GB at 21856 with a delta of -1%.

Q: How does the memory configuration differ and does it affect the benchmark results?

A: The Quadro RTX 5000 has 16 GB of GDDR6 memory versus the RTX 2080 SUPER's 8 GB. The GeForce card has higher memory bandwidth at 495.9 GB/s compared to 448.0 GB/s for the Quadro. Despite the Quadro's larger capacity, the GeForce card still wins all compute and 3D tests in the database.

Architecture Differences

Both cards are built on the same TU104 chip using the Turing architecture and a 12 nm process from TSMC. They share identical transistor counts at 13,600 million and the same die size of 545 mm², resulting in the same transistor density of 25.0M per mm². The shading unit count is identical at 3072, as are the texture mapping units at 192, the render output units at 64, the ray tracing cores at 48, and the tensor cores at 384. Both cards deliver exactly the same pixel rate of 116.2 GPixel/s and texture rate of 348.5 GTexel/s, and both achieve 11.15 TFLOPS in FP32 and 22.30 TFLOPS in FP16 with a 2:1 ratio.

The architectural differences are minimal in terms of core configuration, but the memory subsystem differs meaningfully. The RTX 2080 SUPER uses 8 GB of GDDR6 with a 256-bit bus and a bandwidth of 495.9 GB/s. The Quadro RTX 5000 also uses GDDR6 on a 256-bit bus, but its capacity is 16 GB and its bandwidth is lower at 448.0 GB/s. The memory clock differs as well: the GeForce card runs at 1937 MHz with 15.5 Gbps effective, while the Quadro runs at 1750 MHz with 14 Gbps effective. These clock and bandwidth differences are the primary architectural differentiators between the two cards.

The base clock also differs slightly. The RTX 2080 SUPER has a base clock of 1650 MHz, while the Quadro RTX 5000 has a base clock of 1620 MHz. Both share the same boost clock of 1815 MHz. This 30 MHz base clock difference is small but contributes to the GeForce card's consistent performance lead. The power draw is also different, with the GeForce card rated at 250 W TDP and the Quadro at 230 W, which is discussed further in the specification section.

Specification Differences

The most obvious specification difference is memory capacity. The RTX 2080 SUPER has 8 GB of GDDR6, while the Quadro RTX 5000 has 16 GB. This is a 2x capacity difference that does not translate into a performance advantage for the Quadro in the benchmark data, but it does represent a meaningful distinction for workloads that require large frame buffers or dataset residency.

Memory bandwidth also differs: the GeForce card achieves 495.9 GB/s, while the Quadro delivers 448.0 GB/s. This 47.9 GB/s difference favors the GeForce card and is consistent with its higher memory clock of 1937 MHz versus 1750 MHz. The effective memory speed is 15.5 Gbps for the GeForce card and 14 Gbps for the Quadro.

Power consumption is another clear difference. The RTX 2080 SUPER has a TDP of 250 W with a suggested power supply of 600 W. The Quadro RTX 5000 has a TDP of 230 W with a suggested power supply of 550 W. Both use the same power connector configuration of 1x 6-pin plus 1x 8-pin. The Quadro draws less power while delivering nearly identical core specifications, but it also performs worse in every benchmark.

Display outputs differ as well. The GeForce card includes 1x HDMI 2.0, 3x DisplayPort 1.4a, and 1x USB Type-C. The Quadro card includes 4x DisplayPort 1.4a and 1x USB Type-C, with no HDMI output. Physical dimensions are nearly identical in length at 267 mm (10.5 inches) for both, but the height differs slightly: 116 mm for the GeForce card versus 111 mm for the Quadro. The width is 35 mm for the GeForce card and is not recorded for the Quadro.

The release dates differ significantly. The Quadro RTX 5000 was released on 2018-08-12, while the RTX 2080 SUPER was released on 2019-07-22, nearly a year later. Both are end-of-life products. The GeForce card lists its predecessor as the GeForce 10 series and its successor as the GeForce 30 series. The Quadro lists its predecessor as Quadro Volta and its successor as Workstation Ampere. The launch MSRP for the GeForce card is 699 USD, and for the Quadro it is 2,299 USD.

The Verdict

Based strictly on the recorded benchmark data, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER is the faster card in every measured test. It wins all 9 head-to-head comparisons, with margins ranging from 16.4% in DirectX 9 to 29.8% in Passmark G2D. The average benchmark score of 24170 places it in the 69th percentile of all GPUs, while the Quadro RTX 5000 sits at 21629 and the 67th percentile. For pure performance, the data unequivocally favors the GeForce card.

The Quadro RTX 5000 offers 16 GB of memory, which is twice the GeForce card's 8 GB, but this capacity advantage does not appear in any benchmark result. The Quadro also has a lower TDP at 230 W versus 250 W, meaning it consumes less power. However, the lower power draw does not translate into any performance win. In fact, the Quadro's lower memory bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s and lower base clock of 1620 MHz likely contribute to its consistent deficit.

The choice between these two cards depends on what the user prioritizes. If benchmark performance is the only criterion, the RTX 2080 SUPER is the clear winner. If memory capacity is paramount for specific professional workloads that are not captured in the recorded benchmark suite, the Quadro's 16 GB might be relevant, but the data here offers no evidence of any workload where the Quadro outperforms the GeForce card.

Where Each One Wins

The RTX 2080 SUPER wins across every category in the recorded data. In compute workloads, it leads by 27% in Passmark GPU Compute and by 25.6% in OpenCL. In modern graphics APIs, it leads by 27.1% in DirectX 12 and by 20.6% in Vulkan. In legacy DirectX APIs, it leads by 23.9% in DirectX 10, 17.9% in DirectX 11, and 16.4% in DirectX 9. In 2D performance, it leads by 29.8% in Passmark G2D. In overall 3D performance, it leads by 24.8% in Passmark G3D. There is no benchmark category where the Quadro RTX 5000 emerges ahead.

The Quadro RTX 5000 does not win any benchmark, but it does have distinct specification advantages that could matter outside the tested workloads. Its 16 GB memory capacity is double that of the GeForce card, which could be relevant for very large datasets, high-resolution textures, or multi-application workflows that exceed 8 GB of frame buffer usage. Its lower TDP of 230 W and lower suggested PSU of 550 W make it a more power-efficient option in terms of raw wattage, though it also delivers less performance. Its display output configuration of 4x DisplayPort may be preferable for multi-monitor professional setups that do not require HDMI.

For users who prioritize raw performance in compute, 3D rendering, and gaming APIs, the RTX 2080 SUPER is the only choice supported by the data. For users who require the larger memory capacity and are willing to accept a performance deficit, the Quadro RTX 5000 offers that capacity, but the benchmark database does not record any scenario where that capacity translates into a win.