NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER vs NVIDIA Quadro RTX 8000 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data shows a clear pattern: the Quadro RTX 8000 wins six of the nine recorded tests, with its most decisive victories coming in compute-heavy and API-specific workloads. The largest margin is in PassMark GPU Compute, where the Quadro scores 9992 against the RTX 2080 SUPER's 8290, a 20.5% advantage. This is the widest gap in the entire comparison and signals where the Quadro's architecture pays off most.

The Vulkan result is the second-biggest win. The Quadro RTX 8000 scores 122637 versus 111284 for the RTX 2080 SUPER, a 10.2% lead. That is a substantial margin for a cross-generation comparison and suggests the Quadro's larger silicon and additional hardware resources translate directly into raw API throughput. DirectX 11 also favors the Quadro, with a score of 188 against 165, a 13.9% difference. DirectX 12 shows a narrower but still positive result for the Quadro: 79 versus 75, a 5.3% edge.

The OpenCL test is the closest of the Quadro's wins. It scores 101883 against 99226, a 2.7% margin. That is within typical run-to-run variance for synthetic benchmarks, but the direction is consistent with the other results. The PassMark G3D score also goes to the Quadro, 19799 versus 19490, a 1.6% delta. That is a small win, but it keeps the Quadro ahead on the overall graphics aggregate.

The RTX 2080 SUPER takes three tests, and all are worth examining. Its best win is DirectX 9, where it scores 227 against the Quadro's 211, a 7% margin. That is a legacy API, but the result indicates the GeForce does not lose ground on older workloads. The PassMark G2D test goes to the GeForce as well, 920 versus 866, a 5.9% lead. This is a 2D rasterization test, and the GeForce's higher base clock may contribute to that result. The smallest GeForce win is DirectX 10: 140 versus 137, a 2.1% edge.

The aggregate averages tell a similar story. The Quadro RTX 8000 has an average benchmark score of 28421, placing it in the 74th percentile of all GPUs. The RTX 2080 SUPER averages 24170, in the 69th percentile. That is a 4251-point gap in raw average score. However, the nearest rival data for each card is telling: the Quadro's closest rivals are the AMD Radeon R9 M295X at 28580 (0.6% higher), the AMD FirePro S7150 at 28117 (1.1% lower), the AMD Radeon RX 570 at 28766 (1.2% higher), and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 Ti at 28020 (1.4% lower). The RTX 2080 SUPER's nearest rivals are the GTX 780 Ti at 24236 (0.3% lower), the GTX 1630 at 24277 (0.4% lower), the AMD Radeon RX 6800S at 24063 (0.4% higher), and the AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT at 24442 (1.1% higher). The Quadro sits in a higher absolute performance tier.

Where Each One Wins

The Quadro RTX 8000 is the clear choice for compute-bound tasks. Its 20.5% lead in PassMark GPU Compute is the standout result, and that is the metric that matters for rendering, simulation, and scientific workloads. The 10.2% Vulkan advantage reinforces this: modern compute APIs scale with the Quadro's hardware. The DirectX 11 and DirectX 12 wins (13.9% and 5.3%) show that the Quadro does not sacrifice traditional graphics performance for its compute strength. For users running OpenCL, the 2.7% edge is modest but positive.

The RTX 2080 SUPER wins on legacy and 2D workloads. The DirectX 9 result (7% ahead) and the G2D result (5.9% ahead) indicate that the GeForce handles older code paths efficiently. The DirectX 10 win is narrow at 2.1%, but it completes a pattern: the GeForce is stronger on the older DirectX versions that the Quadro does not prioritize. For users with older game engines or applications that rely on DX9 or DX10 paths, the GeForce offers a measurable advantage.

The overall G3D score favors the Quadro by 1.6%, but that is close enough that real-world gaming performance would likely be comparable. The GeForce's higher boost clock (1815 MHz versus 1770 MHz) helps it close the gap on the Quadro's larger core count. The data suggests a split: the Quadro for compute and modern APIs, the GeForce for legacy compatibility and 2D throughput.

Architecture Differences

Both cards use the Turing architecture on TSMC's 12 nm process, but they are built around different chips. The Quadro RTX 8000 uses the TU102 die, measuring 754 mm² with 18,600 million transistors. The RTX 2080 SUPER uses the TU104 die, which is 545 mm² with 13,600 million transistors. The transistor density is nearly identical (24.7 million per mm² for the Quadro versus 25.0 million per mm² for the GeForce), so the Quadro's advantage comes from raw die size and transistor count, not density.

The Quadro has 4608 shading units, 288 texture mapping units, and 96 ROPs. The GeForce has 3072 shading units, 192 TMUs, and 64 ROPs. That is a 50% difference in shading units and TMUs, and a 50% difference in ROPs. The Quadro also carries 72 RT cores and 576 Tensor Cores, while the GeForce has 48 RT cores and 384 Tensor Cores. The Quadro's larger allocation of specialized hardware directly explains its compute and Vulkan leads.

Memory is a major differentiator. The Quadro RTX 8000 ships with 48 GB of GDDR6 on a 384-bit bus, delivering 672.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The GeForce has 8 GB of GDDR6 on a 256-bit bus, with 495.9 GB/s. The Quadro's memory clock is 1750 MHz (14 Gbps effective), while the GeForce runs at 1937 MHz (15.5 Gbps effective). The GeForce has faster memory, but the Quadro's wider bus and larger capacity still give it a 35.5% bandwidth advantage.

Clock speeds favor the GeForce. Its base clock is 1650 MHz and boost is 1815 MHz, versus the Quadro's 1395 MHz base and 1770 MHz boost. The GeForce's higher clocks help it stay competitive in legacy and 2D workloads, but they cannot overcome the Quadro's core and memory advantages in compute-heavy tests. Pixel rate is 169.9 GPixel/s for the Quadro versus 116.2 GPixel/s for the GeForce, and texture rate is 509.8 GTexel/s versus 348.5 GTexel/s. FP32 throughput is 16.31 TFLOPS for the Quadro versus 11.15 TFLOPS for the GeForce. FP16 is 32.62 TFLOPS versus 22.30 TFLOPS, both at a 2:1 ratio.

Both cards use a dual-slot design, take one 6-pin and one 8-pin power connector, and recommend a 600 W PSU. They are the same length at 267 mm, but the GeForce is slightly taller (116 mm versus 111 mm) and has a defined width of 35 mm. Display outputs differ: the Quadro has four DisplayPort 1.4a and one USB Type-C, while the GeForce has one HDMI 2.0, three DisplayPort 1.4a, and one USB Type-C.

FAQ

Q: Which card has higher raw compute performance?

A: The Quadro RTX 8000 delivers 16.31 TFLOPS FP32 and 32.62 TFLOPS FP16, versus 11.15 TFLOPS FP32 and 22.30 TFLOPS FP16 for the RTX 2080 SUPER. The PassMark GPU Compute test confirms this with a 20.5% lead for the Quadro.

Q: Why does the RTX 2080 SUPER win some DirectX tests?

A: The GeForce wins DirectX 9 by 7% and DirectX 10 by 2.1%. Its higher boost clock (1815 MHz versus 1770 MHz) likely helps in older, less parallel workloads where the Quadro's extra cores are not fully utilized.

Q: Is the Quadro's memory advantage significant?

A: Yes, the Quadro has 48 GB versus 8 GB, a 384-bit bus versus 256-bit, and 672.0 GB/s bandwidth versus 495.9 GB/s. The GeForce has faster memory clocks (15.5 Gbps effective versus 14 Gbps), but the Quadro's wider bus provides 35.5% more bandwidth.

Q: Do both cards support the same APIs?

A: Both support DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. The differences are in performance per API, not API support.

Q: Which card is better for Vulkan workloads?

A: The Quadro RTX 8000 wins by 10.2% in Geekbench Vulkan (122637 versus 111284). Its 72 RT cores and 576 Tensor Cores versus 48 and 384 respectively give it more hardware for modern API tasks.

Q: How do the overall scores compare?

A: The Quadro averages 28421 across all benchmarks and sits in the 74th percentile. The GeForce averages 24170 and sits in the 69th percentile. The Quadro's average is 17.6% higher.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Quadro RTX 8000 | GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER |

|---|---|---|

| Chip | TU102 | TU104 |

| Transistors | 18,600 million | 13,600 million |

| Die Size | 754 mm² | 545 mm² |

| Transistor Density | 24.7M / mm² | 25.0M / mm² |

| Base Clock | 1395 MHz | 1650 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 1770 MHz | 1815 MHz |

| Memory Clock | 1750 MHz (14 Gbps effective) | 1937 MHz (15.5 Gbps effective) |

| Memory Size | 48 GB | 8 GB |

| Memory Bus | 384 bit | 256 bit |

| Memory Bandwidth | 672.0 GB/s | 495.9 GB/s |

| Shading Units | 4608 | 3072 |

| TMUs | 288 | 192 |

| ROPs | 96 | 64 |

| RT Cores | 72 | 48 |

| Tensor Cores | 576 | 384 |

| Pixel Rate | 169.9 GPixel/s | 116.2 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 509.8 GTexel/s | 348.5 GTexel/s |

| FP32 | 16.31 TFLOPS | 11.15 TFLOPS |

| FP16 | 32.62 TFLOPS (2:1) | 22.30 TFLOPS (2:1) |

| TDP | 260 W | 250 W |

| Height | 111 mm | 116 mm |

| Width | Not specified | 35 mm |

| Display Outputs | 4x DisplayPort 1.4a, 1x USB Type-C | 1x HDMI 2.0, 3x DisplayPort 1.4a, 1x USB Type-C |

| Release Date | 2018-08-12 | 2019-07-22 |

| Launch MSRP | 9,999 USD | 699 USD |

The Verdict

The data points to a simple conclusion: the Quadro RTX 8000 is the stronger card in almost every meaningful metric. It wins compute by 20.5%, Vulkan by 10.2%, DirectX 11 by 13.9%, and DirectX 12 by 5.3%. It has 50% more shading units, 50% more TMUs, 50% more ROPs, 50% more RT cores, and 50% more Tensor Cores. Its memory capacity is six times larger, and its bandwidth is 35.5% higher. The average benchmark score is 4251 points higher, and it sits five percentile points higher in the global GPU distribution.

The RTX 2080 SUPER is not without merit. Its higher clocks (1650 MHz base, 1815 MHz boost) deliver wins in DirectX 9, DirectX 10, and G2D. For users running legacy applications or 2D-heavy workloads, the GeForce offers a measurable edge. It also requires 10 W less power (250 W versus 260 W) and is shorter in height (116 mm versus 111 mm, though the Quadro has no recorded width). The GeForce's launch MSRP was 699 USD, which is dramatically lower than the Quadro's 9,999 USD, but pricing is not part of this analysis.

Who should pick which? For compute, rendering, simulation, or any workload that scales with core count, memory bandwidth, and VRAM capacity, the Quadro RTX 8000 is the data-backed choice. For older DirectX titles, 2D applications, or scenarios where the higher boost clock matters more than raw core count, the RTX 2080 SUPER holds its own. The Quadro is the performance leader; the GeForce is the legacy-compatibility specialist. The six-to-three win count in the head-to-head tests reflects that split accurately.