NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 vs NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti Mobile Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data is decisively lopsided. The desktop NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 wins 9 of the 10 recorded benchmarks, while the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti Mobile takes only a single, albeit spectacular, victory. The most striking result is in the Geekbench Vulkan test, where the mobile part scores 107502 against the desktop's 33620, a 219.8% advantage. This is the only test where the mobile GPU leads, and the margin is enormous, suggesting a strong optimization for that specific API workload on the notebook part.

Every other benchmark favors the desktop card, with margins that range from modest to severe. In the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test, the desktop scores 4407 against the mobile's 2869, a 34.9% deficit for the mobile part. The Passmark G3D test shows a similar gap: the desktop scores 25086 versus the mobile's 19288, a 23.1% difference. The compute-oriented Passmark GPU Compute test is where the desktop pulls furthest ahead: 14397 versus 8471, a 41.2% gap, which is the largest delta outside of the Vulkan anomaly.

Legacy DirectX tests tell the same story. In Passmark DirectX 9, the desktop scores 258 versus 201, a 22.1% lead. DirectX 10 shows 170 versus 131, a 22.9% lead. DirectX 11 shows 207 versus 164, a 20.8% lead. DirectX 12 is the closest of the legacy suite, with the desktop at 100 and the mobile at 88, a 12% difference. The OpenCL result from Geekbench also favors the desktop: 152423 versus 117866, a 22.7% lead. Even the 2D test, Passmark G2D, goes to the desktop at 1054 versus 818, a 22.4% lead.

The average benchmark score in the database puts the mobile part at 25740, which sits in the 71st percentile of all GPUs. The desktop part, despite winning 9 of 10 head-to-head tests, has an average score of 23172, in the 68th percentile. That contradiction is explained by the nearest rivals. The mobile GPU's closest rivals include the AMD Radeon RX 6700M at 25633 (0.4% behind the mobile) and the AMD Radeon Pro W5700 at 25726 (0.1% behind). The desktop GPU's nearest rivals are much lower-scoring parts like the AMD Radeon RX 6600M at 23273 and the NVIDIA P106-100 at 23249, both within 0.4% of the desktop card. In other words, the mobile part's average score is inflated by that single Vulkan outlier, while the desktop part's average is dragged down by its poor Vulkan showing, even though it dominates in every other discipline.

The data indicates a clear split: for raw compute, rasterization, and legacy API performance, the desktop RTX 3080 is the stronger card. For Vulkan-specific workloads, the mobile RTX 3080 Ti is in a league of its own.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU wins the most benchmarks?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 wins 9 of the 10 head-to-head benchmarks. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti Mobile wins only 1, but that win is the Geekbench Vulkan test with a 219.8% margin.

Q: How big is the gap in the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test?

A: The desktop RTX 3080 scores 4407, while the mobile RTX 3080 Ti scores 2869, giving the desktop a 34.9% advantage.

Q: Is the mobile GPU competitive in compute workloads?

A: No. In Passmark GPU Compute, the desktop scores 14397 versus the mobile's 8471, a 41.2% lead for the desktop. This is the largest desktop win in the entire benchmark set.

Q: What explains the mobile GPU's higher average benchmark score?

A: The mobile part has an average score of 25740 versus the desktop's 23172. The mobile GPU's 219.8% Vulkan win (107502 versus 33620) heavily inflates its average. The desktop's average is pulled down by that same Vulkan result.

Q: How do the two compare in the Passmark DirectX 12 test?

A: The desktop wins 100 to 88, a 12% margin. This is the closest of the DirectX tests in the head-to-head data.

Q: What are the nearest rivals for each GPU in the database?

A: The mobile RTX 3080 Ti's nearest rivals are the AMD Radeon Pro W5700 (25726, 0.1% behind) and the AMD Radeon RX 6700M (25633, 0.4% behind). The desktop RTX 3080's nearest rivals include the NVIDIA P106-100 (23249, 0.3% behind) and the AMD Radeon RX 6600M (23273, 0.4% behind).

Architecture Differences

Both GPUs are built on the Ampere architecture from NVIDIA, and both use Samsung's 8 nm process node, but the silicon underneath is different. The mobile part uses the GA103 chip, while the desktop uses the GA102 chip. The GA102 is physically larger: it measures 628 mm² against the GA103's 496 mm². Transistor counts follow the same pattern. The desktop chip packs 28,300 million transistors, while the mobile chip has 22,000 million. Transistor density is nearly identical, 45.1M per mm² on the desktop versus 44.4M per mm² on the mobile, so the desktop's advantage comes from raw die size, not density.

The desktop GPU has more of almost every execution resource. It carries 8704 shading units versus 7424 on the mobile, a difference of 1280 units. Texture mapping units are 272 versus 232. Both have 96 ROPs, so that is a point of parity. Ray tracing cores favor the desktop at 68 versus 58, and tensor cores favor the desktop at 272 versus 232. The desktop also has higher clocks, with a base of 1440 MHz and a boost of 1710 MHz, while the mobile runs at 810 MHz base and 1260 MHz boost. Those clock and core-count differences compound across the board.

Memory architecture diverges significantly. The mobile GPU uses 16 GB of GDDR6 on a 256-bit bus, delivering 512.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The desktop uses 10 GB of GDDR6X on a 320-bit bus, delivering 760.3 GB/s. The desktop's memory type and wider bus give it a substantial bandwidth advantage, 48.5% higher by the recorded figures. The effective memory speed also differs: the mobile runs at 16 Gbps effective, while the desktop runs at 19 Gbps effective.

Both support DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4, so API feature parity is complete. The desktop is a dual-slot card with a 285 mm length, 112 mm height, and 40 mm width. The mobile part's dimensions are listed as portable-device dependent, and its power connector is listed as none. The desktop uses a single 12-pin power connector and recommends a 700 W PSU. The desktop was released on 2020-08-31, and the mobile followed on 2022-01-24. The desktop lists a launch MSRP of 699 USD, which is the only MSRP in the database for either part.

Specification Differences

The two GPUs differ across nearly every specification category. The chip is GA103 on the mobile versus GA102 on the desktop. The mobile part has a die size of 496 mm² and 22,000 million transistors; the desktop has 628 mm² and 28,300 million transistors. Transistor density is 44.4M per mm² versus 45.1M per mm².

Clock speeds diverge sharply. Mobile base clock is 810 MHz with a boost of 1260 MHz. Desktop base is 1440 MHz with a boost of 1710 MHz. Memory clocks also differ: the mobile runs at 2000 MHz with 16 Gbps effective, while the desktop runs at 1188 MHz with 19 Gbps effective.

Memory capacity and type are different. The mobile has 16 GB of GDDR6 on a 256-bit bus with 512.0 GB/s bandwidth. The desktop has 10 GB of GDDR6X on a 320-bit bus with 760.3 GB/s bandwidth. The computing resources differ as well: 7424 shading units, 232 TMUs, and 96 ROPs on the mobile; 8704 shading units, 272 TMUs, and 96 ROPs on the desktop. Ray tracing cores are 58 versus 68, and tensor cores are 232 versus 272.

Pixel rate is 121.0 GPixel/s on the mobile versus 164.2 GPixel/s on the desktop. Texture rate is 292.3 GTexel/s versus 465.1 GTexel/s. FP32 performance is 18.71 TFLOPS on the mobile versus 29.77 TFLOPS on the desktop, and FP16 matches at 18.71 TFLOPS (1:1) versus 29.77 TFLOPS (1:1). TDP is a major split: 115 W for the mobile versus 320 W for the desktop.

Form factor and outputs differ. The mobile is portable-device dependent with no power connector listed. The desktop is dual-slot, 285 mm long, 112 mm tall, 40 mm wide, with 1x HDMI 2.1 and 3x DisplayPort 1.4a outputs, plus a 1x 12-pin power connector and a 700 W suggested PSU. The mobile's predecessor is GeForce 20 Mobile, while the desktop's predecessor is GeForce 20 and its successor is GeForce 40. The mobile's generation is GeForce 30 Mobile, and the desktop's is GeForce 30. Both are end-of-life in production status. Both use PCIe 4.0 x16. Both support DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4.

Where Each One Wins

The desktop NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 wins in nearly every measurable category. It dominates rasterization, as shown by the Passmark G3D score of 25086 versus 19288. It dominates compute, with a Passmark GPU Compute score of 14397 versus 8471. It dominates legacy DirectX performance across versions 9, 10, 11, and 12, with leads ranging from 12% to 22.9%. It dominates OpenCL, scoring 152423 versus 117866. It even dominates 2D performance, at 1054 versus 818. For any workload that relies on traditional graphics pipelines, general compute, or OpenCL, the desktop card is the clear choice.

The mobile NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti has exactly one domain of superiority: Vulkan. Its Geekbench Vulkan score of 107502 is more than triple the desktop's 33620, a 219.8% advantage. This is not a small edge; it is a categorical reversal. For applications that are heavily optimized for Vulkan, the mobile GPU is the better performer according to the recorded data. The mobile part also has more memory capacity at 16 GB versus 10 GB, which could matter for workloads that exceed the desktop's capacity, though the desktop's bandwidth is significantly higher at 760.3 GB/s versus 512.0 GB/s.

The mobile part's power envelope is far smaller at 115 W versus 320 W, making it suitable for portable systems where the desktop's 320 W TDP and 700 W suggested PSU would be impractical. The mobile part also has no power connector listed, consistent with its portable-device-dependent design.

The Verdict

The data supports a simple conclusion for most users: the desktop NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 is the stronger GPU. It wins 9 of 10 head-to-head benchmarks, and its wins include the most demanding modern test in the set, 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, where it leads by 34.9%. It also leads by 41.2% in compute, 23.1% in G3D, and 22.7% in OpenCL. If the workload is general-purpose gaming, rendering, or compute, the desktop card is the pick.

The mobile NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti is the pick only for a narrow but real scenario: Vulkan-centric workloads. Its 219.8% Vulkan lead is enormous and should not be dismissed, but it is the only benchmark where the mobile part comes out ahead. The mobile card also offers 16 GB of memory, which is 6 GB more than the desktop's 10 GB, and it does so within a 115 W TDP, which is 205 W lower than the desktop's 320 W figure. For a portable system that prioritizes Vulkan performance and memory capacity over everything else, the mobile GPU has a case.

For everyone else, the desktop RTX 3080 is the default recommendation. It is faster in every DirectX test, faster in OpenCL, faster in compute, and faster in 2D. The only reason to choose the mobile part is the Vulkan-specific workload or the need for a high-performance GPU in a portable form factor. The recorded data does not support any other conclusion.