NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Ti vs NVIDIA RTX A5000 Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The recorded benchmark data splits these two cards along clear use-case lines. The NVIDIA RTX A5000 takes 9 of 10 head-to-head tests, while the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Ti manages a single narrow victory. The A5000's dominance is most pronounced in compute-oriented workloads, where it leads by double-digit margins. In graphics API tests, the gap shrinks considerably, suggesting that the two cards are closer in traditional rendering scenarios than their compute disparity implies.

The A5000 wins decisively in GPU compute workloads, posting a 23.9% lead in Passmark GPU Compute and a 23.2% lead in Geekbench OpenCL. These are the largest margins in the entire comparison and point to the A5000's workstation positioning. The A5000 also wins the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test by 7%, a modern DirectX 12 workload that stresses current-generation rendering features. Geekbench Vulkan shows a smaller 3.7% advantage, indicating that the A5000's lead persists across API boundaries but narrows in Vulkan-specific execution.

The RTX 2080 Ti's only win comes in Passmark DirectX 11, where it scores 190 against 187, a 1.6% margin. This is a legacy API test, and the result suggests that the older Turing architecture retains a slight edge in this particular workload. Everywhere else, the A5000 either ties or wins. Passmark DirectX 10 shows an exact tie at 153, while the A5000 leads by 3.6% in DirectX 12 and 6.8% in DirectX 9. The 2D test also favors the A5000 by 11.3%, and the overall 3D score (Passmark G3D) goes to the A5000 by 4.6%.

For users deciding between these cards, the data points to a simple split: the A5000 is the stronger compute and modern-API performer, while the 2080 Ti holds a marginal, likely negligible, advantage in one legacy DirectX 11 test.

Architecture Differences

The two cards come from different NVIDIA architectures and manufacturing processes. The A5000 uses the GA102 chip built on Ampere architecture, fabricated by Samsung on an 8 nm process. The 2080 Ti uses the TU102 chip on Turing architecture, fabricated by TSMC on a 12 nm process. This process difference helps explain the A5000's transistor density: 45.1 million transistors per square millimeter versus 24.7 million for the 2080 Ti. The A5000 packs 28,300 million transistors into a 628 mm² die, while the 2080 Ti has 18,600 million on a larger 754 mm² die.

Core counts differ substantially. The A5000 has 8192 shading units, 256 texture mapping units, and 96 render output units. The 2080 Ti has 4352 shading units, 272 TMUs, and 88 ROPs. The A5000 thus has nearly double the shading units, but the 2080 Ti has more TMUs. Ray tracing cores are similar: 64 on the A5000 versus 68 on the 2080 Ti. Tensor cores differ in count and arrangement: the A5000 has 256, while the 2080 Ti has 544, reflecting the different tensor core designs between Ampere and Turing.

Clock speeds favor the 2080 Ti in raw terms. It runs at a 1350 MHz base and 1545 MHz boost, while the A5000 runs at 1170 MHz base and 1695 MHz boost. The A5000's higher boost clock partially compensates for its lower base clock. Memory configurations also diverge. The A5000 has 24 GB of GDDR6 on a 384-bit bus with 768.0 GB/s bandwidth. The 2080 Ti has 11 GB of GDDR6 on a 352-bit bus with 616.0 GB/s bandwidth. The A5000's memory runs at 16 Gbps effective, while the 2080 Ti runs at 14 Gbps.

Other interface differences matter for system integration. The A5000 uses PCIe 4.0 x16, while the 2080 Ti uses PCIe 3.0 x16. Display outputs differ: the A5000 has 4x DisplayPort 1.4a, while the 2080 Ti has 1x HDMI 2.0, 3x DisplayPort 1.4a, and 1x USB Type-C. Power requirements are similar but not identical: the A5000 draws 230 W with a single 8-pin connector and a 550 W suggested PSU, while the 2080 Ti draws 250 W with dual 8-pin connectors and a 600 W suggested PSU. Both are dual-slot cards with matching 267 mm lengths, though the 2080 Ti is slightly taller and wider. The A5000 has a higher FP32 throughput at 27.77 TFLOPS versus 13.45 TFLOPS, and its FP16 rate matches FP32 at 27.77 TFLOPS, whereas the 2080 Ti achieves 26.90 TFLOPS FP16 through a 2:1 ratio.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single win for the A5000 comes in Passmark GPU Compute, where it scores 12455 against 10056, a 23.9% advantage. This test measures raw compute throughput, and the A5000's 27.77 TFLOPS FP32 versus 13.45 TFLOPS for the 2080 Ti supports the result. Geekbench OpenCL shows a similar story: 157905 for the A5000 versus 128171 for the 2080 Ti, a 23.2% lead. These two results establish the A5000 as the clear compute leader.

The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test gives the A5000 a 3783 score against 3537, a 7% win. This is a modern DirectX 12 benchmark, and the margin suggests the A5000's architecture handles current rendering workloads better. Passmark G3D, which aggregates multiple 3D tests, shows a closer 4.6% lead: 22541 versus 21548. The A5000 also wins Passmark DirectX 9 by 6.8% (251 vs 235) and DirectX 12 by 3.6% (87 vs 84). The DirectX 10 test ties at 153.

The 2080 Ti's only victory is in Passmark DirectX 11: 190 versus 187, a 1.6% edge. This is a narrow margin and the only test where the Turing card outperforms. The A5000 wins Passmark G2D by 11.3% (1032 vs 927), a 2D performance test that likely benefits from the A5000's higher memory bandwidth. Geekbench Vulkan shows a modest 3.7% A5000 lead: 137828 versus 132930.

FAQ

Q: Which card is faster in compute workloads?

A: The A5000. It leads by 23.9% in Passmark GPU Compute and 23.2% in Geekbench OpenCL, the two largest margins in the comparison.

Q: Does the RTX 2080 Ti win any benchmark at all?

A: Yes, exactly one. It wins Passmark DirectX 11 by 1.6%, scoring 190 against the A5000's 187. All other tests go to the A5000 or tie.

Q: How do the two cards compare in modern DirectX 12 performance?

A: The A5000 wins. In 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, it scores 3783 against 3537, a 7% lead. In Passmark DirectX 12, it leads 87 to 84, a 3.6% margin.

Q: What is the memory difference between the two cards?

A: The A5000 has 24 GB of GDDR6 on a 384-bit bus with 768.0 GB/s bandwidth. The 2080 Ti has 11 GB on a 352-bit bus with 616.0 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Which card has more shading units?

A: The A5000 has 8192 shading units, nearly double the 2080 Ti's 4352. However, the 2080 Ti has more texture mapping units: 272 versus 256.

Q: Are the cards the same physical size?

A: Both are dual-slot cards with a length of 267 mm. The 2080 Ti is slightly taller at 116 mm versus 112 mm, and it is 35 mm wide, a dimension not recorded for the A5000.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear recommendation for compute-focused users: the NVIDIA RTX A5000 is the superior card. It wins 9 of 10 benchmarks, with the largest margins in compute tests (23.9% in Passmark GPU Compute, 23.2% in Geekbench OpenCL). Its 27.77 TFLOPS FP32 throughput, 24 GB memory capacity, and 768.0 GB/s bandwidth make it the stronger choice for GPU-accelerated workloads, large datasets, and modern DirectX 12 rendering. The A5000 also leads in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 by 7%, indicating better current-generation gaming and rendering performance despite its workstation positioning.

The RTX 2080 Ti is not without merit, but its single win in Passmark DirectX 11 (by 1.6%) is a thin reed. It has a higher base clock (1350 MHz vs 1170 MHz), more TMUs (272 vs 256), and more tensor cores (544 vs 256), but these advantages do not translate into benchmark victories. Its 13.45 TFLOPS FP32 is roughly half the A5000's, and its 11 GB memory is less than half. Users running legacy DirectX 11 applications might see a marginal benefit, but the data does not support choosing the 2080 Ti for any modern workload.

The A5000's percentile standing (78th among all GPUs) versus the 2080 Ti's 75th percentile further confirms its overall advantage. Its average benchmark score of 33622 exceeds the 2080 Ti's 29783. For workstation users, compute developers, or anyone needing large memory capacity and high FP32 throughput, the A5000 is the data-backed choice. For gamers on a legacy DirectX 11 title, the 2080 Ti offers a negligible edge, but the A5000 wins everywhere else.

Specification Differences

| Specification | NVIDIA RTX A5000 | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Ti |

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

| Architecture | Ampere | Turing |

| Process Node | 8 nm (Samsung) | 12 nm (TSMC) |

| Transistors | 28,300 million | 18,600 million |

| Die Size | 628 mm² | 754 mm² |

| Transistor Density | 45.1M / mm² | 24.7M / mm² |

| Base Clock | 1170 MHz | 1350 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 1695 MHz | 1545 MHz |

| Memory Clock | 2000 MHz, 16 Gbps effective | 1750 MHz, 14 Gbps effective |

| Memory Size | 24 GB | 11 GB |

| Memory Bus Width | 384 bit | 352 bit |

| Memory Bandwidth | 768.0 GB/s | 616.0 GB/s |

| Shading Units | 8192 | 4352 |

| TMUs | 256 | 272 |

| ROPs | 96 | 88 |

| RT Cores | 64 | 68 |

| Tensor Cores | 256 | 544 |

| Pixel Rate | 162.7 GPixel/s | 136.0 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 433.9 GTexel/s | 420.2 GTexel/s |

| FP32 | 27.77 TFLOPS | 13.45 TFLOPS |

| FP16 | 27.77 TFLOPS (1:1) | 26.90 TFLOPS (2:1) |

| TDP | 230 W | 250 W |

| Power Connectors | 1x 8-pin | 2x 8-pin |

| Suggested PSU | 550 W | 600 W |

| Bus Interface | PCIe 4.0 x16 | PCIe 3.0 x16 |

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

| Dimensions | 267 mm x 112 mm | 267 mm x 116 mm x 35 mm |

| Release Date | 2021-04-11 | 2018-09-19 |