NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 is a desktop graphics card built on the Ada Lovelace architecture, utilizing the AD103 chip manufactured on a 5 nm process at TSMC. It was released in September 2022 and is now marked as end-of-life, with the GeForce 50 series as its successor. The card features 9,728 shading units, 304 tensor cores, and 76 RT cores, with a boost clock of 2505 MHz and a total board power of 320 W.

Benchmark Performance

The RTX 4080’s average benchmark score across the database is 52,085, placing it in the 87th percentile of all GPUs. This aggregate figure positions it at the upper echelon of available hardware, though the specific workload results reveal a more nuanced performance profile. In the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test, the card scores 6,567 points, which is a strong indicator of its DirectX 12 rasterization capabilities. Its compute-oriented performance is also substantial, with a Geekbench OpenCL score of 240,854 and a Vulkan score of 216,045, demonstrating robust throughput in both general-purpose and graphics API workloads.

The PassMark suite provides additional granularity. The G3D score of 34,457 is the headline figure here, reflecting strong overall graphics performance. However, the direct API tests show variance: DirectX 11 yields a score of 314, while DirectX 12 drops to 132, and DirectX 10 sits at 204. Interestingly, DirectX 9 produces the highest score in this group at 370, suggesting that older API workloads run particularly well relative to the newer ones. The G2D score of 1,239 is modest, while the GPU compute score of 20,671 indicates that non-graphics compute tasks are handled competently, though not as dominantly as the OpenCL results might imply.

Comparing to its nearest rivals, the RTX 4080 matches the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti almost exactly, with a deltaPct of 0% and an average score of 52,086. This statistical tie suggests that in aggregate benchmarking, the two cards are interchangeable. Against the AMD Radeon RX 7700S, the RTX 4080 trails by 0.8%, a margin so small it is within typical run-to-run variance; the RX 7700S scores 52,505. The data shows a 2.5% lead over the NVIDIA RTX A1000, which scores 50,826, and a 2.5% deficit relative to the AMD Radeon Pro W6600M, which scores 53,414. These deltas are all minor, placing the RTX 4080 in a tightly contested performance band where no single rival holds a decisive advantage in average scores.

Who Should Consider It

Based on the benchmark data, the RTX 4080 is suited for users targeting high refresh rate gaming at 1440p or entry-level 4K experiences. The 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 6,567 and the strong Geekbench Vulkan result of 216,045 indicate that the card can handle demanding modern titles with high detail settings without significant compromise. For competitive gamers who prioritize frame rates in esports titles, the DirectX 9 and DirectX 11 scores (370 and 314, respectively) suggest that older or lighter API games will run exceptionally fast, likely exceeding the refresh rates of most high-end monitors.

At 4K resolution, the card remains viable but with caveats. The PassMark DirectX 12 score of 132 is relatively low compared to the DirectX 11 result, implying that native 4K rendering in the latest DX12 titles may require settings adjustments or upscaling techniques to maintain smooth gameplay. Users who play a mix of AAA single-player titles and multiplayer games will find the RTX 4080 capable, but those who demand maximum settings at native 4K with ray tracing enabled should examine the ray tracing data in the dedicated section below. The 16 GB frame buffer is generous for current titles, and the 716.8 GB/s bandwidth supports high-resolution textures without excessive stuttering.

How It Compares

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti: The data shows a perfect statistical match, with the RTX 5070 Ti averaging 52,086 against the RTX 4080’s 52,085, a deltaPct of 0%. In practical terms, benchmark results indicate that neither card has a consistent advantage in aggregate performance. Users choosing between them should base their decision on other factors, as the raw score difference is negligible.

AMD Radeon RX 7700S: The RTX 4080 trails the RX 7700S by 0.8%, with the AMD card scoring 52,505. This is a marginal deficit that falls within the noise of typical benchmarking. The data suggests that the two cards are effectively peers in overall performance, though the RTX 4080’s higher power draw of 320 W may be a consideration for system builders, even though that figure is not directly comparable in performance-per-watt terms.

NVIDIA RTX A1000: The RTX 4080 holds a 2.5% advantage over the RTX A1000, which scores 50,826. While this lead is modest, it is consistent across the aggregate metrics. The A1000 is a professional-oriented card, and the RTX 4080’s higher score in consumer workloads indicates that it is the better choice for gaming and general graphics tasks, despite the A1000’s potential strengths in specific professional applications.

AMD Radeon Pro W6600M: The RTX 4080 is 2.5% behind the Radeon Pro W6600M, which averages 53,414. This is the largest delta among the listed rivals, yet it remains under 3%. The W6600M is a mobile workstation GPU, and its higher average score suggests that it excels in certain compute or driver-optimized scenarios. For mainstream gaming and desktop use, the RTX 4080 remains a strong contender, but the data does not show it as the outright leader in this comparison group.

FAQ

Q: How does the RTX 4080 compare to the RTX 5070 Ti in average benchmark scores?

A: The two cards are statistically identical, with the RTX 5070 Ti scoring 52,086 and the RTX 4080 scoring 52,085, resulting in a deltaPct of 0%.

Q: What is the RTX 4080’s percentile ranking among all GPUs?

A: The card sits in the 87th percentile of all GPUs, based on its aggregate benchmark performance.

Q: Does the RTX 4080 perform better in DirectX 11 or DirectX 12?

A: PassMark data shows a DirectX 11 score of 314, which is significantly higher than the DirectX 12 score of 132, indicating better relative performance in the older API.

Q: What is the card’s launch MSRP?

A: The launch MSRP is 1,199 USD.

Q: How much VRAM does the RTX 4080 have, and what type is it?

A: It has 16 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 256-bit bus, providing 716.8 GB/s of bandwidth.

Q: Is the RTX 4080 ahead or behind the AMD Radeon RX 7700S?

A: The RTX 4080 trails the RX 7700S by 0.8%, with the AMD card averaging 52,505 versus 52,085 for the RTX 4080.

Ray Tracing and Feature Set

The RTX 4080 includes 76 dedicated RT cores and 304 tensor cores, which are fundamental to its ray tracing and AI-assisted features. The tensor cores enable DLSS and other neural network-based technologies, which can significantly boost frame rates in supported titles. The RT cores handle ray-traced lighting, shadows, and reflections, and the 48.74 TFLOPS FP32 performance provides the raw compute headroom for these workloads.

The card supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4, ensuring compatibility with the latest graphics APIs. In terms of ray tracing performance, the benchmark data does not isolate RT-specific scores, but the combination of 76 RT cores and the high FP32 throughput suggests that the card is well-equipped for ray-traced content. The 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 6,567 is a DX12 test that includes some ray tracing elements, and the result is robust. Users enabling ray tracing can expect playable frame rates at lower resolutions, but the PassMark DirectX 12 score of 132 indicates that heavy RT workloads at 4K may strain the card. The tensor cores also support frame generation features, which can offset the performance cost of ray tracing in games that implement it.

Memory Subsystem

The RTX 4080 is equipped with 16 GB of GDDR6X memory, a configuration that has become a standard for high-end cards in this era. The memory operates on a 256-bit bus, and the effective speed of 22.4 Gbps yields a total bandwidth of 716.8 GB/s. This bandwidth is critical for feeding the 9,728 shading units and 112 ROPs, particularly at high resolutions where texture data and frame buffer demands increase.

At 1440p, the 16 GB capacity is more than sufficient for current titles, and the bandwidth ensures that high-resolution texture packs do not cause hitches. At 4K, the capacity remains adequate for most games, but the bandwidth becomes a more limiting factor. The data shows that the card’s DirectX 12 score (132) is notably lower than its DirectX 11 score (314), which may partly reflect the heavier memory pressure in modern DX12 titles. The pixel rate of 280.6 GPixel/s and texture rate of 761.5 GTexel/s are high, indicating that the memory subsystem can sustain substantial fill rates. For users considering high-refresh 4K monitors, the 716.8 GB/s bandwidth is sufficient for standard rendering, but the 2.5% deficit to the Radeon Pro W6600M in average score suggests that some competing solutions manage memory more efficiently in specific workloads.