Do you want to upgrade or build a new PC and need a new GPU for your setup? Both the 4080 and 4090 are solid options to choose from when it comes to high-resolution 4K gaming. As major Nvidia GPU builds, choosing one over the other might not be a simple choice to make. While both have their similarities, they also differ in terms of power, performance, and price.
To find out the best GPU option for you, the blog discusses in detail both the RTX 4090 and RTX 4080 Super graphics cards. So, which one is it?
Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super vs RTX 4090 - A Comparison
Specifications Of 4090 and 4080 Super
The RTX 4090 vs GeForce 4080 Super specs are provided in the table below. The comparison shows how both differ in terms of performance.
4080 Super vs 4090 comparison
Specs |
RTX 4090 |
RTX 4080 Super |
Fabrication Process |
TSMC 4N |
TSMC 4 nm |
Transistor Count |
76.3 billion |
45.9 billion |
Architecture |
Ada Lovelace |
Same |
GPU codename |
AD102 |
AD103 |
Graphics Processing Clusters |
11 |
7 |
Texture Processing Clusters |
64 |
40 |
Streaming Multiprocessors |
128 |
80 |
CUDA Cores |
16384 Cores |
10240 Cores |
Tensor Cores |
512 (4th Gen) Cores |
320 (4th Gen) Cores |
RT Cores |
128 (3rd Gen) Cores |
80 (3rd Gen) Cores |
Texture Units |
512 |
320 |
ROPs |
176 |
112 |
Boost Clock |
2520 MHz |
2550 MHz |
Memory |
24 GB GDDR6X |
16 GB GDDR6X |
Memory Clock |
10501 MHz |
11500 MHz |
Memory Data Rate |
21 Gbps |
23 Gbps |
Memory Interface |
384-bit |
256-bit |
L2 Cache Size |
73728 KB |
65536 KB |
Total Memory Bandwidth |
1008 GB/s |
736 GB/s |
Texture Rate |
1290 Gigatexels/sec |
816 Gigatexels/sec |
Connectors |
3x DisplayPort 1.4a and 1x HDMI 2.1 |
3x DisplayPort and 1x HDMI |
Minimum Power Supply |
850W |
750W |
Total Graphics Power |
450W TGP |
320W TGP |
PCI Express Interface |
Gen 4 |
Same |
Price |
$1599 |
$999 |
As indicated by the table above, the only similarities both GPUs have are Architecture and PCI Interface, mainly due to being part of the same RTX 40-series. The 4090 includes more advanced features and, therefore, better performance as well as power consumption.
This takes us to the Nvidia 4080 Super vs 4090 differences in power, as mentioned in the following section.
Nvidia RTX 4080 Super vs 4090 Power Consumption Difference
RTX 4090 consists of more power consumption at a TGP of 450W as compared with the 320W of the 4080 Super GPU. Other than that, the 4090 requires a minimum power supply of 850W to function, while the 4080 Super needs 750W.
Furthermore, while the 4090 includes a higher CUDA core count and better performance, the 4080 Super still includes better energy efficiency when it comes to choosing between RTX GeForce 4080 Super vs 4090 gaming.
Geforce RTX 4080 Super vs 4090 Performance Benchmarks
Now, let’s look at how both the GeForce RTX 4080 Super and 4090 differ in gaming performance benchmarks. Which one is better? The table below shows some popular games and their performance differences.
Game |
RTX 4080 Super |
RTX 4090 |
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla |
102 FPS |
122 FPS |
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II |
165 FPS |
192 FPS |
Deus Ex: Mankind Divided |
148 FPS |
174 FPS |
Cyberpunk 2077 |
68 FPS |
91 FPS |
Horizon Zero Dawn |
136 FPS |
158 FPS |
Forza Horizon 5 |
124 FPS |
142 FPS |
Monster Hunter: World |
112 FPS |
134 FPS |
Red Dead Redemption 2 |
98 FPS |
118 FPS |
A Plague Tale: Requiem |
84 FPS |
107 FPS |
The Division 2 |
144 FPS |
167 FPS |
Shadow of the Tomb Raider (SOTTR) |
131 FPS |
155 FPS |
Watch Dogs: Legion (WDL) |
92 FPS |
116 FPS |
The Witcher 3 (with RT) |
70 FPS |
95 FPS |
In the RTX 4090 vs RTX 4080 Super benchmark comparison, the 4090 seemingly always outperforms the RTX 4080 Super by 30%, specifically in ray-traced games.
As noted, the performance gap is significantly shown in the Cyberpunk 2077 game and the Witcher 3. Regardless, in modern AAA games, the RTX 4080 Super takes the top spot in 4K performance. For gamers looking for maximum performance, the 4090 is the best, but for a budget option, the 4080 Super is preferred.
Conclusion
In summary, the RTX 4090 indicates better performance for 4K gaming, ray tracing, and rendering tasks. However, it is much more expensive and generates more power. Apart from that, the RTX 4080 Super delivers great performance with much more efficiency and value, which makes it a better investment.
Both cards support DLSS 3.5 and are built on the Ada Lovelace architecture, ensuring future-ready features. In the end, the final choice is dependent upon your budget, PC workloads, and how you are planning to upgrade, long-term.
FAQs
Q: 4080 Super vs RTX 4090, which offers better price-to-performance?
A: When it comes to the RTX 4080 Super vs 4090 price-to-performance question, the RTX 4090 offers better performance at a much affordable price as compared to the 4080 Super. This makes it an excellent option for professional gamers, even though its price-to-performance ratio is of half the amount. This makes it a better value for most PC users. For top performance, however, look towards the RTX 4090 if you are in for something that is future compatible.
Q: Is the RTX 4080 Super better than the RTX 4090?
A: No, the RTX 4090 is noticeably better, with more CUDA cores and VRAM. However, the RTX 4080 Super is good for money, proving great 4K plus ray tracing performance at a low cost. At the same time, it comes down to your budget and PC requirements.
Q: How do the RTX 4080 Super and 4090 compare in rendering performance?
A: The RTX 4090 has a higher spot with its 24GB VRAM. It leads in 3D rendering, video editing, and Artificial Intelligence workloads. While the 4080 Super GPU is quite capable for most users, those who want high rendering speeds should go for the GeForce RTX 4090.
Q: Is it worth upgrading from RTX 4080 Super to RTX 4090?
A: Think about it in accordance with your needs and spending requirements. Only if you need extra VRAM or optimum performance should you go for the 4090 GPU; otherwise, the 4080 Super is sufficient for most gamers, considering the price jump between gaming hardware is a major difference.
Q: Can the RTX 4080 Super and RTX 4090 handle ray tracing and DLSS 3.5?
A: Yes, both the 4080 Super and 4090 entirely support real-time ray tracing and DLSS 3.5, with the RTX 4090 providing higher ray-traced frame rates. On the other hand, the 4080 Super is suitable for nearly all AAA titles, smoothly controlling ray tracing ability. DLSS 3.5 makes sure that both graphics cards provide great performance and image quality.
Q: How do the RTX 4080 Super and 4090 compare in rendering performance?
A: At an estimate, the RTX 4090 is 20 to 35% more powerful than the RTX 4080 Super, but this relies on the game or application. 4090 has more CUDA cores, a wider memory bus, and higher memory bandwidth, bringing it towards higher performance in 4K gaming, ray tracing, and as well as GPU-intensive computing workloads.
Q: Is an 850W PSU enough for the RTX 4090?
A: Yes, an 850W power supply is the minimum recommended PSU for the RTX 4090. However, make sure it's of great quality and that your CPU and other components don’t generate extra power.
Q: When were the RTX 4080 Super and RTX 4090 released?
A: The flagship GPU, RTX 4090, was officially released on October 12, 2022, while RTX 4080 Super was released on January 31, 2024.