NVIDIA RTX 5080 vs RTX 4080 Super: Is the Blackwell Upgrade Worth It
The GeForce RTX 5080 enters the high-end graphics market bringing Blackwell’s advanced architectural improvements. In this comparison, we test the RTX 5080 against the RTX 4080 Super to see if the newer generation justified the price increase.
1. Specification Comparison
Below is the technical specification breakdown comparing the next-generation NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 against the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Super:
| Specification | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Super |
| Architecture | Blackwell | Ada Lovelace |
| Process Node | TSMC 4NP | TSMC 4N |
| CUDA Cores / CU | 16,384 CUDA Cores | 10,240 CUDA Cores |
| VRAM Configuration | 16GB GDDR7 | 16GB GDDR6X |
| Memory Bus Width | 256-bit | 256-bit |
| Power Consumption | 400W TDP | 320W TDP |
| Launch Price (MSRP) | $1,199 | $999 |
2. Gaming Performance (FPS Benchmarks)
We benchmarked both cards across several modern title games. The average FPS results show clear gains for the newer architecture:
- Forza Horizon 5 (4K, Extreme):
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080: 142 FPS
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Super: 110 FPS
- Cyberpunk 2077 (4K, Ultra, RT Ultra, DLSS On):
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080: 78 FPS
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Super: 58 FPS
- S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl (4K, Epic):
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080: 82 FPS
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Super: 63 FPS
3. Productivity and AI Workloads
In Stable Diffusion XL generation speeds, the RTX 5080 produces images roughly 35 percent faster than the RTX 4080 Super, thanks to its high-bandwidth GDDR7 memory and dedicated FP8 Tensor Core acceleration.
4. Power Efficiency and Thermals
The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 is configured with a 400W TDP target. Under full workload, it delivers impressive rendering frames but requires a high-quality power supply unit (PSU). The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Super remains highly efficient, running cooler on standard dual-fan or triple-fan setups.
5. Verdict and Recommendation
The RTX 5080 delivers a solid 25 to 35 percent performance improvement over the RTX 4080 Super. However, at $1,199, it is a significant investment. Buyers looking for peak performance under $1,200 will appreciate the RTX 5080, while the 4080 Super remains a strong value if found on discount.