Why The GTX 1080 Ti Is Regarded As The Greatest GPU Of All Time

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The GTX 1080 Ti provided unparalleled performance at the time of its release, one-upping almost every other GPU.
7 years after its initial launch, it still manages to keep up with modern GPUs, while also providing better value in the used market.
OC Headroom on the 1080 Ti used to be a huge advantage, with even the lower-end variants offering decent overclocking potential.

There’s no denying that the 1080 Ti has cemented itself as the greatest GPU of all time. In fact, with the current price-to-performance of current-generation flagships, the chances of getting a card as good as the 1080 Ti are close to none. That said, what is it that made it so appealing in the first place?

Unprecedented Price-To-Performance

A reasonably priced flagship GPU that delivers results far better than any gaming GPU? Sounds almost too good to be true, right? Well, the GeForce GTX 1080 Ti managed exactly that at the time of its release.

GeForce GTX 1080 Ti — GTX 1080 Ti (Image By Tech4Gamers)

The GTX 1080 Ti (Image Via Hardware Unboxed)That is not to say that the 1080 Ti was the only GPU of its class. I mean, the Titan XP did rival it in terms of gaming performance; however, that came at a huge cost of around $1199.

The 1080 Ti essentially matched the Titan XP in most titles, at almost half the cost, which made it a great value purchase at the time of its release. In Linus Tech Tips‘ initial review of the 1080 Ti, the card equaled the Titan Xp in most gaming and productivity tests, while also consuming a similar amount of power.

1080 Ti Benchmarks (Image Via LinusTechTips)

Even if you take inflation into account here, the price at which the founder’s edition retailed is still remarkable, especially considering how you simply can’t get a modern flagship GPU at a price as low as that. For reference, the current flagship GPU from Nvidia, the 4090, comes with an MSRP of $1600.

Not to mention that the 1080 Ti still reigned supreme even after the launch of 2000 series cards from Nvidia. Sure, the card lacked exclusive features such as Ray Tracing and DLSS, but, most people preferred it over the RTX 2080 since it provided similar performance in traditionally rasterized titles at a lower price.

Still Keeps Up

What’s even more remarkable to me is how well the 1080 Ti compares to modern GPUs. While it might not be the fastest GPU around anymore, that doesn’t take away from the fact that it is still capable of running modern titles at 1080p with 60 fps.

1080 Ti Vs Modern GPUs — 1080 Ti Against Modern GPUs (Image Via Gamers Nexus)

In Gamers Nexus‘ 2024 revisit of the 1080 Ti, it roughly provided the same performance as the RTX 4060 in most titles, even gunning ahead of it in some titles thanks to its 11GB VRAM capacity.

Of course, I wouldn’t necessarily recommend purchasing a 1080 Ti in 2024; however, those who own the card will still be satisfied with the experience they are getting 7 years after the card’s initial launch.

Huge OC Headroom

One of the best things about the GTX 1080 Ti was its overclocking headroom, which was an enthusiast’s dream. Even the lower-end variants of the card that didn’t come with the best possible cooler could be modestly overclocked without running into major hiccups.

1080 Ti Overclocked (Image Via Gamers Nexus)

When overclocked, the 1080 Ti even gained a small lead over the RTX 4060 Ti, which is an impressive feat. Don’t get me wrong, its overclocking capabilities aren’t the best in the world; however, when it came down to it, the 1080 Ti overclocked well.

Of course, you didn’t necessarily need to overclock the 1080 Ti, and most did consider its stock clocks to be more than enough for most tasks.

Lives Up To Its Title

With decent overclocking headroom, a solid price-to-performance ratio, and essentially no competition in its range, the 1080 Ti is considered among the best GPUs ever released. Even 7 years after its launch, the card has consistently managed to surprise me with its results in modern triple-A games, and while it may not be the beast it once was, it’s safe to say that it still lives up to its title.

Unfortunately, it seems like Nvidia has no real plans of launching a real successor to the 1080 Ti either. Sure, the 4090 might be the best-performing card, but it comes nowhere close to the value the 1080 Ti provided at the time of its release.

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