RTX 4060 Ti Vs RTX 2080: Should You Upgrade?

In this comparison of the RTX 4060 Ti vs RTX 2080, we will test both GPUs in gaming benchmarks to see how they perform against each other. Our main goal? To help you select the right GPU for your rig. 

Key Takeaways

• The RTX 4060 Ti was about 20% faster than the RTX 2080 at our testing at 1440p without DLSS enabled.
• The TDP RTX 4060 Ti is also 34% lower than that of the RTX 2080, making it a more power-efficient card.
• The DLSS 3 frame generation of the RTX 4060 Ti can double the framerate of games in which it is supported.
• The RTX 2080 can be had for almost half the price of the RTX 4060 Ti.

RTX 4060 Ti Vs RTX 2080

Comparison Table

Architectural Differences

1. Process Size: The RTX 2080 has an older and less complex 12nm manufacturing process, whereas the RTX 4060 Ti uses a modern 5nm manufacturing process, which allows this card t be more power efficient than the RTX 2080 whilst being more powerful.
2. Clock Speeds: The RTX 2080 has a base clock speed of 2310MHz, while it can boost slightly higher to up to 2535MHz. The RTX 2080, however, has a much lower base clock at 1515MHz and a lower boost clock as well at 1710MHz.
3. VRAM: The RTX 4060 Ti comes in two VRAM configurations, one at 8GB and one at 16GB, for a 100-dollar price hike. The RTX 2080, however, is stuck with 8GB of GDDR6 VRAM, which is getting rather small for modern games.
4. TDP: The newer and more power-efficient design of the RTX 4060 Ti allows it to have a low TDP of 160W, whereas the RTX 2080 utilizes much more power at 215W. This allows the RTX 4060 Ti to get by with a smaller power supply, potentially allowing you to save on power supply upgrade costs and your power bill.
5. Bus Width: Despite the RTX 4060 Ti being more powerful than the RTX 2080 in all other regards, it has half the bus width of the older card, which is 128-bit vs the 2080’s 256-bit. 
6. Other Features: The greater number of Tensor and RT Cores on the RTX 4060 Ti along with their more refined technology blow the RTX 2080’s first generation implementation out of the water, allowing for path tracing and frame generation technology.

Benchmarks

Now that we know how the hardware of the two cards has changed, this part of the RTX 4060 Ti vs RTX 2080 comparison will concern itself with explaining the difference in real-world gaming performance between these two GPUs.

The benchmarks shown in this section were conducted using a testbench designed to eliminate CPU bottlenecking in these cards using the 1440p resolution, and the specifications of this testbench are written below:

• CPU – AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
• RAM – 2x16GB DDR4 3600MHz G.Skill 
• SSD – Samsung 980 Pro
• Power Supply – CORSAIR RM850i 850W
• CPU Cooler – Zalman CNPS10X Performa
• OS – Windows 10 Pro
• MOBO – ASUS ROG X570 Crosshair VIII Hero

We conducted these tests accurately measuring the pure performance capabilities of both cards by not utilizing ray tracing or DLSS.

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla

• In the thrilling world of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, the RTX 4060 Ti managed better average framerates. It had an average framerate of 70 FPS, whereas the RTX 2080 had an average framerate closer to 60 FPS.
• The performance difference was decreased in terms of 1% lows, with the RTX 4060 Ti having lows of 58 FPS, whereas the RTX 2080 had a slightly lower 54 FPS.
• Temperatures were higher on the older card, with the RTX 2080 reaching a peak temperature of 66°C, whereas the RTX 4060 Ti had a lower temperature of around 64°C.

Similar Comparison: RTX 4060 Vs RTX 2080

Cyberpunk 2077

• In the more modern game of Cyberpunk 2077, the RTX 4060 Ti was quite a bit faster than the 2080. It managed an average framerate of 76 FPS, whereas the RTX 2080 seemed rather sluggish, with a lower average of 62 FPS.
• 1% lows remained quite a bit better on the newer card, with the RTX 4060 Ti having a minimum of 66 FPS, whereas the RTX 2080 fell below the 60 FPS mark with a minimum of 54 FPS.
• The temperatures were also better on the RTX 4060 Ti, peaking at around 65°C, whereas the RTX 2080 was ever so slightly warmer at a peak temperature of around 66°C.

Also Read: RTX 4060 Ti Vs RTX 2080 Ti

Watch Dogs Legion

• Watch Dogs Legion showed continued growth in the disparity between the performance of the RTX 4060 Ti and the RTX 2080. The older card had an average of 65 FPS, whereas the RTX 4060 Ti had a framerate of around 95 FPS.
• The RTX 4060 Ti was also much further ahead in terms of 1% lows, having a minimum framerate of around 79 FPS, whereas the RTX 2080 had a minimum framerate of around 44 FPS.
• As we’ve seen in the previous games, the RTX 4060 Ti ran a bit cooler than its competition in this game, reaching a peak temperature of 63°C, whereas the RTX 2080 had a peak temperature of 65°C.

Also Check: RTX 2080 Vs RTX 3080

Red Dead Redemption 2

• Red Dead Redemption 2 also ran much better on the newer card on average with a framerate of 92 FPS, whereas the RTX 2080 showed its age with a much lower average of 63 FPS.
• 1% lows also held no regard for the age of the RTX 2080, with the card having a minimum framerate of 44 FPS, whereas the RTX 4060 Ti had a framerate of around 78 FPS at its lowest in graphically intense scenarios.
• As seen before, the temperatures were slightly warmer on the older card, running at a peak of 65°C, whereas the RTX 4060 Ti had a peak temperature of around 64°C.

Similar Comparison: RTX 4060 Ti Vs RX 6750 XT

Doom Eternal

• This monumentally well-optimized game allowed both cards to come close to each other in terms of average framerate, though this might be because when framerates are so high, your CPU becomes the bottleneck. Regardless, the RTX 4060 had an average framerate of 156 FPS, whereas the RTX 2080 had a slightly lower framerate of around 151 FPS.
• Though the difference between the 1% lows of both cards was larger than the average framerates, you’d be hard-pressed to feel the difference while actually playing the game. The RTX 4060 Ti had a minimum framerate of 137 FPS, whereas the RTX 2080 came in significantly, though unnoticeably lower, with a framerate of 126 FPS.
• Temperatures skyrocketed on our RTX 4060 Ti in this game, reaching a peak of 74°C, whereas the RTX 2080 remained relatively cool at a peak temperature of 63°C.

Also Check: GTX 1080 Vs RTX 2080

Horizon Zero Dawn

• The lead of the RTX 4060 Ti continued in Horizon Zero Dawn, with an average of 115 FPS compared to a lower average of 105 FPS on the older RTX 2080.
• The 1% lows were also not that far apart in this game, with the RTX 4060 Ti having a minimum framerate of 90 FPS, whereas the RTX 2080 had a minimum framerate of 84 FPS. The difference between these two is mostly unnoticeable for most gamers.
• The temperature difference flipped on top of its head with this game. The RTX 4060 Ti was substantially warmer than the RTX 2080, with a temperature of 65°C, whereas the 80 series card had a peak temperature of 60°C.

Also Read: RTX 4060 Ti Vs RX 6600

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey

• Rounding out these gaming benchmarks with AC Odyssey, the RTX 4060 Ti ran quite a bit faster than the RTX 2080. The newer card maintained an average framerate of 98 FPS, whereas the older RTX 2080 had a framerate of around 75 FPS.
• 1% lows were even more apart in this game than the averages, with RTX 2080 reaching 60 FPS as its minimum framerate, whereas the RTX 4060 Ti had relatively high 1% lows of 88 FPS.
• Temperatures were once again higher on the RTX 4060 Ti in this game by a substantial margin. The RTX 4060 Ti had a peak temperature of around 73°C, whereas the RTX 2080 stayed relatively cool at a temperature of 62°C.

Similar Comparison: RTX 2070 Vs RTX 2080

Overall Gaming Performance

Now that we’ve measured the performance of the RTX 4060 Ti vs RTX 2080 on a game-to-game basis, this part of the comparison will highlight the averages of these values, indicating what you’d get with each card if you decide to purchase it.

Framerate

• On average, the RTX 4060 Ti had a framerate of 100 FPS, whereas the RTX 2080 had a framerate of 83 FPS. This means that the RTX 4060 Ti has a 20% lead over the RTX 2080 in raw performance. 
• Coming to 1% lows, the RTX 4060 Ti allowed around 85 FPS, whereas the RTX 2080 had lows of 66 FPS. This means that the RTX 4060 Ti is prone to less stuttering while playing graphically intense games.
• The results we found today were irrespective of any upscaling software like DLSS. If we used DLSS, the RTX 4060 Ti would only strengthen its lead because of its frame generation technology.
• Ray tracing was also not utilized in this comparison, though it is safe to assume that the 3rd gen RT cores coupled with the higher base performance of the RTX 4060 Ti will definitely make it a better option for ray-traced gaming.

Also Read: RTX 4060 Ti Vs RTX 3060

Temperature

• The RTX 4060 Ti had an average peak temperature of 67°C, whereas the RTX 2080 had a temperature of 65°C.
• The temperatures measured for the RTX 4060 Ti were higher than 2080, but they were not reason for concern.
• Both cards performed well within safe margins of temperature.

Price To Performance 

• The RTX 4060 Ti 8GB has a price-to-performance ratio of 0.25 frames/dollar, according to the games we tested today.
• The RTX 2080 has about twice the price-to-performance ratio of the RTX 4060 Ti at 0.48 frames/dollar.

Consider Reading: RTX 4060 Ti Vs RTX 3080

Price And Availability

• The RTX 4060 Ti can be had new for $399 for the 8GB variant, whereas the 16GB variant has an MSRP of $499.
• The RTX 2080 only came in one variant with a launch MSRP of $699, but it can be had for around $170 on the used market because of its considerable age.
• The RTX 4060 Ti should be easily found in computer part retailers near you, but the RTX 2080 might be hard to find because of its age. Still, you should be able to find both of them at any online retailer of your choice.

RTX 2080 Vs RTX 4060 Ti: Which One Should You Go For?

Now that we’ve covered all aspects of these cards that might affect your purchasing decision, this part of the RTX 4060 Ti vs RTX 2080 comparison will guide you toward the best graphics card for your gaming needs.

• The RTX 4060 Ti has about 20% more performance than the RTX 2080 in raw performance. The lead of performance of the RTX 4060 Ti will only grow if we consider its frame generation technology.
• The RTX 4060 Ti also has a 34% lower TDP than the RTX 2080, making it the more efficient graphics card of the two.
• The 2080, however, is the more dollar-efficient graphics card, as it has almost twice the performance per dollar of the RTX 4060 Ti, making it a solid entry-level card.
• The DLSS 2 technology on the RTX 2080, though not as useful as the frame generation technology on the RTX 4060 Ti, still goes a long way in bettering the gaming experience of your system.

Pros And Cons