RTX 4080 Super vs RTX 4090: Worth Upgrading? [Tested]

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Uzair Qureshi

At Tech4Gamers, I proudly wear the title of Comparisons Specialist. Focused on CPUs and GPUs, I bring forth a wealth of hands-on experience and a keen eye for detail to provide our audience with the latest insights and analyses.

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Pros And Cons 

Comparison Table

Architectural Differences

1. Clock Speed: The RTX 4090 has a base clock speed of 2235MHz, which is slightly lower than the base clock speed of the RTX 4080 Super at 2295MHz. The same slight advantage is extended to the boost clocks, with the RTX 4090 hovering around 2520MHz while the RTX 4080 Super boosts at around 2550MHz.
2. VRAM: The RTX 4090 has a VRAM buffer of 24GB, carried over a 384-bit bus, while the RTX 4080 Super has a VRAM buffer of 16GB, carried over a 256-bit bus. As games become more VRAM intensive, the extra chuck of memory of the RTX 4090 will become more valuable. 
3. TDP: The RTX 4090 is rated for a higher power draw of 450 watts, while the RTX 4080 Super’s TDP is much more manageable by comparison at around 320 watts.
4. Processing Nodes: Both the RTX 4090 and the RTX 4080 Super utilize 5nm processing nodes from TSMC, allowing both to have excellent efficiency.

Editor`s Note

The RTX 4090 has almost 60% more Cude cores than the RTX 4080 Super, accompanied by 60% more RT and Tensor cores as well, which should maintain a solid lead over the performance of the RTX 4080 Super. Keep reading to find out how these increases relate to gaming performance!

– Uzair Qureshi

Nvidia recently unveiled a higher SKU of the RTX 4080, known as the RTX 4080 Super. While the RTX 4090 naturally surpasses it, the extent of the performance gap will be explored in the ongoing comparison of the RTX 4080 Super vs RTX 4090. Stay tuned to discover the details!

Gaming Performance – 4K

Now that we have broken down the architecture of the RTX 4080 Super vs RTX 4090, this part of our analysis will focus on the performance of these cards in modern games. The evaluations were carried out on a measured test bench, and the specifications for this setup are provided below:

Test Bench

• CPU: Core i9 13900K
• Motherboard: ASUS TUF Gaming Z690-Plus 
• RAM:  G.Skill Ripjaws S5 6000MHz DDR5
• SSD: XPG GAMMIX S70 BLADE 2TB NVMe
• CPU Cooler: Arctic Liquid Freezer II 360 – AIO Water Cooler
• PSU: ENERMAX REVOLUTION D.F. X 1050W

Alan Wake 2

• Testing Alan Wake 2 with Path Tracing, DLSS frame generation, and DLSS, the RTX 4090 achieved a playable 74 FPS average, outpacing the RTX 4080 Super by 37%, which held a slower average framerate of 54 FPS.
• The 1% lows of the RTX 4080 Super were around 45 FPS, while the RTX 4090 was about 25% faster, with lows of around 56 FPS. This kicked off our testing with a distinct difference between the performance of these two cards.

Forza Horizon 5

• At extreme settings, the RTX 4090 averaged 184 FPS, outpacing the RTX 4080 Super by 26%, which managed 146 FPS. However, the experience was similar as both cards are limited to a maximum 144Hz output at 4k.
• The difference in 1% lows was also around 25%, with the RTX 4090 dipping to around 153 FPS in our testing, while the RTX 4080 Super went down to around 122 FPS.

Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty

• Utilizing Ultra settings, Path Tracing, and DLSS 3, we achieved 77 FPS on average in Cyberpunk 2077. The RTX 4080 Super, trailing by 26%, managed 61 FPS. Note that employing frame generation at low base framerates may result in artefacts.
• The difference in performance between these two cards grew to 31% when we measured 1% lows, with the RTX 4090 hovering around 59 FPS, while the RTX 4080 Super stayed closer to 45 FPS.

Red Dead Redemption 2

• In RDR2 at Ultra settings, the RTX 4090 averaged 133 FPS, surpassing the RTX 4080 Super by about 25%. Both cards ran the game smoothly, with the RTX 4080 Super achieving an average framerate of around 106 FPS.
• The 1% lows showed a 20% difference in this game, with the RTX 4090 at around 100 FPS and the RTX 4080 dropping to 83 FPS in graphically intense scenarios.

Starfield

• Turning on the Ultra settings in Starfield gave the RTX 4090 an average framerate of around 76 FPS, while the RTX 4080 Super was at a 29% loss with its average of 59 FPS. 
• The 1% lows were much closer in this game, with the RTX 4090 going down to around 55 FPS in hard-to-render scenes, while the RTX 4080 Super pushed its limits with lows of 49 FPS.

Avatar Frontiers Of Pandora

• At the Ultra settings with DLSS Q enabled, the RTX 4090 had an average framerate of 101 FPS in Avatar Frontiers Of Pandora, while the RTX 4080 Super was a whopping 31% behind, averaging around 77 FPS.
• 1% lows were 24.5% apart in this game, with the RTX 4090 hitting its low point at around 66 FPS, while the RTX 4080 Super managed a framerate of around 53 FPS as its minimum.

Microsoft Flight Simulator

• The demanding game ran smoothly on both cards, with the RTX 4090 averaging 100 FPS and the RTX 4080 Super at 76 FPS. The lower framerate of the 4080 Super didn’t impact performance in this slower-paced game.
• The RTX 4080 Super reported 1% lows of 62 FPS in this game, while the RTX 4090 reported lows of 72 FPS, 16% faster than its rival. This difference was more noticeable, but it made neither gaming experience unenjoyable. 

The Witcher 3

• The next-gen version of The Witcher 3 saw the RTX 4090 at 72 FPS, while the RTX 4080 Super had choppier framerates at around 59 FPS, marking a 22% performance difference.
• A 31% difference arose in the 1% lows of these cards, with the RTX 4090 flying close to 59 FPS in graphically intense scenes, while the RTX 4080 Super had lows closer to 45 FPS.

The Last Of Us Part 1

• In the final game of our testing, the RTX 4090 averaged 98 FPS, while the RTX 4080 Super managed 74 FPS at Ultra settings, resulting in a 32% difference.
• The 1% lows in this game were 33% apart on both cards, with the RTX 4090 coming at around 84 FPS, while the RTX 4080 Super had lows closer to 63 FPS.

Overall Gaming Performance

In gaming tests, the RTX 4080 Super falls significantly short compared to the RTX 4090, with a substantial 28.5% difference in average FPS. Testing games with frame generation showcases its benefits for performance. The 1% lows showed a 24% advantage for the 4090. 

Power Consumption

During gaming tests, the RTX 4090 showed approximately 30% higher power consumption than the RTX 4080 Super, emphasizing the substantial energy demands of the latter. If your existing power supply is configured for GPUs from previous generations, upgrading to meet the power requirements of the RTX 4090 becomes almost inevitable.

Price And Value

Being the highest-end card available on the consumer market, the RTX 4090 was launched with a huge price tag. Supply shortages and scalpers have forced the price of this card to go even further beyond this. The price tag of the RTX 4080 Super is also abysmal, but it seems like a bargain compared to the RTX 4090.

Conclusion

RTX 4090: If you are seeking the best performance, the RTX 4090 is unrivalled as the top-performing consumer graphics card. However, be prepared for a necessary power supply upgrade and ensure a high-end CPU to avoid bottlenecking this powerhouse.

RTX 4080 Super: While the RTX 4080 Super doesn’t provide a substantial upgrade over the RTX 4080, its price reduction to $1199 and a slight performance boost make it a reasonable choice for high-end 4k gaming. Although not capable of maxing out settings in the most demanding games, it delivers a satisfying gaming experience.

To conclude, the decision between the RTX 4080 Super vs RTX 4090 is between luxury and ultra-luxury. For the few people who can afford the RTX 4090, nothing else is quite like it on the planet. However, if you feel the need to balance out your system’s price-to-performance ratio, the RTX 4080 Super does the trick.

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Uzair Qureshi

[Comparisons Specialist]

I’m a passionate computer hardware expert specializing in CPUs and GPUs. With a lifelong curiosity for hardware and extensive hands-on experience, I provide valuable insights, practical advice, and in-depth analysis on these components. Engaging with the hardware community, I exchange knowledge and stay at the forefront of technological advancements.

Get In Touch: uzair@tech4gamers.com