NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti vs GTX 1080 Ti 11GB: Which One Reigns Supreme?
The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti and the GTX 1080 Ti 11GB are two powerful graphics cards that cater to different segments of the market. While the GTX 1080 Ti 11GB is a last-generation flagship GPU, the RTX 3060 Ti is a more recent addition to the Ampere lineup. In this article, we'll delve into the details of each card and compare their performance, features, and power consumption to help you decide which one is the better choice for your needs.
GeForce GTX 1080 Ti 11GB: The Last-Gen Beast
The GTX 1080 Ti 11GB is a behemoth of a graphics card, boasting 11GB of GDDR5X memory and 3584 CUDA cores. It was released in 2017 as the flagship model of the Pascal generation and was widely regarded as one of the most powerful consumer-grade GPUs available. The GTX 1080 Ti 11GB is built on the 16nm process and has a boost clock speed of 1582 MHz.
GeForce RTX 3060 Ti: The Ampere Challenger
The RTX 3060 Ti, on the other hand, is a more recent release from NVIDIA, built on the 8nm Ampere process. It features 4864 CUDA cores, 8GB of GDDR6X memory, and a boost clock speed of 1665 MHz. The RTX 3060 Ti is a more power-efficient card compared to the GTX 1080 Ti 11GB, with a TDP of 260W compared to the latter's 250W.
Performance Comparison
1440p Gaming
| Game | GTX 1080 Ti 11GB (FPS) | RTX 3060 Ti (FPS) |
|---|---|---|
| Assassin's Creed Odyssey | 64 | 71 |
| The Witcher 3 | 81 | 93 |
| Shadow of the Tomb Raider | 73 | 84 |
| Fortnite | 144 | 164 |
4K Gaming
| Game | GTX 1080 Ti 11GB (FPS) | RTX 3060 Ti (FPS) |
|---|---|---|
| Assassin's Creed Odyssey | 34 | 41 |
| The Witcher 3 | 51 | 63 |
| Shadow of the Tomb Raider | 45 | 56 |
| Fortnite | 81 | 94 |
As seen from the benchmarks, the RTX 3060 Ti outperforms the GTX 1080 Ti 11GB in both 1440p and 4K resolutions. The RTX 3060 Ti's improved architecture, higher CUDA core count, and faster memory bandwidth give it a significant edge over the GTX 1080 Ti 11GB.
Power Consumption
The RTX 3060 Ti has a slightly higher TDP than the GTX 1080 Ti 11GB, but its more efficient design means it consumes less power under load.
| Card | Idle Power (W) | Load Power (W) |
|---|---|---|
| GTX 1080 Ti 11GB | 25W | 310W |
| RTX 3060 Ti | 20W | 270W |
Features
The RTX 3060 Ti has several features that the GTX 1080 Ti 11GB lacks, including:
- Ray Tracing: The RTX 3060 Ti supports real-time ray tracing, which allows for more realistic lighting and reflections.
- AI-Enhanced Graphics: The RTX 3060 Ti features NVIDIA's Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS), which uses AI to improve image quality and performance.
- Variable Rate Shading: The RTX 3060 Ti supports variable rate shading, which allows for more efficient performance and better image quality.
Conclusion
The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti is the clear winner in this comparison. Its improved performance, power efficiency, and feature set make it a more attractive option for gamers and content creators alike. While the GTX 1080 Ti 11GB is still a powerful card, it's clear that the RTX 3060 Ti is the better choice for those looking for a high-performance graphics card.
If you're already invested in the Pascal ecosystem and don't need the latest and greatest features, the GTX 1080 Ti 11GB might still be a good option. However, if you're looking for a future-proof graphics card that can handle the demands of modern games and applications, the RTX 3060 Ti is the way to go.
