NVIDIA GTX 1080 vs. 1080 Ti: Which you should buy, and why?

GTX 1080 Ti
GTX 1080 Ti

GTX 1080

GTX 1080

The NVIDIA GTX 1080 is an excellent graphics card for 1440p and some light 4K gaming. The GTX 1080 Ti is a more expensive version of the same card with more memory, bandwidth, and other improvements to push even more pixels through to connected monitors. The question is which is best for you? This depends on a number of factors, including what games you play, what resolution you game at, and your available budget.

Comparing specs

Swipe to scroll horizontally
CategoryGTX 1080GTX 1080 Ti
Fab16 nm16 nm
Transistors7.2 billion12 billion
Die size314 nm471 nm
Base clock1607 MHz1480 MHz
Boost clock1733 MHz1582 MHz
Memory8GB GDDR511GB GDDR5
Memory clock1251 MHz1376 MHz
Memory bandwidth224.4 GB/s484.4 GB/s
Texture rate257 GT/s331 GT/s
Pixel rate102 GP/s130 GP/s
TDP180W250W

NVIDIA GTX 1080

GTX 1080

GTX 1080

Launched in May 2016, the GTX 1080 replaced the aging GTX 980 and was considered by many to be a substantial step up in gaming performance. Sporting just over seven billion transistors, it's a powerful family of cards that can really pack a punch when matched with a capable CPU, like an i5-7700K or above. Should you be looking to upgrade from an older generation of GPUs, migrate from AMD cards, or look to put together a new PC, the GTX 1080 is a solid option.

It's a card that's great at 1440p but is unable to really push 4K content at an acceptable frames-per-second (FPS) rate without dropping quality. If you're only rocking a 1080p display and aren't looking to get a new one anytime soon, you'd be better off with a GTX 1060 or GTX 1070. Prices are around $549.

Pros:

  • Great for 1440p.
  • Excellent value.

Cons:

  • Not powerful enough for 4K.

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NVIDIA GTX 1080 Ti

The only reasons you'd really need to pick up a NVIDIA GTX 1080 Ti is if you have the necessary funds available, require the extra horsepower for 4K gaming and are unable to pick up an Nvidia Titan X. The issue with the Ti version of the 1080 is the diminishing returns for your money. This card is more expensive than the 1080 and offers more performance but the frame rate gain for the price makes it harder to justify.

That said, should you happen to get hold of one and install it inside your gaming rig, it'll transform your PC into a kick-ass interactive entertainment machine. The Ti usually goes for around $699.

Pros:

  • Great for 1440p and some 4K.
  • Stunning performance.

Cons:

  • Doesn't offer great value for money.
  • Same TDP as Titan series (250W).

See at Best Buy

No wrong choice

Thankfully, regardless of which option you go for, there's no "wrong" choice. Both the GTX 1080 and Ti GPUs offer excellent levels of performance and will be able to play anything at 1440p with high settings configured, placing them among the best graphics card options available. Go with the GTX 1080 if you're on a tighter budget but need the power to get through more demanding titles. The Ti is a great upgrade for those where money is not an issue. For everyone else, hold off and see what 2018 brings.

Rich Edmonds
Senior Editor, PC Build

Rich Edmonds was formerly a Senior Editor of PC hardware at Windows Central, covering everything related to PC components and NAS. He's been involved in technology for more than a decade and knows a thing or two about the magic inside a PC chassis. You can follow him on Twitter at @RichEdmonds.