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The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 and 1080 Ti are iconic graphics cards that shaped the golden age of PC gaming. Even though they were released years ago during the Pascal era, they’re still loved by gamers and creators in 2025. If you’re building a budget gaming PC, upgrading an older system, or just curious about their performance today, this review will explain everything, from specs and benchmarks to cooling, drivers, and real-world results in clear and simple language.
| GTX 1080 | GTX 1080 Ti |
| The NVIDIA GTX 1080 was released on May 27, 2016, and it completely changed the world of PC gaming. It was NVIDIA’s top graphics card at the time and one of the first to use the new Pascal (GP104) design faster, more efficient, and more powerful than anything before it. The 1080 could easily handle 1440p gaming and even managed many games in 4K smoothly. Its great balance of power and performance made it a favorite for gamers and creators who wanted strong results without spending too much money. | The GTX 1080 Ti launched on March 10, 2017, and it pushed things even further. With a larger GP102 GPU, more CUDA cores, and faster memory, it delivered a big jump in performance. People called it a “Titan X for gamers” because it offered almost the same power as NVIDIA’s expensive pro card but at a much lower cost. It quickly became the go-to choice for players who wanted ultra graphics settings, high frame rates, and smooth 4K gameplay. |
What Makes Both Special:
Both of these graphics cards were made with 16nm FinFET technology, which helped them stay fast, cool, and efficient when they were released. They support modern graphics features like DirectX 12, OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan, so they can still play most new games and run apps without any trouble today. The GTX 1080 and 1080 Ti raised the bar for gaming performance and even years later, many gamers still see them as reliable and powerful choices.
Specifications Benchmarks
| Feature | GeForce GTX 1080 | GeForce GTX 1080 Ti |
|---|---|---|
| GPU Architecture | Pascal (GP104) | Pascal (GP102) |
| Release Date | May 27, 2016 | March 10, 2017 |
| CUDA Cores | 2560 | 3584 |
| Base Clock | 1607 MHz | 1480 MHz |
| Boost Clock | 1733 MHz | 1582 MHz |
| Memory | 8 GB GDDR5X | 11 GB GDDR5X |
| Memory Bus | 256-bit | 352-bit |
| Memory Bandwidth | 320 GB/s | 484 GB/s |
| TDP | 180W | 250W |
| Recommended PSU | 500W | 600W |
| SLI Support | Yes (2-Way) | Yes (2-Way) |
In Short
The GTX 1080 Ti is a significantly more powerful GPU with 40% more CUDA cores, wider memory bus, and 50% higher memory bandwidth, all of which translate into a noticeable leap in real-world performance.
Gaming Performance Benchmarks
Even in 2025, both the GTX 1080 and GTX 1080 Ti are surprisingly capable, especially at 1080p and 1440p. Here’s how they perform in some of the most popular titles:
| Game (Ultra Settings) | GTX 1080 (1080p) | GTX 1080 Ti (1080p) | GTX 1080 (1440p) | GTX 1080 Ti (1440p) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GTA V | 150 FPS | 190 FPS | 110 FPS | 145 FPS |
| Fortnite | 160 FPS | 200 FPS | 115 FPS | 155 FPS |
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 52 FPS | 70 FPS | 38 FPS | 56 FPS |
| Call of Duty: Warzone | 120 FPS | 160 FPS | 85 FPS | 120 FPS |
| Hogwarts Legacy | 60 FPS | 78 FPS | 45 FPS | 63 FPS |
In Short
he GTX 1080 Ti delivers roughly 25–35% more FPS across most games. If you’re targeting 1440p or light 4K gaming, the Ti remains a far better choice. For 1080p esports titles, the GTX 1080 still holds its own.
Content Creation & AI/ML Performance:
If you’re into video editing, 3D design, or AI projects, things like CUDA cores and memory bandwidth are more important than gaming FPS. Here’s how the two GPUs stack up in real work tasks:
| Task | GTX 1080 | GTX 1080 Ti |
|---|---|---|
| 4K Video Editing (Adobe Premiere Pro) | Smooth, but a bit of lag with heavy effects | Smooth and faster, about 25% quicker rendering |
| 3D Rendering (Blender, Cycles) | Decent speed | Much faster, about 30–40% improvement |
| AI/ML Inference (TensorFlow, PyTorch) | Works for small models only | Can handle larger models and trains them faster |
| Photoshop / Lightroom | Fast | Even faster and more responsive |
Thanks to its extra CUDA cores and higher memory bandwidth, the GTX 1080 Ti is clearly the better choice for creators, designers, and AI enthusiasts, especially if you work on large projects or complex models.
Want to know how GPUs accelerate real-world creative projects? Check out (GPU in Multimedia)
Thermals and Cooling Performance
Heat plays a big part in how well a GPU performs and how long it lasts. Here’s how the GTX 1080 and 1080 Ti handle temperature when in use:
| Condition | GTX 1080 | GTX 1080 Ti |
|---|---|---|
| Idle (no heavy use) | 32–35 °C | 33–36 °C |
| Gaming Load | 72–76 °C | 75–80 °C |
| Full Load (Stress Test) | 78–82 °C | 80–85 °C |
In Short
Both GPUs stay within safe temperature limits, but the GTX 1080 Ti tends to run a bit hotter because it uses more power. If you plan on long gaming sessions, video rendering, or heavy workloads, it’s a good idea to use a better cooling solution or set a custom fan curve to keep temperatures low and performance stable.
Both the GTX 1080 and GTX 1080 Ti run pretty cool for their age, but keeping your GPU within a safe temperature range is still super important, especially if you’re overclocking or gaming for long hours. If you want to know what ‘safe’ really means, check out our detailed guide on the (Average Temperature for GPU)
Power Requirements
Power requirements are important when choosing a GPU, especially if you’re building or upgrading a PC. The GTX 1080 is more power-efficient, while the GTX 1080 Ti uses more energy but also gives you more performance in return:
- GTX 1080: 180W TDP & recommended power supply: 500W
- GTX 1080 Ti: 250W TDP & recommended power supply: 600W
pro Tip:
Make sure your power supply is rated 80+ Bronze or higher and has the right 8-pin connectors before installing these cards. If you want to save on electricity or reduce heat, undervolting the GTX 1080 Ti can make it more efficient without losing much performance.
Price & Value in 2025
One of the best things about the GTX 1080 and GTX 1080 Ti today is how much power you can still get for a relatively low price, especially on the used market. Since both cards are no longer produced, most listings you’ll find are second-hand or refurbished, but they’re still widely available.
Here’s a quick look at the average resale prices in 2025:
| GPU | Typical Used Price (USD) | What to Expect |
|---|---|---|
| GTX 1080 | $80 – $120 | Great value for 1080p and even 1440p gaming. Ideal for budget builds or upgrading older systems. |
| GTX 1080 Ti | $120 – $180 | A more powerful card for heavier gaming, 4K performance, and creative workloads without breaking the bank. |
Pro Tip:
Prices vary based on condition, brand, and cooling design, so it’s worth checking multiple listings and looking for cards from trusted sellers. Even though they’re older, both GPUs still offer impressive performance per dollar and the GTX 1080 Ti, in particular, often delivers power that rivals much newer mid-range cards for a fraction of the cost.
Drivers & Software Support in 2025
Even though the GTX 1080 and GTX 1080 Ti are now several years old, they’re still supported by NVIDIA’s latest Game Ready Drivers, which means you can keep running modern games and creative software without major issues. NVIDIA continues to release updates for the Pascal series, ensuring solid performance, security, and compatibility with new titles, even in 2025.
Here’s the current situation:
- Driver Version: 555.xx+ (latest versions still support both GPUs)
- DLSS Support: Not available, since Pascal cards don’t support DLSS natively.
- NVIDIA Studio Drivers: Fully supported, making these GPUs a good choice for tasks like video editing, 3D rendering, and design work.
- NVENC Encoder: Supported and very useful for streaming, video rendering, and content creation.
In Short
Both GPUs still get regular driver updates and run most modern games and creative apps without any problems. However, since they don’t support DLSS and only offer basic ray tracing, they’re beginning to fall behind newer RTX graphics cards that come with more advanced features. Still, if you’re not focused on the latest AI-powered upgrades, the GTX 1080 and 1080 Ti are reliable, powerful, and budget-friendly choices even in 2025.
Overclocking & SLI
Overclocking:
Both the GTX 1080 and 1080 Ti can be pushed beyond their stock speeds to get more performance. With proper cooling:
- GTX 1080 usually reaches around 1950 MHz boost clock
- GTX 1080 Ti often goes up to about 2000 MHz boost clock
This extra speed can give you roughly 5–10% more performance, which is helpful for gaming, rendering, or heavy creative work.
SLI (Scalable Link Interface):
Both cards support 2 way SLI, which means you can connect two GPUs to work together. However, modern games rarely support SLI anymore, so you won’t see big gains in most titles. It’s mainly useful for professional rendering, simulation tasks, or older games that still benefit from multiple GPUs.
Key Advantages & Limitations
GTX 1080
| What’s good | What’s not |
| The GTX 1080 and 1080 Ti still offer great 1080p and 1440p gaming performance even today, making them a solid choice for most gamers. They’re also known for their low power consumption and heat output, which helps keep systems cooler and more efficient. On top of that, they’re much more affordable on the used market now, making them excellent options for budget-friendly builds without sacrificing too much performance. | While these GPUs still perform well at lower resolutions, they struggle with 4K gaming in modern AAA titles and may not deliver smooth frame rates at ultra settings. They’re also less powerful for content creation and AI workloads, limiting their use for professional tasks. Additionally, the lack of DLSS and ray tracing support means they miss out on some of the latest visual and performance enhancing features found in newer GPUs. |
GTX 1080 Ti
| What’s good | What’s not |
| The GTX 1080 Ti delivers excellent 1440p performance and solid 4K gaming capabilities, making it a strong choice even today. It’s also superior in rendering, video editing, and AI tasks, thanks to its higher memory bandwidth and larger number of CUDA cores. Even in 2025, it remains a reliable and relevant option for mid-range PC builds that balance performance and value. | The GTX 1080 Ti does come with a few downsides, such as higher power consumption and hotter temperatures compared to newer GPUs. It’s also more expensive on the used market, which can make it less appealing for budget builds. Additionally, it lacks modern features like DLSS and dedicated RT cores, meaning it can’t take full advantage of the latest gaming technologies. |
What We Think…
Both of these GPUs are legends, and even in 2025, they still pack a punch, but they’re made for slightly different types of people.
GTX 1080 is a great pick if you’re on a budget and just want smooth gameplay at 1080p or 1440p. It’s perfect for esports titles, older games, or anyone building a mid-range PC without spending too much.
GTX 1080 Ti, on the other hand, is simply the stronger card. It delivers higher FPS, handles heavier games, and does way better in content creation tasks like editing or 3D rendering. It’s the smarter choice if you care about performance or want your GPU to stay relevant for a few more years.
Our pick:
Go with the GTX 1080 Ti if you can find one for a good price, it’s still a beast in 2025 and gives you a lot more power for the money. But if your budget is tight, the regular GTX 1080 will still do the job just fine.
