comparison of performance and features • Eurogamer.net

After years of development, Nvidia's new Turing graphics cards have arrived – RTX 2080 and RTX 2080 Ti. While the RTX 2080 Ti offers a clear performance advantage over the best of the latest generation of Pascal cards (plus a ton of new features), the broadly similar performance of the RTX 2080 to the GTX 1080 Ti makes it a less obvious choice. Since the high-end GTX 10-series card is cheaper, does it make sense to get the RTX 2080? As usual, the answer is complicated, but this article aims to give you the information you need to make a decision in one way or in the other.

First, let 's look at the new features provided by the Turing architecture to see if any of them can potentially change games. For example, DLSS (Super-Sampling in Deep Learning) can dramatically improve the performance of supported titles, while real-time tracing of the names of new RTX cards can justify the extra premium for a high-end RTX card. There are also other considerations, such as improved shader models, improved connectors, and better streaming capabilities, that could justify the purchase for first users, content creators, or owners. 39, very high resolution displays.

After this brief feature discussion, we'll show you a performance comparison between the RTX 2080 and the GTX 1080 Ti, allowing you to see how these two cards are reversing positions. Most of our tests were done in 4K, where the difference between graphics cards is the most pronounced and where high-end cards make sense, but we will also have some general results to keep in mind.

We will conclude with some remarks on price and availability, which will obviously have a significant impact on your purchase decision (or lack thereof). It is also interesting to note that we have dealt extensively with many of the issues in this article in our GeForce RTX 2080 and 2080 Ti test. You should therefore check if you are still undecided when all is said or done to know more about these new cards. Without further ado, let's move on to comparison!

RTX 2080 vs. GTX 1080 Ti: Feature Comparison

Super Sampling Deep Learning (DLSS)

The DLSS is one of the most interesting features of the new Turing architecture because it has the potential to significantly boost the frame rates in the games that support it. the capacity of monitors with a high refresh rate. We have already conducted a thorough discussion on DLSS, but essentially this new feature works by rendering a low resolution image that is then upgraded by an effective deep learning algorithm that has been trained on tons of data. High-resolution images of the game to be played. This allows the RTX hardware to provide a final image that resembles the full-size standard image using approximately 50% of the shading power, which opens the door to significantly higher frame rates. high.

You can see from the tests below that DLSS activation potentially offers significantly higher performance in supported games – although at the time of writing this document we only had of a demo software to test the functionality. In a reference demo of Final Fantasy 15, the result of RTX 2080 is nearly 40% higher and we see similar benefits for the RTX 2080 Ti. Combined with the big difference in raw hardware performance between the two generations of cards, Final Fantasy 15 has an 80% jump with DLSS enabled between the GTX 1080 and the RTX 2080 – awesome things! However, even though we are confident in this technology, we only had demo software to test it – we need real games to fully verify its identity information. Currently, the Final Fantasy 15 benchmark is the best we have.

Real-time ray tracing

The new Nvidia Series 20 cards are called RTX cards rather than GTX, which refers to the real-time ray tracing capabilities of cards. Ray tracing refers to a light simulation process that bounces realistically around a scene, allowing for greater graphic fidelity through lights and shadows that seem more realistic. Real-time ray tracing was simply not viable without dedicated hardware, which is exactly what Nvidia has included on its RTX 2080 card and its partners.

However, the visual impact of ray tracing varies according to its implementation, and practice always leads to heavy performance losses, even with dedicated hardware. This can be countered somewhat by the performance benefits of DLSS, as mentioned above, but so far, we have only seen RT and DLSS combined in a demo software. We believe that real-time ray tracing is the future of game visuals, but RT is a new tool in the developer's toolbox – we need to see how many games support it and how well it performs. The reality is that in the here and now, all the game demos we've seen so far have been running on the much more powerful RTX 2080 Ti.

Turing architecture: new rendering features

In addition to the inclusion of RTX and DLSS, Nvidia's Turing GPUs include other feature enhancements over their predecessors. For example, there are new shading models, including mesh shading, which essentially allow the GPU to better control the level of detail settings, thus significantly freeing up CPU and GPU resources. while offering an identical appearance. Then there is variable-rate shading, which reduces the processing of scene elements that do not require as much attention, potentially adding 15 to 20% more performance depending on one's performance. Wolfenstein 2 demo we saw. All these technologies are potentially interesting for VR.

About virtual reality, the new RTX cards also include a single USB-C VirtualLink port, which allows you to connect next-generation VR headsets with the help of a single cable rather than separate cables for video and data. DisplayPort 1.4a is also included, just in case you would like to hook up an 8K 60Hz display with a single cable anytime soon.

Finally, video broadcasting devices and video game creators will be able to take advantage of a better NVENC encoder, which enables higher resolutions and supports a wider range of video standards. More importantly, the new version of the encoder offers better quality with less CPU usage, opening the door to 4K streaming on the most common PC configurations.

RTX 2080 vs GTX 1080 Ti: performance benchmarks

In order to give you a better idea of ​​the difference in performance between these two cards, we have tested them in nine recent games. In addition to the RT 2080 and GTX 1080 Ti models, we have also integrated their main partners: the RTX 2080 Ti and the GTX 1080. Our tests were carried out with a 4K resolution, because higher resolutions will better underline the difference in performance between these models. GPU. . However, we will also share our first 1080p and 1440p results at the end of this section, to give more information to players using high refresh rate displays (100Hz, 144Hz, or 240Hz).

To give you a better idea of ​​their gross performance, you can also see some of the relevant statistics in the table below. Note that the figures from the Founders edition are given first, with their parenthetical reference equivalents, because the FE RTX cards we tested are overclocked at the factory.

Our test results are displayed with the help of a unique Digital Foundry benchmarking system – as long as you check out the desktop version of this page. A YouTube video will show you the scene on which we tested each map, with the live frame rate and live image data embedded below.

The advantage of this added complexity is that you can use the controls to the right of the video to add or remove different maps and resolutions, allowing you to compare only the maps that interest you. Maybe you're trying to decide whether it's worth updating your GTX 1080 for a RTX 2080, or maybe it's a mix between the GTX 1080 Ti and the RTX 2080. With these commands you decide what information to see.

Below real-time telemetry, you can find quick summaries for the entire race, including the lowest and lowest five percent numbers that give you an idea of ​​how well you're doing. overall stability of each card. We must not forget that to see these different figures, we must move the mouse over the image. You can also click on the graph to switch between absolute numbers and percentages.

Without further ado, let's go to benchmarks!

Assassin & # 39; s Creed Unity

Our first game is the classic title Assassin's Creed Unity, which came out in 2014, but remains a challenge even for modern 4K GPUs and the ultra high presetting we use. The RTX 2080 delivers nearly the same performance as the GTX 1080 Ti at around 46 frames per second, while the RTX 2080 Ti becomes the first squeaker on the 60-fps waterline.

Battlefield 1

Our second test is Battlefield 1, which was released in 2016. There is no dedicated benchmark here, so we use some of the War Stories mode that places the player in a British tank that runs through the no man's land French. Although there are some peaks of picture time thanks to random explosions throughout the race, the performance is representative. The RTX 2080 Ti can display a 22% faster result than the RTX 2080, at more than 100 frames per second, while the RTX 2080 is only 80 frames per second, almost 10% more than the GTX 1080 Ti from last year. The GTX 1080 still exceeds the 60 frames per second, so no recent high-end board really has difficulties with this game, even in 4K.

Crysis 3

More than 11 years after the launch of the series and five years after its last iteration, Crysis remains the shortcut to having an awesome PC gaming – and run it in 4K remains a legitimately difficult test. Even the RTX 2080 can not reach 60 frames per second, only the RTX 2080 Ti surpasses the figure of 68 frames per second. The RTX 2080 is comparatively poor at just 52 frames per second, about 27 percent slower than the fastest new card on the market. The RTX 2080 also comes behind the GTX 1080 Ti, which surpasses it at 54fps. This may indicate that new games may be performing better on new cards, and that older games may prove relatively more difficult – although few other titles dating back to 2013 are as difficult on hardware. that Crysis!

Far Cry 5

The 2018 Far Cry 5 version replaces the Far Cry Primal 2016 in our benchmarks. The RTX 2080 Ti is once again at the top of the list, with an average result of 75 frames per second, while the RTX 2080 is 23% at 58 frames per second. However, this remains sufficient to moderately exceed the GTX 1080 Ti, which only handles 56fps in the same test.

Ghost Recon Wildlands

Ghost Recon Wildlands remains the most difficult reference we have, thanks to its ultra-detailed presetting and solid but fair built-in benchmark. Even the RTX 2080 Ti is not able to push 60 frames per second in 4K here, running at only 47 frames per second on average, while the RTX 2080 handles 39 frames per second more than the GTX 1080 Ti. This is always within reach of a G-Sync monitor and there are always beautiful presets at high and very high quality, so getting a playable result at 4K should always be eminently possible even on the smallest card RTX.

Rise of the Tomb Raider

The 2016 release of Rise of The Tomb Raider is a good test of relative performance between GPUs, although the current gameplay of the game is much more demanding. Here, the GTX 1080 Ti surpasses the RTX 2080 for the second time in six tests, although the margin is only two percent and both cards reach 60 frames per second. Meanwhile, the RTX 2080 Ti has a good 20% lead with an average score of 80 frames per second; even its lowest score of 1% is still greater than 60 frames per second.

Shadow of the Tomb Raider

Then we have a new benchmark, the 2018 version of Shadow of the Tomb Raider, which is a better indicator of the game's performance. Here, only the RTX 2080 Ti achieves an average result of about 60 frames per second at 4K, at least with the difficult settings that we have selected for this occasion. The RTX 2080 is 21% behind the RTX 2080 Ti, but nearly 10% above the GTX 1080 Ti. It should also be borne in mind that the results of the RTX 2080 could be further improved with DLSS, which we will discuss in more detail later in this piece.

The witcher 3

We could not test a graphics card without having a good old course through Novigrad on the back of our favorite course. We are of course talking about The Witcher 3, which was released in 2015 and remains a difficult test at 4K. The RTX 2080 Ti unsurprisingly wins the first prize with an average frame rate of 77 frames / second, against 59 frames per second for the RTX 2080. The GTX 1080 Ti is also close to 60 frames per second, at about 56 frames per second. However, the GTX 1080 still maintains an acceptable score of 45 frames per second, allowing the old GPU to reach another 60 frames per second by adjusting some key settings or using a G-Sync monitor.

Wolfenstein 2: the new giant

Our third and latest new game is Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus, which was launched in October 2017. We tested a campaign level that sees BJ riding the Panzerhund in New Orleans using the uber preset. test our graphic material. Here, the RTX 2080 Ti holds a 22% lead on the RTX 2080, which in turn exceeds the GTX 1080 Ti by 15%.

1080p / 1440p performance with high refresh rates

At the beginning of this article, we noted that our tests were done in 4K, due to time constraints and the need to highlight performance differences in GPU scenarios. However, our initial tests at lower resolutions, including 1080p and 1440p, show that the RTX 2080 could end up behind the GTX 1080 Ti at a sizeable margin at lower resolutions in some titles. Rise of the Tomb Raider, shown below, is an example. It is interesting to note that this title allows the GTX 1080 Ti to run faster than the RTX 2080 at 4K, but with lower resolutions, the GTX 1080 Ti benefits are expressed as a percentage. increases.

This is somewhat surprising and unexpected – while spending this kind of money on 1080p games does not make much sense (you will constantly encounter bottlenecks, even with the fastest processors), we hope that RTX will resist at 1440p. To give a bit of balance, we returned to Shadow of the Tomb Raider – a title that favors RTX over GTX – and has achieved 2080 vs 1080 Ti tests at lower resolutions. At 4K, RTX 2080 commands an advance of 9.2%. This figure drops to 4.5% at 1440p and 3.2% at 1080p. We specifically chose Shadow for this test because its excellent DX12 implementation ensures impressive scalability in all resolutions. This strongly suggests that RTX – with its current drivers, the newest – is best used on 4K resolution screens.

Given the price difference – which we will cover in the next section – these results could make the GTX 1080 Ti a better choice for gamers aiming for a higher refresh rate rather than an increased resolution, leaving more of the same. 39, money to a more powerful processor. However, it should be noted that the RTX 2080 may become the most successful card in the long run for three reasons:

1. Driver updates could improve performance, especially if the initial drivers have problems
2. DLSS support could increase frame rates for many titles and ensure longevity
3. New games with more modern engines tend to work better on RTX hardware

In the end, it's up to you to see if the promise of future performance justifies the higher price of the RTX 2080 compared to a cheaper card that offers better performance – in some games – right now.

RTX 2080 vs GTX 1080 Ti: price and availability

If the RTX 2080 and GTX 1080 Ti were offered at a similar price, it would be an obvious choice: get the RTX 2080, enjoy excellent short-term performance and take advantage of Turing features like RTX and DLSS on games end up supporting them. If one of the two features does not really take off, then you have not lost anything, is not it?

However, the RTX 2080 and GTX 1080 Ti are not at similar prices – the RTX 2080 is significantly more expensive. This makes it more difficult to justify the expense of the RTX 2080 because we just do not know if the driver updates will improve performance, if the DLSS and RTX features prove to be exceptional features and if the new engines will be able to take advantage of new shaders and other Turing tricks to improve visual fidelity or performance. All of these things are certainly possible, but the degree to which they will be realized is unknown at the moment.

Therefore, for now, the RTX 2080 is the most suitable for players with 4K monitors who want to test the latest technologies as soon as they are available and for users convinced that Nvidia's new radical innovations will benefit from broad support. developers. For all others, especially those using 1080p or even 1440p monitors, the GTX 1080 Ti might be the best value choice in the short term.

However, if RTX's features look promising in Nvidia, you may be forced to upgrade your PC earlier than those who were looking for a more expensive 20-series card. Perhaps the most sensible solution is simply to wait – let's see what kind of impact DLSS and RTX have on the quality of gaming experiences, let's see how many games will support these features, and see if the improvements to the drivers and developers improve Performance RTX 2080 and 2080 Ti.

For more information, we encourage you to check out our complete review GeForce RTX 2080 and 2080 Ti to learn more about these new maps, in article or video format.