The NVIDIA GTX 1080 Ti was a legendary graphics card when it launched in 2017, dominating the high-end gaming market for years. Fast forward to 2021, and the RTX 3070 Ti arrived as part of NVIDIA’s Ampere lineup, promising significant performance improvements with ray tracing and DLSS support.
But how do these two GPUs compare today? Is the RTX 3070 Ti a worthy upgrade over the 1080 Ti, or does the older card still hold up? In this in-depth comparison, we’ll examine their specs, gaming performance, power efficiency, ray tracing capabilities, and value for money.
Specifications Comparison
Before diving into benchmarks, let’s look at the hardware differences between the GTX 1080 Ti and RTX 3070 Ti.
| Specification | GTX 1080 Ti (Pascal) | RTX 3070 Ti (Ampere) |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Pascal | Ampere |
| CUDA Cores | 3,584 | 6,144 |
| Base Clock | 1,480 MHz | 1,575 MHz |
| Boost Clock | 1,582 MHz | 1,770 MHz |
| VRAM | 11GB GDDR5X | 8GB GDDR6X |
| Memory Bus | 352-bit | 256-bit |
| Memory Bandwidth | 484 GB/s | 608 GB/s |
| TDP | 250W | 290W |
| Ray Tracing Cores | No | Yes (2nd Gen) |
| Tensor Cores | No | Yes (3rd Gen) |
| DLSS Support | No | Yes |
Key Takeaways from Specs
- The RTX 3070 Ti has nearly double the CUDA cores, leading to better raw performance.
- The 1080 Ti has more VRAM (11GB vs. 8GB), but the 3070 Ti uses faster GDDR6X memory.
- The 3070 Ti supports ray tracing and DLSS, which are game-changers for modern titles.
- The 3070 Ti is more power-hungry, with a 290W TDP compared to the 1080 Ti’s 250W.
Gaming Performance: 1080 Ti vs. 3070 Ti
Let’s compare how these two GPUs perform in real-world gaming benchmarks at 1080p, 1440p, and 4K.
1. 1080p Performance
At 1080p, both GPUs deliver excellent frame rates, but the RTX 3070 Ti pulls ahead significantly due to its superior architecture and higher core count.
| Game (Ultra Settings) | GTX 1080 Ti | RTX 3070 Ti |
|---|---|---|
| Cyberpunk 2077 | ~45 FPS | ~85 FPS (DLSS ON: 110+ FPS) |
| Red Dead Redemption 2 | ~65 FPS | ~95 FPS |
| Call of Duty: Warzone | ~110 FPS | ~160 FPS |
| Fortnite | ~120 FPS | ~200 FPS (RT ON: ~140 FPS) |
Verdict: The 3070 Ti is ~40-60% faster at 1080p, and with DLSS, the gap widens further.
2. 1440p Performance
At 1440p, the 3070 Ti maintains a strong lead, especially in demanding games.
| Game (Ultra Settings) | GTX 1080 Ti | RTX 3070 Ti |
|---|---|---|
| Assassin’s Creed Valhalla | ~50 FPS | ~80 FPS |
| Battlefield 2042 | ~55 FPS | ~90 FPS |
| Elden Ring | ~60 FPS | ~90 FPS |
| Forza Horizon 5 | ~75 FPS | ~110 FPS |
Verdict: The 3070 Ti is ~50% faster at 1440p, making it ideal for high-refresh-rate gaming.
3. 4K Performance
At 4K, the 1080 Ti struggles more due to its older memory and architecture, while the 3070 Ti handles it better.
| Game (Ultra Settings) | GTX 1080 Ti | RTX 3070 Ti |
|---|---|---|
| Cyberpunk 2077 | ~25 FPS | ~45 FPS (DLSS ON: ~60 FPS) |
| Red Dead Redemption 2 | ~35 FPS | ~55 FPS |
| Shadow of the Tomb Raider | ~40 FPS | ~65 FPS |
Verdict: The 3070 Ti is ~50-70% faster at 4K, but neither card is ideal for native 4K Ultra—DLSS helps the 3070 Ti significantly.
Ray Tracing & DLSS: A Game-Changer for the 3070 Ti
One of the biggest advantages of the RTX 3070 Ti is its ray tracing and DLSS support.
- Ray Tracing: The 1080 Ti cannot run ray-traced games, while the 3070 Ti delivers playable frame rates with RT effects (especially with DLSS).
- DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling): NVIDIA’s AI upscaling tech boosts FPS without sacrificing much visual quality. The 3070 Ti gains ~30-50% more FPS in supported games.
Example (Cyberpunk 2077, 1440p, RT Ultra):
- 1080 Ti: Not supported (No RT/DLSS)
- 3070 Ti (No DLSS): ~35 FPS
- 3070 Ti (DLSS Quality): ~60 FPS
Verdict: If you care about ray tracing and future-proofing, the 3070 Ti is the clear winner.
Power Efficiency & Thermals
- Power Consumption: The 3070 Ti has a higher TDP (290W vs. 250W), meaning it draws more power under load.
- Thermals: Both cards run warm, but the 3070 Ti benefits from improved cooling solutions in newer models.
- PSU Requirements:
- 1080 Ti: 600W PSU recommended
- 3070 Ti: 750W PSU recommended
Verdict: The 3070 Ti is less power-efficient, but performance gains justify the extra wattage.
Price & Value Comparison
- GTX 1080 Ti (Used): ~$200-$300 (great budget option)
- RTX 3070 Ti (New/Used): ~$400-$600
Is the 3070 Ti Worth the Upgrade?
Yes, if:
- You want ray tracing & DLSS
- You play at 1440p or 4K
- You need higher FPS for competitive gaming
No, if:
- You’re on a tight budget and play at 1080p
- You don’t care about ray tracing
Final Verdict: Which One Should You Choose?
| Aspect | Winner |
|---|---|
| Raw Performance | RTX 3070 Ti |
| Ray Tracing | RTX 3070 Ti |
| Power Efficiency | GTX 1080 Ti |
| Value for Money | GTX 1080 Ti (Used) |
| Future-Proofing | RTX 3070 Ti |
Conclusion
The RTX 3070 Ti is the superior GPU, offering ~50% better performance, ray tracing, and DLSS support. However, the GTX 1080 Ti remains a fantastic budget option for 1080p/1440p gaming if you don’t need the latest features.
