The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti and the RTX 2060 Super are two graphics cards that have sparked many debates in the PC building community. One hails from the legendary Pascal architecture of 2017 and once reigned as the king of consumer GPUs, while the other is part of the newer Turing family, offering mid-range performance and modern features like ray tracing and DLSS. Both are staples in their own right, but how do they stack up head-to-head in 2024?
TL;DR
The GTX 1080 Ti outperforms the RTX 2060 Super in raw performance across most modern games, thanks to its wider memory bus and higher CUDA core count. However, the 2060 Super brings newer technologies to the table, such as ray tracing and DLSS, which can significantly enhance visuals and performance in optimized games. If you’re chasing frames and don’t care about ray tracing, the 1080 Ti still holds up remarkably well. But if you want more future-proof features, the 2060 Super is the modern pick.
Architectural Overview
The GTX 1080 Ti is based on the Pascal architecture, which focused on raw horsepower, efficiency, and classic rasterized performance. Released in 2017, it featured cutting-edge specs for its time and lacks support for newer tech like ray tracing. On the other hand, the RTX 2060 Super is part of the Turing lineup, launched in 2019, and brings a balance of performance and next-gen features.
- GTX 1080 Ti – Pascal architecture (GP102 chip), 16nm process
- RTX 2060 Super – Turing architecture (TU106 chip), 12nm process
While Pascal cards excel at traditional graphics tasks, Turing cards leverage Tensor and RT cores to power additional capabilities that go beyond raw GPU power.
Specifications Comparison
Let’s dive into the specs that define these cards.
| Specification | GTX 1080 Ti | RTX 2060 Super |
|---|---|---|
| CUDA Cores | 3584 | 2176 |
| Base Clock | 1480 MHz | 1470 MHz |
| Boost Clock | 1582 MHz | 1650 MHz |
| VRAM | 11GB GDDR5X | 8GB GDDR6 |
| Memory Bus Width | 352-bit | 256-bit |
| Ray Tracing Cores | None | Yes |
| Tensor Cores / DLSS Support | No | Yes |
With more CUDA cores and a wider memory bus, the GTX 1080 Ti excels at pushing raw pixels. It was designed to tackle 4K gaming back in 2017 and still performs admirably in high-resolution scenarios in 2024.
Gaming Performance
This is where things get interesting. In most modern 1080p and 1440p gaming benchmarks, the GTX 1080 Ti still edges out the 2060 Super, sometimes by as much as 10–20%, depending on the title. However, that’s without factoring in new rendering techniques like DLSS that can drastically boost frame rates on supported titles for the 2060 Super.
Average FPS (Frames Per Second) at 1440p:
- GTX 1080 Ti: 80–120 FPS in AAA titles (with Ultra settings)
- RTX 2060 Super: 70–100 FPS in similar scenarios
Games like Horizon Zero Dawn, The Witcher 3, and Cyberpunk 2077 often favor the GTX 1080 Ti in brute-force rendering. However, in Cyberpunk, enabling DLSS and ray tracing on the 2060 Super can even the playing field or surpass the 1080 Ti in visual quality per frame.
Still, DLSS requires both engine support and driver maturity to truly shine. That means in unsupported games, the 2060 Super simply cannot compete with the raw muscle of the 1080 Ti.
Ray Tracing and DLSS
This is where the RTX 2060 Super makes its modern argument. Featuring dedicated RT and Tensor cores, it allows for hardware-accelerated ray tracing and DLSS AI upscaling—features entirely unavailable on the GTX 1080 Ti.
Benefits of DLSS:
- Improved FPS in compatible games with little to no visual loss
- Lower GPU load, especially at higher resolutions
- Allows mid-range cards to perform like higher-tier GPUs in select games
Ray tracing, while still performance-heavy, introduces more realism via accurate lighting, shadows, and reflections. The RTX 2060 Super can handle these effects in moderation, especially when paired with DLSS.
The GTX 1080 Ti has no such hardware support. While NVIDIA added driver-level ray tracing support, performance is practically unplayable in intensive titles without DLSS to offset the overhead.
Power Consumption and Thermals
Another area worth noting is power efficiency. The GTX 1080 Ti consumes more power under load, drawing around 250W, while the RTX 2060 Super is more efficient, requiring roughly 175W.
- GTX 1080 Ti: Requires a good-quality PSU (600W+ recommended)
- RTX 2060 Super: Generally operates cooler and quieter under load
In a small form factor PC or a setup prioritizing acoustics and efficiency, the 2060 Super might be the preferable option purely for thermal reasons.
Driver and Software Support
Since the RTX 2060 Super is part of a newer family, it receives better ongoing support from NVIDIA, especially with game optimizations focusing more on the Turing and Ampere generations. While GTX 1080 Ti still gets driver updates, new features like Reflex, Broadcast, and even some DLSS 3 functionality are reserved for newer cards.
This can mean longer software life and performance improvements over time for the 2060 Super, though the difference may not always be noticeable in current titles.
Used Market and Value in 2024
On the used market, prices are closer than you might think. In fact, both GPUs can often be found in the $180–$250 range, depending on the condition and model. This makes the choice harder—but also more interesting—from a value standpoint.
So, who wins on a bang-for-buck basis?
Consider the GTX 1080 Ti if you:
- Want the best raw performance for gaming without ray tracing
- Enjoy high-resolution gaming at 1440p or 4K
- Are okay with higher power consumption and limited modern feature support
Choose the RTX 2060 Super if you:
- Prefer modern features like DLSS and ray tracing
- Need better efficiency and lower thermal output
- Want more ongoing driver and software improvements
Conclusion: The Battle of Legacy vs. Innovation
The GTX 1080 Ti remains a legendary performer, unmatched in its era and still powerful enough to run most modern games at high settings. Its only major drawback is its age and lack of support for new technologies. Contrast that with the RTX 2060 Super, which may be less powerful in raw benchmarks but brings the future of graphics technology with it—albeit in a more modest package.
The best choice depends on what you prioritize: long-lasting brute strength or adoption of the
