The Best RTX 2080 Graphics Cards

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Cody has been a gamer ever since his family got a Sega Genesis when he was five-years-old. In addition to his love of narrative-focused RPGs and ho... Read more

Reviewed by Benjamin Barr

If you want the best gaming experience possible, you’re going to need the best graphics card you can get your hands on. Look no further than the best RTX 2080 GPUs. Nvidia’s GTX 2080 has been the undisputed champion in that arena ever since its initial release in late 2018. Nothing else on the market even comes close — with one exception (but we’ll get to that in a bit).

There are many different options when it comes to choosing the best RTX 2080s, however. That’s because there are several modified and improved variations of the 2080, with varying specs and performance benchmarks. This list works through the top options to help you find the perfect RTX 2080 for your rig.

Why Choose the GeForce 20 Series?

Nvidia has many excellent graphics cards on the market, but the ones that start with the designation “20” are their newest and best. The RTX 2060, RTX 2070, and RTX 2080 are all part of this line. According to Nvidia’s website:

GeForce RTX™ graphics cards are powered by the Turing GPU architecture and the all-new RTX platform. This gives you up to 6X the performance of previous-generation graphics cards and brings the power of real-time ray tracing and AI-powered DLSS 2.0 to games.

The boost in performance speaks for itself, but ray tracing is one of the most exciting new features that the 20 series cards offer. This rendering technique mimics the way light bounces off refractive surfaces and generates direction-specific shadows when an object blocks a light source. It works by simulating and tracking each ray of light, making it a massive drain on your card’s resources. It was considered beyond the scope of the real-time rendering required in video games for years — but not anymore.

All of the 20 series cards have this capability built-in, but none of them do it as well as the 2080.

Base vs. SUPER vs. Ti GPUs

You already know that you want an RTX 2080. The next step is to decide which configuration of 2080 you’re going to buy. Different brands make different versions with different aftermarket coolers, but there are three main configurations to consider.

The base RTX 2080s are the original versions that were released back when the card first dropped in 2018. These are the 2080s that we’re going to compare all the others too. Although they contain a whopping 8 GB of GDDR6 memory, they’re still the lowest-performing cards on this list.

The RTX 2080 SUPER cards came out last year. They’re enhanced versions of the original cards with 128 more CUDA cores, more than 100MHz of additional boost clock, and the same amount of memory (albeit with a boost to memory speed). Nvidia chose to sell these at the same MSRP as the original 2080s, however, meaning that they have all but edged out their counterparts.

The RTX 2080 Ti cards are the cream of the crop. These are 2080s with 11 GB of GDDR6 memory and almost 50 percent more shader processors. They are bigger, faster, and significantly more expensive. 

Zoom In: 5 Best RTX 2080s

Now let’s take a closer look at the top RTX 2080s on the market, starting with our top pick. 

1. GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER Windforce OC

The best RTX 2080 graphics card overall

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Manufacturer: GIGABYTE | Memory: 8 GB GDDR6 | Clock Speed: 15500 MHz | Boost Clock: 1815 MHz | RTX-OPS: 63T | Price: 💰💰💰

The GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER Windforce OC isn’t the fastest graphics card on this list, nor does it have the best cooling solution. So why is it first? It’s our number one pick for best overall RTX 2080 because it has the best price vs. performance.

It’s important to note that while the Ti series outperforms the SUPERs in most metrics (though not memory speed), they also cost around 50% more. That increase in price isn’t matched by an equivalent increase in performance.

The SUPER Windforce OC comes with three 100mm alternate spinning fans on top of a long heatsink, keeping the card cool while generating significantly less noise than the two-fan cards that populate its price point. It has a stylish, all-black design that assimilates well into any PC color scheme, and it comes with all the benefits of a 2080 SUPER series card, outperforming any base 2080.

It’s also one of the cheapest RTX 2080s available today. As JayzTwoCents from Youtube says, “my usual recommendation is to buy, quite honestly, the cheapest card that you can in the segment – with the best cooler that you can afford.”

2. Asus ROG Strix 2080 Ti OC Edition

The best RTX 2080 Ti graphics card

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Manufacturer: Asus | Memory: 11 GB GDDR6 | Clock Speed: 14000 MHz | Boost Clock: 1665 MHz | RTX-OPS: 76T | Price: 💰💰💰💰💰

We all know Ti cards are the best — but what is the best RTX 2080 Ti? Say hello to my little friend, the Asus ROG Strix 2080 Ti.

Expensive? There’s no two ways about it. But it’s also one of the best graphics cards you can hope to have grace your PCIe slots.

Asus ROG Strix 2080 Ti uses Axial-tech fans over a larger, 2.7-slot heatsink, giving it a 20% increase in surface area for heat dissipation over Asus’ previous generation coolers. This superior cooling also makes it the best RTX 2080 Ti for overclocking.

It boasts a beautiful black-metal housing and comes with stunning RGBs controlled via Asus’ Aura Sync. This proprietary software lets users cycle through six different lighting effects; static, breathing, strobing, color cycle, music effect, and GPU temperature. That last one is particularly interesting as it creates a distinctive visual representation of your GPU’s load. Put all these features together, and you’ll start to understand why Asus is the best RTX 2080 Ti brand.

It also has 11 GB of GDDR6 memory and all the other beautiful things that come with the Ti designation. Hey, it’s good enough for The Witcher, it’s good enough for me.

3. GIGABYTE AORUS GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER

The best RTX 2080 SUPER graphics card

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Manufacturer: GIGABYTE | Memory: 8 GB GDDR6 | Clock Speed: 15500 MHz | Boost Clock: 1815 MHz | RTX-OPS: 63T | Price: 💰💰💰

Maybe you like the way the GIGABYTE Windforce OC performs, but you wish it had a little more pizazz. You’re dropping $700+ on a GPU, after all. It only makes sense that you’d want your visitors to be appropriately awed when they take a peek through your tempered glass side panel.

The GIGABYTE AORUS GeForce 2080 SUPER has got you covered. This baby boasts the same three 100mm fans as the Windforce (and the same premium heatsink), but it also features an array of beautiful RGBs to light up your build. GIGABYTE’s RGB Fusion 2.0 software allows you to control your lighting with eight different effects: static, flash, pulse, double flash, cycle color, music, and random.

It also has an additional USB Type-C port, which comes in very handy for anyone interested in using the card for VR gaming. The only question is whether you believe lighting and an extra USB-C port justify the extra $50 bones.

4. Asus ROG Strix 2080 OC Edition

The best base RTX 2080 graphics card

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Manufacturer: Asus | Memory: 8 GB GDDR6 | Clock Speed: 14000 MHz | Boost Clock: 1890 MHz | RTX-OPS: 57T | Price: 💰💰💰

The release of the SUPER series rendered the original RTX 2080 all but obsolete in the new market (if you can even find them). That said, they are still excellent cards, and they do occasionally pop up on sale. You can also find a bunch of them used from people looking to upgrade.

The Asus ROG Strix 2080 OC Edition has the best cooling performance and one of the best designs of any base 2080. We chose this as our pick for best base RTX 2080 for all the same reasons we chose the Ti model in its category. It has excellent cooling, stunning RGB, and great overclocking capabilities.

You might consider one of these if you find it under $700 or so.

5. EVGA GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER Xc Hybrid Gaming

The best liquid-cooled RTX 2080 graphics card

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Manufacturer: EVGA | Memory: 8 GB GDDR6 | Clock Speed: 15500 MHz | Boost Clock: 1830 MHz | RTX-OPS: 76T | Price: 💰💰💰💰

The EVGA GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER Xc Hybrid Gaming is unique for many reasons. But the most prominent has to be its cooling system, which utilizes both blower-style air cooling and all-in-one liquid cooling with a 120mm radiator. Using multiple cooling solutions allowed EVGA to shrink down the card’s size, since it doesn’t need such a large heat sink. 

This makes it an ideal solution for small form factor builds, so long as they have room for a spare 120mm radiator.

Moreover, EVGA boasts that this unique design offers more overclocking potential than any non-custom model on the market due to its ability to keep CPU temps so much lower.

Sadly, excellent cooling comes with a price. The Xc Hybrid is one of the more expensive RTX 2080 SUPERs around. There are also numerous reports that the radiator emits an audible hum at all times, and that it becomes especially loud when the card is under load, and the blower fan kicks in. 

Honorable Mentions

We’ve also included a couple of honorable mentions that you may want to check out.

Nvidia Titan RTX

The best RTX graphics card

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This next one might be cheating a little bit, but the best graphics card in the world isn’t an RTX 2080, a 2080 SUPER, or even a 2080 TI. That title belongs to Nvidia’s own Titan RTX. This card exists in a league of its own.

It has 4608 CUDA Cores and 24 GB of GDDR6 memory. That’s more than double the memory that you’ll find in an RTX 2080 Ti (which makes sense since it costs twice as much), and three times what you’ll find in a base or SUPER 2080. It is the fastest PC graphics card ever built.

That said, you’d be hard-pressed to find a game that can actually make use of all that memory. The Titan fails to outperform the 2080 Ti in most gaming bench tests. This card shines when it’s being used for AI, machine learning, and creative workflows such as 3D modeling, photo, and video editing.

Want to edit 8K video in real-time? This is the card for you. Want to get-good in Fortnite? This is probably overkill.

Or you could just get it for the sweet satisfaction of lording it over the rest of us mere mortals. Don’t let me tell you how to manage your finances.

MSI CUK GS75 Stealth Laptop

The best RTX 2080 laptop

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Not everyone who’s looking to experience the joys of gaming on an RTX 2080 wants to do it on a desktop, so we decided to recommend the best RTX 2080 laptop as a bonus!

Specs:

• RTX 2080 Super GPU
• Intel i7-10750H CPU
• 17-inch (1920×1080) IPS screen
• 300 Hz refresh rate
• 3ms response time
• 32 GB memory
• 512 GB NVMe

The MSI CUK GS75 Stealth comes with everything you need to play any game your heart desires on ultra-settings. Some people have criticized it for not using the i9 CPU that other 2080 SUPER laptops have utilized, but the i7 is more than capable of keeping you from becoming CPU-locked, even in the most intense of rendering loads. This minor downgrade is more than likely responsible for the $500 drop in price from other laptops with otherwise identical components.

The 17-inch IPS (1920×1080) display has an incredibly fast, 300Hz refresh rate with a 3ms response time, meaning that it should be able to keep up with that behemoth of a GPU. Moreover, players shouldn’t experience any motion blur or ghosting what-so-ever.

It has a sleek, black design with copper accents and an RGB keyboard. The Stealth is slim despite its 17-inch frame. Gaming on the go never looked so good.

Buyer’s Guide: RTX 2080s

Here are a few things to look for when picking out the best RTX 2080 for your setup.

1. Stay on Budget

No RTX 2080 is cheap, but some are significantly more expensive than others. There are plenty of 2080 SUPERS in the $700-800 range, but you’ll be hard-pressed to find a 2080 Ti for under $1200. You need to decide how much you’re willing to spend and whether the extra performance is worth the leap in price.

2. Keep Cool

Cooling is the next crucial factor after cost. Be sure to check multiple reviews on any card you’re considering, and be wary of any complaints about the card running hot. This is doubly important if you plan on doing any overclocking. You should also keep an eye out for complaints about the amount of unwanted noise generated by the fans.

3. Measure Twice

What are the dimensions of your case? Some cards are over 300mm long, like the MSI Duke or the Zotac AMP. You need to make sure that there’s enough space between the slot at the back of the case and the fans at the front, especially if you’re thinking about installing a radiator.

4. Score Those Style Points

Branding is another thing to consider. Certain brands like Asus and GIGABYTE use native RGB controlling software. You might think about matching your GPU with a same-brand motherboard to get the most out of that synchronized control. Asus, GIGABYTE, Zotac, MSI, and EVGA are all reputable manufacturers of aftermarket GPUs.

Finally, pick the one that you think will look best in your system. Aesthetics should always be second to performance, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t consider them.

Our Process

For this guide on RTX 2080s, our writers spent 15 hours researching over 25 of the most popular options from brands big and small. After comparing this data, we then read over 100 user reviews and narrowed our list down to the top 5 RTX 2080s on the market. All of this research adds up to recommendations you can trust.

We hope you’ve found the perfect model for your setup. Happy gaming!

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