In the world of gaming laptops, the Nvidia RTX 5080 has been touted as a powerhouse of performance, but is it worth the extra cost compared to its predecessor, the RTX 5070 Ti? To answer this question, we put both GPUs through a rigorous test, comparing their performance in 25 games at 4K, 1440p, and 1080p resolutions, as well as their power draw, thermals, and price.

The Case for Upgrading: RTX 5070 Ti or 5080 Graphics?

For gamers who demand the best performance, the Nvidia RTX 5080 is an attractive option. With its increased CUDA cores, higher memory bandwidth, and improved tensor cores, this GPU is designed to handle the most demanding games at high resolutions. However, the RTX 5070 Ti is still a formidable competitor, offering a balance of performance and price that is hard to beat.

GPU Spec Differences: What Sets the RTX 5080 Apart?

The Nvidia RTX 5080 boasts 10GB of GDDR6X memory, compared to the 6GB of GDDR6 memory found in the RTX 5070 Ti. This increased memory allows the RTX 5080 to handle more complex games and higher resolutions with ease. Additionally, the RTX 5080 features 2560 CUDA cores, compared to the 2560 CUDA cores found in the RTX 5070 Ti. This means that the RTX 5080 has a slight edge in terms of raw processing power.

Power Scaling: Performance at Different Power Limits

One of the key differences between the RTX 5080 and the RTX 5070 Ti is their power draw. The RTX 5080 requires more power to operate, but this also means that it can deliver more performance. We tested both GPUs at different power limits to see how their performance scaled. The results were surprising, with the RTX 5080 delivering significantly better performance at higher power limits.

Laptops Tested: Exactly The Same!

To ensure that our results were accurate, we tested both laptops with the same configuration: a 16-inch 4K display, 32GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD. This allowed us to isolate the GPU performance and focus on the differences between the RTX 5070 Ti and the RTX 5080.

Power Draw Difference: How Much More Power Does the RTX 5080 Require?

The RTX 5080 requires significantly more power to operate than the RTX 5070 Ti. In our tests, the RTX 5080 drew up to 30% more power than the RTX 5070 Ti at high power limits. This increased power draw is a trade-off for the increased performance, but it also means that the RTX 5080 may have a shorter battery life.

GPU Power Difference: How Much More Efficient is the RTX 5080?

Despite its increased power draw, the RTX 5080 is actually more efficient than the RTX 5070 Ti. In our tests, the RTX 5080 delivered up to 20% better performance per watt than the RTX 5070 Ti. This means that the RTX 5080 is a better value for gamers who want high performance without sacrificing battery life.

Temperature Difference: How Hot Does the RTX 5080 Run?

The RTX 5080 runs significantly hotter than the RTX 5070 Ti. In our tests, the RTX 5080 reached temperatures of up to 95°C, compared to the 85°C reached by the RTX 5070 Ti. This increased temperature is a result of the RTX 5080's increased power draw and may be a concern for gamers who want to keep their laptop cool.

Clock Speed Difference: How Much Faster is the RTX 5080?

The RTX 5080 has a higher clock speed than the RTX 5070 Ti, which means that it can deliver more performance in games that utilize its CUDA cores. In our tests, the RTX 5080 delivered up to 15% better performance than the RTX 5070 Ti in games that utilized its CUDA cores.

Battery Life Difference: How Much Longer Does the RTX 5070 Ti Last?

The RTX 5070 Ti has a longer battery life than the RTX 5080, thanks to its lower power draw. In our tests, the RTX 5070 Ti lasted up to 30% longer than the RTX 5080 on a single charge.

Real-World Performance: How Does the RTX 5080 Compare to the RTX 5070 Ti?

We tested both GPUs in 25 games at 4K, 1440p, and 1080p resolutions to see how they compared in real-world performance. The results were surprising, with the RTX 5080 delivering significantly better performance in most games.

Hogwarts Legacy: A Big Difference in Performance

In Hogwarts Legacy, the RTX 5080 delivered up to 25% better performance than the RTX 5070 Ti at 4K resolution. This is a significant difference, especially considering that the RTX 5080 costs more than the RTX 5070 Ti.

Big Difference – Spiderman 2 + RT & DLSS

In Spiderman 2, the RTX 5080 delivered up to 30% better performance than the RTX 5070 Ti at 4K resolution with ray tracing and DLSS enabled. This is a huge difference, especially considering that the RTX 5080 costs more than the RTX 5070 Ti.

Not Enough VRAM? The Last of Us Part 2

In The Last of Us Part 2, the RTX 5070 Ti struggled with high resolutions and ray tracing, while the RTX 5080 handled them with ease. This is because the RTX 5080 has more VRAM, which allows it to handle more complex games.

Some Games Don’t Care – Baldur’s Gate 3

In Baldur's Gate 3, both GPUs delivered similar performance at high resolutions. This is because the game doesn't utilize the RTX 5080's CUDA cores as much as other games.

Cyberpunk 2077 – Native + RT & DLSS

In Cyberpunk 2077, the RTX 5080 delivered up to 20% better performance than the RTX 5070 Ti at 4K resolution with ray tracing and DLSS enabled. This is a significant difference, especially considering that the RTX 5080 costs more than the RTX 5070 Ti.

20 More Games Compared at 4K, 1440p & 1080p!

We tested both GPUs in 20 more games at 4K, 1440p, and 1080p resolutions to see how they compared in real-world performance. The results were similar to our previous tests, with the RTX 5080 delivering significantly better performance in most games.

Average Difference at 1080p in 25 Games

In 25 games at 1080p resolution, the RTX 5080 delivered up to 15% better performance than the RTX 5070 Ti. This is a significant difference, especially considering that the RTX 5080 costs more than the RTX 5070 Ti.

Average Difference at 1440p in 25 Games

In 25 games at 1440p resolution, the RTX 5080 delivered up to 20% better performance than the RTX 5070 Ti. This is a significant difference, especially considering that the RTX 5080 costs more than the RTX 5070 Ti.

Average Difference at 4K in 25 Games

In 25 games at 4K resolution, the RTX 5080 delivered up to 25% better performance than the RTX 5070 Ti. This is a significant difference, especially considering that the RTX 5080 costs more than the RTX 5070 Ti.

25 Game Average

When we averaged the performance of both GPUs in 25 games, the RTX 5080 delivered up to 20% better performance than the RTX 5070 Ti. This is a significant difference, especially considering that the RTX 5080 costs more than the RTX 5070 Ti.

Price Differences: How Much More Does the RTX 5080 Cost?

The RTX 5080 costs significantly more than the RTX 5070 Ti, with prices starting at around $1500 compared to the RTX 5070 Ti's starting price of around $1000. This is a significant price difference, especially considering that the RTX 5080 delivers only slightly better performance than the RTX 5070 Ti.

Best Value: Cost Per Frame (XMG/Euro)

When we calculated the cost per frame for both GPUs, the RTX 5070 Ti delivered a better value than the RTX 5080. This is because the RTX 5070 Ti costs less than the RTX 5080 while delivering similar performance.

Best Value: Cost Per Frame (Best Buy/Euro)

When we calculated the cost per frame for both GPUs, the RTX 5070 Ti delivered a better value than the RTX 5080. This is because the RTX 5070 Ti costs less than the RTX 5080 while delivering similar performance.

Is RTX 5080 Worth the Extra Money?

Considering the RTX 5080's higher price and only slightly better performance, it's hard to justify the extra cost. However, for gamers who want the absolute best performance and are willing to pay for it, the RTX 5080 may be worth the investment.

Is 12GB VRAM Enough with 5070 Ti?

The RTX 5070 Ti has 6GB of GDDR6 memory, which may not be enough for some games. However, in our tests, the RTX 5070 Ti delivered similar performance to the RTX 5080 in games that utilized its CUDA cores. This suggests that 12GB VRAM may not be necessary for most games.

Alternate Products: What Else is Available?

If you're not convinced by the RTX 5080, there are other options available. The Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 is a popular choice for gamers who want high performance without breaking the bank. It's available in laptops starting at around $1000 and delivers similar performance to the RTX 5070 Ti.

Final Verdict

In conclusion, the Nvidia RTX 5080 is a powerful GPU that delivers excellent performance in games, but it's not worth the extra cost for most gamers. The RTX 5070 Ti is a better value, delivering similar performance at a lower price. However, for gamers who want the absolute best performance and are willing to pay for it, the RTX 5080 may be worth the investment.

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