RTX 5080 vs RTX 4080 Super: Which GPU Is Better for AI Workloads?
For local AI workloads, the RTX 5080 is the modestly faster pick: it delivers 960 GB/s of GDDR7 bandwidth against 736 GB/s of GDDR6X on the RTX 4080 Super, per NVIDIA's specifications, and both cards carry the same $999 MSRP and the same 16 GB of VRAM. How you should choose therefore comes down to speed per dollar and platform, not capacity. Best for new builds: RTX 5080. Best for existing RTX 4080 Super owners: keep your card. Specs checked August 14, 2026.
How do the specifications compare?
The RTX 5080 is one generation newer and leads on bandwidth, compute count, and interface, while the RTX 4080 Super draws less power. The full specification comparison follows, per NVIDIA's specification pages for both cards.
| Specification | GeForce RTX 5080 | GeForce RTX 4080 Super |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM | 16 GB | 16 GB |
| Memory type | GDDR7 | GDDR6X |
| Memory bus | 256 bit | 256 bit |
| Memory bandwidth | 960 GB/s | 736 GB/s |
| Total board power (TDP) | 360 W | 320 W |
| CUDA cores | 10752 | 10240 |
| MSRP | $999 | $999 |
| PCIe interface | PCIe 5.0 x16 | PCIe 4.0 x16 |
| Architecture | Blackwell | Ada Lovelace |
Which GPU has more VRAM?
Neither: both the RTX 5080 and the RTX 4080 Super offer 16 GB of VRAM, per NVIDIA's specifications. VRAM capacity is the hard ceiling on which AI models fit on the card, so the two GPUs are equals on the dimension that matters most for large models.
For small models such as Llama-3-8B at Q4 quantization, 16 GB is comfortable room. For 70B-class models, it is not: if you want to hold those in video memory, a 24 GB or 32 GB card is the right class of hardware, and neither of these two GPUs changes that. Buyers choosing between them should decide on speed, power, and price, because capacity cannot be the deciding factor.
Which GPU is faster for LLM inference?
The RTX 5080 is slightly faster: it serves Llama-3-8B at Q4 quantization at 180 tokens per second in llama.cpp, versus 165 tokens per second on the RTX 4080 Super, according to TechPowerUp testing. Both results come from the same source and software stack, so the comparison is apples to apples.
The margin is real but small, and it tracks the bandwidth difference: 960 GB/s on GDDR7 versus 736 GB/s on GDDR6X, per NVIDIA's specifications. Token generation on a single GPU is bandwidth-bound, which is why the newer memory buys a modest throughput gain rather than a generational leap.
Which GPU is faster for image generation?
The RTX 5080 renders SDXL Turbo at 65 images per minute in ComfyUI, versus 58 images per minute on the RTX 4080 Super, according to TechPowerUp testing. The difference is noticeable only in long batch runs, not in single-image interactive work.
Because both GPUs have the same 16 GB of VRAM, queue sizes and resolution ceilings are effectively identical. The RTX 5080 finishes a given batch sooner, but neither card unlocks image generation workflows the other cannot run.
Which GPU costs less?
At launch MSRP they cost the same: $999 for both the RTX 5080 and the RTX 4080 Super, per NVIDIA's announced pricing. Street prices move independently once stock and demand shift, so check current price via the links below before buying.
We do not publish performance-per-dollar ratios, because the honest answer depends on the street price you actually find and the workloads you actually run. The benchmark numbers above, each attributed to its source, are the right basis for a value judgment.
How much power does each GPU need?
The RTX 4080 Super draws less: 320 W total board power versus 360 W for the RTX 5080, per NVIDIA's specifications. The difference is small enough that most builds suitable for one card suit the other.
Both ratings assume sustained load. AI inference and image generation hold a GPU near its power limit for hours at a time, so case airflow and a power supply with headroom above the board rating matter more here than for intermittent gaming loads.
Which GPU has the newer platform?
The RTX 5080. It uses the Blackwell architecture with GDDR7 memory and a PCIe 5.0 x16 interface; the RTX 4080 Super uses Ada Lovelace with GDDR6X and PCIe 4.0 x16, per NVIDIA's specifications. The platform gap is one full generation in the RTX 5080's favor.
For AI workloads, treat the platform as a secondary factor. Capacity is identical at 16 GB, and the tracked benchmark gap is modest, according to TechPowerUp testing. The newer platform matters most for buyers who keep a card for many years and want the latest memory and interface standard in the bargain; it matters least for buyers who upgrade on a short cycle.
Is the RTX 5080 a worthwhile upgrade from the RTX 4080 Super?
For most RTX 4080 Super owners, no. The upgrade buys 15 tokens per second on Llama-3-8B and 7 SDXL Turbo images per minute, according to TechPowerUp testing, while keeping the same 16 GB capacity and swapping 320 W for 360 W.
An upgrade makes sense only if you sell the old card near its purchase price and value the newest platform. If you are buying fresh, the RTX 5080 is the default choice: equal MSRP, faster on both tracked benchmarks, newer architecture. If your budget stretches further and you need capacity, a 24 GB or 32 GB card addresses the limitation neither of these GPUs solves.
What are the disadvantages of each GPU?
Both GPUs share one real limitation — 16 GB of VRAM in a market where model sizes keep growing — and each adds its own smaller trade-offs.
RTX 5080 disadvantages:
- Only 16 GB of VRAM, the same capacity as the cheaper-to-run card it replaces at this price.
- Higher board power: 360 W versus 320 W, per NVIDIA's specifications.
- Small benchmark gains over the RTX 4080 Super, according to TechPowerUp testing.
RTX 4080 Super disadvantages:
- Slower on both tracked benchmarks: 165 versus 180 tokens per second, and 58 versus 65 images per minute, according to TechPowerUp testing.
- Older platform: PCIe 4.0 x16 and Ada Lovelace, versus PCIe 5.0 x16 and Blackwell, per NVIDIA's specifications.
- Same $999 MSRP as the faster RTX 5080, so new buyers have little reason to choose it at list price.
Who should buy the RTX 5080, and who should buy the RTX 4080 Super?
Buy the RTX 5080 if you are building new and want the faster of the two at the same MSRP. Buy the RTX 4080 Super only if you find it meaningfully below the RTX 5080's street price and accept the smaller performance and older platform.
Best for new AI builds at this price: RTX 5080. It wins both tracked benchmarks and brings GDDR7 bandwidth and PCIe 5.0 x16, per NVIDIA's specifications and TechPowerUp testing.
Best for value hunters and existing owners: RTX 4080 Super. It is within reach of the RTX 5080 on every tracked workload and draws less power; owners should skip the upgrade cycle entirely.
How did we compare these two GPUs?
We compared the RTX 5080 and RTX 4080 Super using manufacturer specifications and benchmark results tracked in our benchmark database. Specifications (VRAM, memory type, bus width, bandwidth, board power, CUDA cores, PCIe interface, architecture, MSRP) come from NVIDIA's specification pages. Benchmark numbers come from TechPowerUp GPU Reviews, the tracked source for both cards, run with identical model, quantization, and software stack settings. We publish no derived ratios and no street prices. Facts checked August 14, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
These are the questions buyers ask when choosing between the RTX 5080 and the RTX 4080 Super for AI work.
Is the RTX 5080 faster than the RTX 4080 Super?
Yes, by a modest margin. According to TechPowerUp testing, the RTX 5080 serves Llama-3-8B at Q4 at 180 tokens per second versus 165, and renders SDXL Turbo at 65 images per minute versus 58.
Do the RTX 5080 and RTX 4080 Super have the same VRAM?
Yes. Both GPUs ship with 16 GB of VRAM, per NVIDIA's specifications. Neither is the right tool for 70B-class models that need more video memory.
Which GPU uses less power?
The RTX 4080 Super, at 320 W total board power versus 360 W for the RTX 5080, per NVIDIA's specifications. The difference is minor for most builds.
Do both GPUs cost $999?
At launch MSRP, yes: both cards list at $999, per NVIDIA's announced pricing. Street prices differ over time, so check current price via the links above.
Does the RTX 5080 support PCIe 5.0?
Yes. The RTX 5080 uses a PCIe 5.0 x16 interface, while the RTX 4080 Super uses PCIe 4.0 x16, per NVIDIA's specifications. For single-GPU AI inference, VRAM and bandwidth matter far more than the interface generation.
Can either GPU run 70B models?
Not comfortably in video memory. Both cards offer 16 GB of VRAM, per NVIDIA's specifications, which is below the capacity class where 70B models fit without offloading. Look at 24 GB or 32 GB GPUs for that workload.
Which GPU is better for a first AI build?
The RTX 5080, for a new build at list price. It costs the same $999 MSRP, wins both tracked benchmarks, and carries the newer platform, per NVIDIA's specifications and TechPowerUp testing. The RTX 4080 Super only wins if its street price drops clearly below the RTX 5080's.
Sources
Specification and benchmark claims in this article come from the following origins.
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 and GeForce RTX 4080 Super official specification pages (manufacturer specifications).
- TechPowerUp GPU Reviews — Llama-3-8B Q4 llama.cpp tokens per second and SDXL Turbo ComfyUI images per minute: https://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/
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