The gap changes with resolution.
Graphics card differences grow with resolution, because higher resolutions load the GPU harder.
| Resolution | RTX 2080 | RTX 2070 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p | 39 | 33 | +18% |
| 1440p | 40 | 35 | +14% |
| 4K | 43 | 39 | +10% |
In a real build with a Ryzen 5 9600X.
Specs alone don’t tell you which to buy. Here is what each one does when it’s actually paired up, at 1440p.
RTX 2080 + Ryzen 5 9600X
35% GPU-bound
GPU is the limit — the healthy case, with CPU headroom to spare.
Full verdict for this pairing →RTX 2070 + Ryzen 5 9600X
35% GPU-bound
GPU is the limit — the healthy case, with CPU headroom to spare.
Full verdict for this pairing →| Game (1440p, paired with the Ryzen 5 9600X) | RTX 2080 | RTX 2070 |
|---|---|---|
| League of Legends | 237 fps | 226 fps |
| Counter-Strike 2 | 211 fps | 203 fps |
| Grand Theft Auto V | 94 fps | 89 fps |
| Elden Ring | 68 fps | 63 fps |
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 54 fps | 51 fps |
| Starfield | 56 fps | 53 fps |
Modelled from benchmark data, not measured for every pairing. Our published error rate is 21.6% mean absolute error.
So which should you buy?
The RTX 2080 is faster, but the RTX 2070 is the better buy per dollar. Take the RTX 2080 only if you want the extra headroom and the price gap doesn't bother you.
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Common questions.
Straight answers on the RTX 2080 versus the RTX 2070.
Is the RTX 2080 better than the RTX 2070?
Yes, but by less than the spec sheet suggests. At 1440p the RTX 2080 scores 40 against 35 for the RTX 2070 — roughly 14% faster. It also costs about $200 more at MSRP, so the question is whether that gap is worth the money for your build.
Does the RTX 2080 or RTX 2070 bottleneck a Ryzen 5 9600X?
Paired with a Ryzen 5 9600X at 1440p, the RTX 2080 build comes out 35% GPU-bound, and the RTX 2070 build comes out 35% GPU-bound. Being GPU-bound is the healthy outcome — it means the graphics card is the part working hardest.
Is it worth upgrading from the RTX 2070 to the RTX 2080?
Only if you are also lifting the rest of the build. The RTX 2080 is about 14% ahead at 1440p, and gaps like that shrink further at 4K where the GPU does more of the work. If you are upgrading from the RTX 2070 purely for frames, check the pairing first.
Which is better value, the RTX 2080 or the RTX 2070?
On performance per dollar at MSRP, the RTX 2070 wins. The RTX 2080 lists at $699 for an index of 40, and the RTX 2070 at $499 for 35.
Check either one against your build.
Pick a GPU and its counterpart, and get a verdict at all three resolutions in under 30 seconds.