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MSI Gaming GeForce RTX 4060
Base Clock
1830MHz
Boost Clock
2460MHz
VRAM
8GB
Recommended PSU
300W
This is our RTX 4060 vs GTX 1080 Ti comparison – is it finally time to upgrade your graphics card or is the 1080 Ti still worth hanging onto?
The latest addition to the 40-series family has launched and we’ve covered where to buy it for those ready to commit. It’s a great time to be researching the card, and whether the 4060 looks like the card worth buying in 2023. With the 4060 Ti 16GB forecast for a release in July and a rumoured RTX 4050 coming slightly later, there’s a lot of research to be done.
So, where do all these releases leave the GTX 1080 Ti which has been around since 2017? Missing out on quite a few modern features, the GTX 1080 Ti continues to be a popular choice in 2023 for those not looking to play the latest AAA games. You do miss out on next-gen features like DLSS 3, but does it matter when you can get this graphics card for a seriously budget price.
Whether you’re looking for the best graphics card under $500, or just checking out how the 4060 and 1080 Ti compare, read on!
RTX 4060 vs GTX 1080 Ti specs comparison
| RTX 4060 specs | GTX 1080 Ti | |
| Architecture | Ada (TSMC 4NM) | Pascal (16NM) (GP102-350-K1-A1) |
| CUDA cores | 3,072 | 3,584 |
| Base Clock (MHz) | 1,830 | 1,480 |
| Boost Clock (MHz) | 2,460 | 1,582 |
| Memory | 8GB GDDR6 | 11GB GDDR5X |
| Memory Bus | 128-bit | 352-bit |
| Memory Bandwidth | 272.0GB/s | 484.44GB/s |
| Total Graphics Power | 110W | 250W |
Some of the key differences between the two graphics cards is that the 4060 runs on the faster GDDR6 memory compared to the GTX 1080 Ti’s GDDR5X. GDDR6 transfers data at nearly double the rate of its predecessor, at around 14-16GB/s. So, while it may look like the 1080 Ti has the better deal with 11GB, its the 4060 has a considerable advantage with GDDR6.
You’ll also notice that the 4060 is the more efficient graphics card by a substantial margin, at 110W compared to the 1080 Ti’s 250W. It’s also twice as power efficient than Ampere graphics cards, making it a fine choice for intensive gaming in 2023. While some might be disappointed by its modest CUDA core count of 3,072, its performance is boosted by its clock speed of 2,460MHz and should trump the 1080 Ti. The main reason for this performance uplift is down to Nvidia’s new Ada Lovelace architecture which we’ll discuss below.
RTX 4060 vs GTX 1080 Ti – architecture
So, let’s take a look at Ada Lovelace vs Pascal. The fact that we’re even comparing the GTX 1080 Ti to the new 4060 is a testament to the strength of Pascal architecture. The combination of CUDA cores and VRAM has made it a killer combination over the years, even capable of running 4K at around 30-60 fps for more demanding games. But then Ada Lovelace architecture has the promise next-gen features like ray tracing and DLSS. While the 1080 Ti does support AMD’s FSR temporary upscaling technology, it doesn’t compete with DLSS 3.0 offered by the 40-series.
The bottom line is that the 4060’s architecture uses AI to predictively generate new frame rates quickly while avoiding an intensive workload on the GPU and CPU. When you combine this with the 4060’s increased L2 cache, you’ll quickly realise the improvements Ada has over Pascal.
RTX 4060 vs GTX 1080 Ti – performance
Performance-wise, the RTX 4060 will easily outperform the 1080 Ti. While the 1080 Ti used to be it a powerhouse in its time, advancements like DLSS 3.0 and fourth-generation ray tracing have given the 40-series cards, including the 4060, the edge. We can also report that the 4060 makes a substantial improvement to the 1080 Ti’s 11.4 TFLOP/s, boasting 15 TFLOP/s.
Nvidia says you can expect 60fps in most titles with the 4060, though this might vary depending on whether you have DLSS 3.0 enabled. Regardless, it’s fair to say the 4060 will be amongst the best 1080p GPUs for gaming for years to come, while the 1080 Ti might not last beyond another few years.
If you already have a 1080 Ti and are hoping to optimise your 1080 Ti for a few more years, make sure your Nvidia drivers are up to date, and that you’ve got yourself the best thermal paste for the job. If you want to continue gaming with the 1080 Ti in 2023, you’ll also want at least an Intel 12th gen CPU.
RTX 4060 vs GTX 1080 Ti – price
Regardless of what you make of the specs, if the price doesn’t offer a good enough bang for your buck, then none of it matters. We can confirm the RTX 4060 price is $299 though this price might go up with partner cards. The GTX 1080 Ti meanwhile is retailing for a similar price via Amazon, making the RTX 4060 come out with the best value.
MSI Gaming GeForce RTX 4060
Base Clock
1830MHz
Boost Clock
2460MHz
VRAM
8GB
Recommended PSU
300W
RTX 4060 vs GTX 1080 Ti – final word
Overall, we definitely have more affection for the GTX 1080 Ti. It was released at a time when Moore’s Law perhaps wasn’t dead. However, given the 1080 Ti is retailing for a similar price via Amazon, we can’t help but lean toward the 4060, even if its VRAM is questionable for the most demanding games. Especially if you’re interested in playing new titles like Starfield, you should definitely consider upgrading.
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