OVERALL

SPECS

VS AVERAGE

REVIEWS

ALTERNATIVES

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition Review | 118 Data compared

Avg. price: ~£360
VRAM: 8 GB
Memory bus width: 256 bit
Thermal Design Power (TDP): 225 W

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition review. Compare 118 technical specifications and user reviews to see how this product ranks in the Graphics cards category and whether it is worth buying.

6.6

Good

6.5

Good

7.3

Very good

4.3
Gaming
Score components:
45.0%
2.5
Floating-point performance
25.0%
4.9
VRAM
20.0%
6.2
Ray tracing cores / units
10.0%
7.6
PCI Express (PCIe) version
5.6
Video editing
Score components:
35.0%
7.0
AV1 encode
30.0%
4.9
VRAM
20.0%
2.5
Floating-point performance
15.0%
7.6
PCI Express (PCIe) version
4.0
1080p
Score components:
55.0%
2.5
Floating-point performance
25.0%
4.9
VRAM
10.0%
6.2
Ray tracing cores / units
10.0%
7.6
PCI Express (PCIe) version
4.0
1440p
Score components:
50.0%
2.5
Floating-point performance
30.0%
4.9
VRAM
15.0%
6.2
Ray tracing cores / units
5.0%
7.6
PCI Express (PCIe) version
4.3
4K
Score components:
40.0%
2.5
Floating-point performance
35.0%
4.9
VRAM
20.0%
6.2
Ray tracing cores / units
5.0%
7.6
PCI Express (PCIe) version

Best prices in UK

£?

Best rankings

#32 in Best NVIDIA Graphic Cards
#141 in Best 8 GB Graphic Cards
#570 in Best NVIDIA RTX Graphic Cards
#775 in Best Graphic Cards
#790 in Best Graphic Cards For Video Editing
#827 in Best Graphic Cards For Gaming
#876 in Best Graphic Cards For 1440p Gaming

Verdict

The Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition is a high-end graphics card powered by the 12nm Turing TU104 architecture, featuring 2,944 CUDA cores, 46 RT cores for real-time ray tracing, and 368 Tensor cores for AI-driven DLSS. It comes equipped with 8GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, delivering a 448 GB/s bandwidth, and operates at a factory-overclocked boost clock of 1,800 MHz with a 225W TDP. Main pros include its exceptional 4K gaming performance—offering approximately 30-40% better speeds than the GTX 1080—and a premium dual-axial fan cooling system that runs significantly quieter and cooler than previous reference models. However, it faced criticism for its high launch price of $799 and the initial lack of games supporting its marquee ray tracing and DLSS features, while its open-shroud cooling design exhausts most heat back into the computer case rather than out the rear.

Technical Specifications of graphics card NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition

Overall score

6.6

Show more

Hide

Popularity

What it is: An indicator based on the number of reviews received by the graphics card.

When it matters: When you prefer a graphics card that has already been chosen and reviewed by many other users.

Performance

5.6

Show more

Hide

3DMark Time Spy benchmark score

What it is: Benchmark result from 3DMark Time Spy, a synthetic DirectX 12 test often used as a quick gaming-performance reference.

When it matters: When you need a fast rough performance sort before digging into game-specific reviews and frame-rate data.

Importance: LOW

3DMark Port Royal score

What it is: Benchmark result from 3DMark Port Royal, a synthetic test focused on ray tracing performance.

When it matters: When ray tracing matters in the games you actually play and you want one quick way to separate stronger and weaker RT cards.

Importance: LOW

PassMark (G3D) result

What it is: Overall GPU performance score in PassMark G3D benchmark

When it matters: When you need one broad score to sort cards into rough performance tiers.

Importance: LOW

PassMark (DirectCompute) result

What it is: PassMark score for DirectCompute performance tests

When it matters: When compute workloads matter alongside gaming performance.

Importance: LOW

Floating-point performance

What it is: Theoretical floating-point compute performance of the GPU.

When it matters: When rendering, AI, or heavy compute work needs strong single-precision throughput.

Importance: LOW

Show more

Memory

5.6

Show more

Hide

VRAM

What it is: Total video memory available on the graphics card

When it matters: When you play at high settings, use texture mods, or work with large creative projects.

Importance: HIGH

Memory type

What it is: Type of graphics memory used (GDDR6, HBM2e, etc.)

When it matters: When memory technology is part of the buying decision because it affects bandwidth class, power use, and product positioning.

Importance: LOW

GDDR6

GDDR version

What it is: Generation of GDDR memory used by the graphics card.

When it matters: When you want to separate older memory generations from newer ones before comparing bandwidth, power behavior, and market tier.

Importance: LOW

Memory bus width

What it is: Width of the memory interface bus in bits

When it matters: When you care about steadier performance at higher resolutions, heavier texture settings, or ray-traced workloads that stress memory traffic.

Importance: HIGH

Maximum memory bandwidth

What it is: Maximum data transfer rate between GPU and its memory

When it matters: When 4K gaming, ray tracing, or creator work can choke a slower memory subsystem.

Importance: HIGH

Show more

Platform & Features

8.9

Show more

Hide

PCI Express (PCIe) version

What it is: Version of PCI Express interface supported

When it matters: When you are pairing the card with an older motherboard and want to avoid leaving bandwidth or future compatibility on the table.

Importance: LOW

PCIe lanes

What it is: Number of PCI Express lanes used for communication

When it matters: When limited lane width could bottleneck the card in some systems.

Importance: LOW

DirectX version

What it is: Highest supported DirectX API version

When it matters: When you play newer Windows games that depend on the latest graphics features.

Importance: LOW

Vulkan version

What it is: Highest supported Vulkan API version

When it matters: When modern games, emulators, or creative apps lean on Vulkan support.

Importance: LOW

OpenGL version

What it is: Highest supported OpenGL API version

When it matters: When older games or pro apps still depend on OpenGL compatibility.

Importance: LOW

Show more

Connectivity & Media

8.7

Show more

Hide

Max displays supported

What it is: Total number of external displays supported simultaneously

When it matters: When you run a multi-monitor desk for sim racing, trading, or editing.

Importance: LOW

Max digital resolution

What it is: Maximum supported digital display resolution

When it matters: When you plan to drive 4K or 8K panels at their native resolution.

Importance: LOW

DisplayPort outputs

What it is: Number of DisplayPort video outputs

When it matters: When your setup needs several high-refresh monitors without adapters.

Importance: LOW

DisplayPort version

What it is: Version of DisplayPort standard supported

When it matters: When your monitor setup depends on newer DisplayPort features for higher refresh rates, higher resolution, or better cable flexibility.

Importance: LOW

DisplayPort link rates

What it is: Supported data link rates for DisplayPort connections

When it matters: When you are pushing high resolution and refresh rate over DisplayPort.

Importance: LOW

Show more

Power & Cooling

7.5

Show more

Hide

Thermal Design Power (TDP)

What it is: Typical power consumption under full load (TDP)

When it matters: When you need a realistic idea of power draw before choosing a PSU or case.

Importance: MEDIUM

Power consumption while under peak load

What it is: Peak power draw of the graphics card under maximum load.

When it matters: When transient-heavy gaming loads could stress your power supply.

Importance: LOW

Recommended PSU wattage

What it is: Recommended wattage of the system power supply

When it matters: When you are checking whether your current power supply is enough.

Importance: LOW

Board power limit

What it is: Maximum configurable power limit for the GPU board

When it matters: When you care about how far the card can be pushed through tuning or factory power settings.

Importance: LOW

PCIe power spec

What it is: PCIe power delivery specification followed

When it matters: When you are checking whether the slot and external cables match the card's intended power-delivery standard.

Importance: LOW

225 W

Show more

Design

9.0

Show more

Hide

Size

What it is: Physical size of the GPU card

When it matters: When you need the card to fit a compact case without blocking nearby hardware.

Importance: LOW

267 x 116 x 42 mm

Length

What it is: Physical length of the GPU card

When it matters: When front radiators or drive cages leave only limited GPU clearance.

Importance: LOW

Height

What it is: Physical height of the GPU card

When it matters: When side panels, brackets, or tight case layouts reduce vertical clearance.

Importance: LOW

Slot width

What it is: Number of PCIe slots occupied by the card

When it matters: When you need room for another PCIe card or better airflow under the GPU.

Importance: LOW

Weight

What it is: Total weight of the graphics card

When it matters: When sag, bracket support, or shipping stress matters in your build.

Importance: LOW

Show more

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition vs the average graphics card

Why is NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition better than the average graphics card?

Show more

Hide

224 more AI cores
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition has more AI cores than the average graphics card (368 vs 144). The average graphics card has 144 AI cores.
What it is: Number of tensor or AI processing cores
When it matters: When AI features, frame generation, or creator tools use dedicated matrix hardware.
Importance: MEDIUM
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition has more AI cores than the average graphics card (368 vs 144). The average graphics card has 144 AI cores.368 vs 144
0.5 slot/s slimmer design
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition occupies fewer slots than the average graphics card (2 slot/s vs 2.5 slot/s). The average graphics card occupies 2.5 slot/s.
What it is: Number of PCIe slots occupied by the card
When it matters: When you need room for another PCIe card or better airflow under the GPU.
Importance: LOW
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition occupies fewer slots than the average graphics card (2 slot/s vs 2.5 slot/s). The average graphics card occupies 2.5 slot/s.2 slot/s vs 2.5 slot/s
2 more GPUs supported
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition supports more GPUs in multi-GPU mode than the average graphics card (2 vs 0). The average graphics card supports 0 GPUs in multi-GPU mode.
What it is: Maximum number of GPUs supported in a multi-GPU setup
When it matters: When you are planning a rendering or compute setup with more than one card.
Importance: LOW
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition supports more GPUs in multi-GPU mode than the average graphics card (2 vs 0). The average graphics card supports 0 GPUs in multi-GPU mode.2 vs 0
7 °C higher thermal ceiling
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition has a higher thermal ceiling than the average graphics card (88 °C vs 95 °C). The average graphics card has a thermal ceiling of 95 °C.
What it is: Maximum safe junction temperature of the GPU die
When it matters: When you are evaluating thermal headroom and want to know how close the GPU can run to its official ceiling before throttling behavior becomes a concern.
Importance: LOW
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition has a higher thermal ceiling than the average graphics card (88 °C vs 95 °C). The average graphics card has a thermal ceiling of 95 °C.88 °C vs 95 °C
Supports NVLink
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition supports NVLink, the average graphics card does not.
What it is: Supports NVIDIA NVLink or bridge connection for multi-GPU setups
When it matters: When a professional or niche multi-GPU workflow needs a bridge connection.
Importance: LOW
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition supports NVLink, the average graphics card does not.
9 mm lower card height
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition is shorter than the average graphics card (116 mm vs 125 mm). The average graphics card has a height of 125 mm.
What it is: Physical height of the GPU card
When it matters: When side panels, brackets, or tight case layouts reduce vertical clearance.
Importance: LOW
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition is shorter than the average graphics card (116 mm vs 125 mm). The average graphics card has a height of 125 mm.116 mm vs 125 mm
6 more compute units
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition has more compute units than the average graphics card (46 vs 40). The average graphics card has 40 compute units.
What it is: Total number of shader multiprocessors or compute units
When it matters: When you want a better sense of the GPU's overall parallel hardware resources before relying on game benchmarks alone.
Importance: HIGH
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition has more compute units than the average graphics card (46 vs 40). The average graphics card has 40 compute units.46 vs 40
224 more AI cores
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition has more AI cores than the average graphics card (368 vs 144). The average graphics card has 144 AI cores.
6 more compute units
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition has more compute units than the average graphics card (46 vs 40). The average graphics card has 40 compute units.
2 more GPUs supported
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition supports more GPUs in multi-GPU mode than the average graphics card (2 vs 0). The average graphics card supports 0 GPUs in multi-GPU mode.
Supports NVLink
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition supports NVLink, the average graphics card does not.
7 °C higher thermal ceiling
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition has a higher thermal ceiling than the average graphics card (88 °C vs 95 °C). The average graphics card has a thermal ceiling of 95 °C.
0.5 slot/s slimmer design
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition occupies fewer slots than the average graphics card (2 slot/s vs 2.5 slot/s). The average graphics card occupies 2.5 slot/s.
9 mm lower card height
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition is shorter than the average graphics card (116 mm vs 125 mm). The average graphics card has a height of 125 mm.

Platform & Features

Power & Cooling

Why is NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition worse than the average graphics card?

Show more

Hide

28.1% lower boost clock speed
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition has a lower boost GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,800 MHz vs 2,505 MHz). The average graphics card has a boost GPU clock of 2,505 MHz.
21.1% lower base clock speed
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition has a lower base GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,515 MHz vs 1920 MHz). The average graphics card has a base GPU clock of 1920 MHz.
29.4% lower pixel rate
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition has a lower pixel rate than the average graphics card (115.2 GPixel/s vs 163.2 GPixel/s). The average graphics card has a pixel rate of 163.2 GPixel/s.
53% lower FP32 performance
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition has a lower FP32 performance than the average graphics card (10.6 TFLOPS vs 22.57 TFLOPS). The average graphics card has FP32 performance of 22.57 TFLOPS.
13.1% lower texture rate
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition has a lower texture rate than the average graphics card (331.2 GTexel/s vs 381.2 GTexel/s). The average graphics card has a texture rate of 381.2 GTexel/s.
17.9% lower PassMark score
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition has a lower PassMark score than the average graphics card (18,588 points vs 22,653 points). The average graphics card has a PassMark score of 22,653 points.
27.4% lower gaming score
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition has a lower gaming score than the average graphics card (10,659 points vs 14,678.5 points). The average graphics card has a gaming score of 14,678.5 points.
35.5% lower ray tracing score
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition has a lower ray tracing score than the average graphics card (5,913 points vs 9,166 points). The average graphics card has a ray tracing score of 9,166 points.
4 GB less VRAM
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition has fewer VRAM than the average graphics card (8 GB vs 12 GB). The average graphics card has 12 GB VRAM.
26.3% slower memory speed
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition has a lower effective memory speed than the average graphics card (14,000 MHz vs 19,000 MHz). The average graphics card reaches an effective memory speed of 19,000 MHz.
83.3% smaller L2 cache
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition has fewer L2 cache than the average graphics card (4 MB vs 24 MB). The average graphics card has 24 MB L2 cache.
50% smaller L1 cache
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition has fewer L1 cache than the average graphics card (64 vs 128). The average graphics card has 128 L1 cache.
2.4x larger process node
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition has a higher process node than the average graphics card (12 nm vs 5 nm). The average graphics card uses a process node of 5 nm.
Older PCIe version
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition supports an older PCIe version than the average graphics card (3 vs 4.0).
5 older
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition was released earlier than the average graphics card (2018 vs 2023).
September 2018
Worse SAM support
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition offers worse SAM support than the average graphics card (no vs yes).
Older encoder generation
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition uses an older encoder generation than the average graphics card (6 vs 8). The average graphics card uses encoder generation 8.
84.7% larger GPU die
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition has a higher GPU die size than the average graphics card (545 mm² vs 295 mm²). The average graphics card has a GPU die size of 295 mm².
No AV1 encoding
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition does not support AV1 encoding, the average graphics card does.
No AV1 decoding
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition does not support AV1 decoding, the average graphics card does.
Older DisplayPort version
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition supports an older DisplayPort version than the average graphics card (1.4 vs 1.4a).
Narrower decode codec support
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition supports narrower hardware decode codec support than the average graphics card (H.264/H.265/VP9/MPEG-2/VC-1 vs H.264/H.265/AV1/VP9/MPEG-2/VC-1).
Older HDMI version
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition supports an older HDMI version than the average graphics card (2.0b vs 2.1).
Narrower encode codec support
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition supports narrower hardware encode codec support than the average graphics card (H.264/H.265/VP9 vs H.264/H.265/AV1/VP9).
Older HDCP version
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition supports an older HDCP version than the average graphics card (2.2 vs 2.3).
Older NVDEC generation
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition has a lower NVDEC generation than the average graphics card (4 vs 6). The average graphics card offers NVDEC generation 6.
1 fewer fans
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition has fewer fans than the average graphics card (2 vs 3).
No dual BIOS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition does not include dual BIOS, the average graphics card does.
No fan stop
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition does not support fan stop, the average graphics card does.
31 dB noisier at idle
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition has a higher idle noise level than the average graphics card (31 dB vs 0 dB). The average graphics card has an idle noise level of 0 dB.
24.4% higher board power limit
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition has a higher board power limit than the average graphics card (280 W vs 225 W). The average graphics card has a board power limit of 225 W.
4.7% higher TDP
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition has a higher TDP than the average graphics card (225 W vs 215 W). The average graphics card has a TDP of 215 W.
4.2 dB noisier under load
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition has a higher load noise level than the average graphics card (39.6 dB vs 35.4 dB). The average graphics card has a load noise level of 35.4 dB.
41.7% higher idle power draw
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition has a higher idle power draw than the average graphics card (17 W vs 12 W). The average graphics card has an idle power draw of 12 W.
28.1% lower boost clock speed
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition has a lower boost GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,800 MHz vs 2,505 MHz). The average graphics card has a boost GPU clock of 2,505 MHz.
What it is: Maximum boost frequency the GPU can reach under load
When it matters: When you want a rough idea of peak advertised frequency, while knowing real sustained clocks still depend on cooling and power limits.
Importance: HIGH
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition has a lower boost GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,800 MHz vs 2,505 MHz). The average graphics card has a boost GPU clock of 2,505 MHz.1800 MHz vs 2505 MHz
4 GB less VRAM
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition has fewer VRAM than the average graphics card (8 GB vs 12 GB). The average graphics card has 12 GB VRAM.
What it is: Total video memory available on the graphics card
When it matters: When you play at high settings, use texture mods, or work with large creative projects.
Importance: HIGH
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition has fewer VRAM than the average graphics card (8 GB vs 12 GB). The average graphics card has 12 GB VRAM.8 GB vs 12 GB
2.4x larger process node
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition has a higher process node than the average graphics card (12 nm vs 5 nm). The average graphics card uses a process node of 5 nm.
What it is: Size of the manufacturing process in nanometers
When it matters: When process node differences may affect power, heat, and overall efficiency.
Importance: MEDIUM
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition has a higher process node than the average graphics card (12 nm vs 5 nm). The average graphics card uses a process node of 5 nm.12 nm vs 5 nm
1 fewer fans
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition has fewer fans than the average graphics card (2 vs 3).
What it is: Total number of cooling fans
When it matters: When you compare cooler designs and want one more clue about thermal potential.
Importance: MEDIUM
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition has fewer fans than the average graphics card (2 vs 3).2 vs 3
No dual BIOS
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition does not include dual BIOS, the average graphics card does.
What it is: Includes dual BIOS for redundancy or overclocking profiles
When it matters: When you want a safer recovery path after tweaking fan curves or overclock settings, or you need separate quiet and performance profiles.
Importance: LOW
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition does not include dual BIOS, the average graphics card does.Not supported vs supported
No fan stop
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition does not support fan stop, the average graphics card does.
What it is: Fans automatically stop when temperature is low
When it matters: When the PC spends a lot of time at idle and you care about keeping the desktop quiet during browsing, office work, or video playback.
Importance: LOW
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition does not support fan stop, the average graphics card does.Not supported vs supported
26.3% slower memory speed
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition has a lower effective memory speed than the average graphics card (14,000 MHz vs 19,000 MHz). The average graphics card reaches an effective memory speed of 19,000 MHz.
What it is: Effective memory data rate combining clock and bus width
When it matters: When you compare how quickly each card can push data through its memory subsystem.
Importance: MEDIUM
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition has a lower effective memory speed than the average graphics card (14,000 MHz vs 19,000 MHz). The average graphics card reaches an effective memory speed of 19,000 MHz.14000 MHz vs 19000 MHz
21.1% lower base clock speed
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition has a lower base GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,515 MHz vs 1920 MHz). The average graphics card has a base GPU clock of 1920 MHz.
What it is: Base operating frequency of the GPU core under standard conditions
When it matters: When you want to understand the card's guaranteed starting frequency instead of looking only at optimistic boost figures.
Importance: HIGH
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition has a lower base GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,515 MHz vs 1920 MHz). The average graphics card has a base GPU clock of 1920 MHz.1515 MHz vs 1920 MHz

Platform & Features

Connectivity & Media

Power & Cooling

Graphic comparison of NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition and other products in the Graphics cards category

Attribute category

Attribute

No results found

Third-party reviews

United Kingdom

United States

(Reviews last updated: June 2026)

What customers like about NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition?

Exceptional performance for 4K gaming and high-refresh-rate monitors
Introduction of future-proof technologies like real-time ray tracing and DLSS
Significantly faster than the predecessor GTX 1080 (roughly 30-40% better at 4K)
Premium build quality with a sturdy, attractive aluminum shroud
Runs cool and remarkably quiet compared to previous-generation blower-style coolers
Good headroom for manual overclocking
Connectivity includes VirtualLink (USB-C) for future VR headsets

What customers dislike about NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition?

High launch price ($799), which many users felt didn't justify the performance gap over the cheaper GTX 1080 Ti
Lack of immediate game support for flagship features (Ray Tracing/DLSS) at launch
Performance is often described as more of a 'side-grade' rather than a true upgrade for GTX 1080 Ti owners
The dual-fan cooling design exhausts hot air directly into the case rather than out the back
Requires significant system power (650W+ PSU recommended)
Occasional reports of coil whine under heavy benchmarking loads
Sensitive to VRAM brand (Micron vs. Samsung), with some users reporting stability issues on certain units

Expert reviews

me.ign.com

19/09/2018

Summary of the review

Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Founder's Edition Review

The Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Founder's Edition is a powerful, future-proof graphics card built on the Turing architecture, designed specifically to deliver smooth 60fps gaming at 4K resolution. A major pro of this GPU is its significant performance leap over its predecessor, the GTX 1080, showing a 25% to 40% increase in frames-per-second during real-world game tests and benchmarks. Additionally, it introduces groundbreaking hardware capabilities for real-time ray tracing—which renders realistic lighting and shadows—and Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS) to boost anti-aliasing performance via Tensor cores. Nvidia also upgraded this Founder's Edition to a dual-fan cooling setup encased in a slick silver metallic shroud, allowing it to run cooler under load (reaching 75°C) than previous generations. Despite its impressive raw power, the graphics card has notable downsides, primarily centered around its high cost and unproven software ecosystem at launch. A major con is the steep $799 price tag, which makes it a poor value proposition for gamers who are still utilizing standard 1080p monitors. Furthermore, at the time of review, its headline features like ray tracing and DLSS could not...

pcmag.com

19/09/2018

Summary of the review

Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition Review

The Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition earned an "Excellent" 4.0-star rating from PCMag for its exceptional 4K performance and Turing architecture, providing roughly one-third better gaming speed than the GTX 1080. Its redesigned dual-axial fan system ensures cool and quiet operation with significant overclocking headroom, making it a powerful choice for high-refresh-rate gaming. However, the card carries a steep $799 MSRP and struggled at launch with a lack of supported titles for its core ray-tracing and DLSS features. Additionally, PCMag noted that the open-shroud cooler design exhausts hot air directly into the PC case, requiring robust internal airflow management. PCMag

tomshardware.com

19/09/2018

Summary of the review

Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition Review

The Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition delivers performance that slightly exceeds the previous-generation flagship, the GeForce GTX 1080 Ti, making it an ideal choice for high-refresh QHD (1440p) gaming and smooth 4K gameplay at maximum settings. Built on the 12nm Turing architecture, the GPU features 2,944 CUDA cores and is equipped with 8GB of fast GDDR6 memory. It is heavily packed with forward-looking technologies, including dedicated RT cores for real-time ray tracing and Tensor cores designed to handle Deep Learning Super-Sampling (DLSS) and AI denoising. Furthermore, Nvidia improved the thermal design for this generation, implementing an enhanced cooling solution that effectively helps sustain higher GPU Boost clocks during intensive workloads. Despite its advanced feature set, the graphics card faces criticism regarding its value proposition and thermal execution. Launching with an $800 price tag, the RTX 2080 is notably more expensive than many competitively performing GTX 1080 Ti cards, causing reviewers to label it as more of a side-grade than a true upgrade for high-end users. At launch, the premium pricing failed to impress because actual games utilizing its signature...

sea.ign.com

19/09/2018

Summary of the review

Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Founder's Edition Review and Benchmarks - IGN Southeast Asia

The Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Founder's Edition marks a significant leap in graphics technology by transitioning to the Turing architecture, positioning itself as a premier GPU for 4K 60fps gaming. Built to succeed the popular GTX 1080, it increases CUDA core counts by 14 percent to 2,944 and introduces 8GB of faster 14Gbps GDDR6 memory. The most defining feature of this card is its hardware-level support for real-time ray tracing and Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS), powered by 46 RT cores and 368 Tensor cores. Real-world benchmark testing reveals a substantial 25 to 40 percent performance upgrade over its predecessor, successfully handling demanding modern titles like Shadow of the Tomb Raider at near-60fps frames on maxed-out 4K settings. Pros and Cons Pro: Strong 4K performance, offering 25-40% faster frame rates over the GTX 1080. Pro: Upgraded dual-fan cooling system that runs cooler than previous generation Ti blower designs. Pro: Future-proof architecture featuring dedicated RT and Tensor cores for ray tracing and AI DLSS. Con: Higher power requirement, increasing thermal design power by over 20 percent to 225W. Con: Premium $799...

pk.ign.com

19/09/2018

Summary of the review

Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Founder's Edition Review and Benchmarks - IGN Pakistan

Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition Review Summary The Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition marks a major architectural shift to the Turing platform, delivering impressive 4K 60fps gaming performance. In real-world benchmarks, the card achieves a 25% to 40% performance improvement over its predecessor, the Pascal-based GTX 1080. Key hardware enhancements include 2,944 CUDA cores, 8GB of fast GDDR6 memory, and upgraded cooling via a dual-fan setup that replaces the older single-fan blower design. Under heavy gaming loads, the card efficiently self-overclocks up to 1995MHz while maintaining a maximum temperature of 75°C. Pros & Cons Pro: Superior 4K 60fps and 1440p high-refresh-rate gaming power. Pro: Upgraded dual-fan cooler runs significantly cooler than past reference models. Pro: Next-generation RT and Tensor cores built for real-time ray tracing and DLSS AI rendering. Con: High $799 retail price makes it a costly investment. Con: Higher power draw requiring 225W TDP and dual power connectors. Con: Unproven value at launch as no games currently support ray tracing or DLSS features.

ign.com

19/09/2018

Summary of the review

Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition Review and Benchmarks - IGN

The Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Founder's Edition is a significant architectural leap forward, moving from Pascal to the new Turing architecture to target smooth 4K gaming at 60fps. Built with 2,944 CUDA cores and 8GB of faster 14Gbps GDDR6 memory, the GPU delivers a substantial 25% to 40% performance increase over its predecessor, the GTX 1080. A key highlight of this generation is the introduction of dedicated hardware—specifically 46 RT cores and 368 Tensor cores—designed to handle groundbreaking real-time ray tracing for realistic in-game lighting and AI-driven Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS) anti-aliasing. Furthermore, Nvidia has upgraded the physical design of the Founder's Edition by replacing the older single-fan blower with an elegant silver metallic shroud housing a dual-fan cooling setup. The primary pros of the card include its superb 4K and 1440p gaming performance, a massive future-proof feature set, and a dual-fan cooler that allows the card to automatically overclock to 1995MHz while remaining cooler than past flagship cards. Additionally, at its launch price of $799, it easily outvalues the GTX 1080 Ti by offering nearly identical raw speeds...

techpowerup.com

19/09/2018

Summary of the review

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition 8 GB Review

The TechPowerUp review of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition highlights its excellent raw performance, factory overclock, and quiet, efficient cooling system, marking a significant architectural jump over previous generations. The card introduces key technologies like hardware-accelerated ray tracing and DLSS, offering a premium alternative to the GTX 1080 Ti. However, the review notes major downsides, including a steep $800 launch price, limited immediate support for ray tracing and DLSS, and an lack of an "idle-fan-off" feature. Additionally, the complex, hard-to-disassemble design makes maintenance challenging.

au.pcmag.com

19/09/2018

Summary of the review

Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition Review - PCMag Australia

The Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition is an exceptionally powerful graphics card designed for detail-cranked 4K gaming and high-refresh-rate monitors. Powered by the 12nm Turing architecture, it nearly doubles the transistor count of its predecessor to 13.6 billion. It introduces hardware-accelerated ray tracing via dedicated RT cores and Deep Learning Super-Sampling (DLSS) driven by Tensor cores. In benchmarks, the card delivers a 26.8% average performance gain over the GTX 1080 across all resolutions, which rises to 32.2% when isolating 4K performance. However, at its $799 launch price, it struggles to completely justify its value on raw frame rates alone because it performs in a dead heat with the older, cheaper GTX 1080 Ti. The card features distinct pros and cons that define its place in the market. On the positive side, it offers roughly one-third better gaming performance than the GTX 1080 Founders Edition and features an improved dual-axial fan design that allows it to run remarkably cool and quiet. It also provides excellent headroom for manual overclocking and includes built-in future-proofing for next-generation ray tracing and DLSS technologies....

eteknix.com

01/10/2018

Summary of the review

Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition Graphics Card Review

The Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition represents a significant generational leap, stepping away from traditional GPU design with its factory-overclocked Turing architecture. A standout feature of this hardware review is the completely redesigned "stock" cooling system. Nvidia abandoned its older blower-style fans in favour of a stunning dual-axial system equipped with 13-blade fans. This cooling setup works in tandem with a brand-new vapour chamber design and a next-generation 8-phase power supply, which directly translates to quieter performance, improved temperatures, and enhanced system stability during comprehensive overclocking sessions. In terms of market positioning and performance, the card provides highly competitive framerates at a price point that is far more manageable and easier to justify than its incredibly expensive flagship sibling, the RTX 2080 Ti. Major advantages (pros) include its robust build quality, the inclusion of an HDMI-to-DVI adapter in the box, and forward-looking architectural support for groundbreaking software technologies like real-time Ray Tracing (RT) and Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS). On the other hand, a notable drawback (con) highlighted at the time of review is the distinct lack of immediate...

lanoc.org

20/09/2018

Summary of the review

Nvidia RTX 2080 Founders Edition

Nvidia RTX 2080 Founders Edition The Nvidia RTX 2080 Founders Edition introduces a major shift in GPU architecture by moving away from Pascal to the new Turing architecture. This card replaces the traditional blower-style cooler with a heavy, well-constructed, dual-fan aluminum design that provides excellent thermal performance. It features newly integrated RT (Ray Tracing) and Tensor cores designed to handle real-time lighting effects and deep learning super-sampling (DLSS) autonomously. In terms of raw gaming performance, the RTX 2080 FE delivers excellent results at 1080p and 1440p resolutions, while solidifying itself as a capable 4K gaming card if graphics settings are slightly adjusted from Ultra down to High detail. However, the card sits in a difficult market position due to its steep $799 Founders Edition price tag, especially when it trades blows closely with the older, cheaper GTX 1080 Ti in traditional DX11 games. A major drawback at launch is that its cutting-edge RT and Tensor cores remain largely unutilized by current games, creating a "chicken or the egg" dilemma for early adopters waiting on developer support. Key Pros and Cons...

gpu-monkey.com

23/05/2025

Summary of the review

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition Benchmark und technische Daten

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition is a high-performance graphics card built on the 12 nm Turing "TU104" architecture, operating at a base clock speed of 1.515 GHz and a boosted frequency of 1.800 GHz. It features 2,944 shader cores and 46 Raytracing cores, pushing out a theoretical FP32 computing performance of 10.60 TFLOPS. Equipped with 8 GB of GDDR6 VRAM over a 256-bit interface, it delivers a massive memory bandwidth of 496 GB/s. In real-world performance tests, the card handles heavy gaming demanding resolutions effectively, running Cyberpunk 2077 at an average of 69 frames per second (fps) at 1080p, 48 fps at 1440p, and 40 fps at 4K resolution. For older or better-optimized titles like Battlefield 5, performance jumps significantly to an average of 171 fps at 1080p and 67 fps at 4K. A major highlight of this graphics card is its robust build and connectivity suite, offering three DisplayPort 1.4a slots, an HDMI 2.0b port, and a rare USB-C port to power up to four multi-monitor setups. It supports modern graphical APIs up to DirectX 12 Ultimate...

lesnumeriques.com

19/09/2018

Summary of the review

Test Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 : la carte parfaite pour jouer en UHD ?

The Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 represents a significant generational shift from the older GTX 1080, moving from the Pascal architecture to the 12nm Turing architecture. Equipped with a TU104 GPU, 2,944 CUDA cores, and 8 GB of fast GDDR6 memory, this graphics card targets premium gaming experiences. In performance benchmarks, it delivers a massive 43% performance leap over the GTX 1080 in 4K resolutions and outpaces the GTX 1080 Ti by 12%. It truly shines when running games in WQHD (1440p) resolution, where it comfortably maintains fluid framerates between 75 and well over 100 frames per second. The review highlights several key strengths, most notably the card's exceptional build quality, improved energy efficiency, and the introduction of groundbreaking features like Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS), hardware-accelerated ray tracing, and a VirtualLink output. The redesigned dual-axial cooling system and integrated vapor chamber also provide effective, quieter cooling with a lower tonal pitch compared to older blower-style designs. However, the card is not without its flaws. The primary hardware drawback is that the fans fail to turn off completely when the system...

computerhoy.20minutos.es

26/11/2018

Summary of the review

Tarjeta gráfica GeForce RTX 2080, análisis y opinión

This 2018 review evaluates the Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition, a graphics card that introduces raytracing and Deep Learning Super-Sampling (DLSS) through its dedicated Tensor Cores. Tested alongside an Intel i7-7700K processor, the card delivers excellent high-end performance, successfully running demanding titles like Gears of War 4 and DOOM at 4K resolution with ultra settings at or above 60 frames per second. Synthetically and across most games, it consistently outperforms the previous-generation GTX 1080. A major hardware highlight is the redesigned dual-fan cooling system, which abandons the traditional blower style to keep maximum 4K gaming temperatures efficiently controlled below 78°C while maintaining low noise levels. Pros & Cons Pros: The card boasts excellent heat dissipation and a highly efficient cooling design. It provides strong 4K performance near 60 fps for modern titles and is structurally built to be future-proof for upcoming software generations. Cons: The launch price is considered excessive. At the time of review, there are no commercial games available that actually utilize its flagship raytracing or DLSS technologies. Additionally, it fails to achieve a locked, stable 4K...

it.ign.com

29/10/2018

Summary of the review

Provate! Geforce RTX 2080 e 2080 TI

The IGN Italia hardware review of the Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 and RTX 2080 Ti Founders Edition explores the launch of the Turing architecture, drawing comparisons to the evolutionary leap of the GeForce 3 in 2001. A major design highlight is the premium aesthetics and the transition to a factory-overclocked dual-fan cooling system, which ensures extremely silent operation even under full workloads. On the technical side, the GPUs present robust specifications: the RTX 2080 utilizes the TU104 chip with an 8 GB GDDR6 configuration (480 GB/s bandwidth) and a 225W TDP, while the flagship RTX 2080 Ti packs the massive TU102 chip with 11 GB of GDDR6 memory (616 GB/s bandwidth), an 8 pin power setup, and a 260W TDP. The reviewer notes highly practical connectivity upgrades, specifically the inclusion of high-speed NVLink SLI bridges (50 GB/s for the 2080 and 100 GB/s for the Ti) to prevent motherboard bottlenecks, alongside a new VirtuaLink USB-C port designed to streamline next-generation VR headsets via a single cable. However, the hardware introduces notable drawbacks. The primary concern is that the technology is...

tech.everyeye.it

07/10/2018

Summary of the review

NVIDIA RTX 2080 Founders Edition Recensione

The NVIDIA RTX 2080 Founders Edition marks a major shift in PC graphics by introducing real-time Ray Tracing and DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) through its innovative Turing architecture, featuring 2,944 CUDA cores, 368 Tensor cores, and 46 RT cores. Built on a 12nm process, this physically massive GPU includes an impressive, solid metal dual-fan design, a vapour chamber, and 8-phase power delivery that enhances overclocking stability. In traditional rasterization benchmarks across titles like Shadow of the Tomb Raider and Batman: Arkham Knight, the card delivers an 8% to 12% performance increase over the older GTX 1080 Ti, easily managing 4K resolutions with minor settings adjustments and maintaining steady thermal loads around 71°C. The primary pros of the card include its exceptional, premium build quality, an improved reference cooling system, and forward-looking, revolutionary hardware dedicated to artificial intelligence and photorealistic lighting. It also offers advanced connectivity like a USB 3.1 Type-C VirtualLink port for single-cable VR headsets. Conversely, the major cons center on its high official launch price of €869 and the fact that its generational performance leap in existing...

hardware.info

19/09/2018

Summary of the review

Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 & RTX 2080 Ti review

summary of the hardware review: Review Summary The review covers the launch of Nvidia’s Turing-architecture graphics cards, specifically detailing the GeForce RTX 2070, RTX 2080, and RTX 2080 Ti Founders Edition models alongside custom partner variants. A major highlight is Nvidia's radical design departure for its Founders Edition cards, which abandon traditional blower-style blower fans in favor of a dual-fan setup utilizing a vapor chamber and heatpipes to mimic efficient custom partner cooling systems. Additionally, the review notes a significant change in Nvidia's silicon distribution: the company sells its GPUs in two distinct tiers, where only the premium, higher-priced variant is permitted to ship with a factory overclock. This architectural and distribution strategy directly contributes to the notably high launch pricing of these graphics cards. Pros and Cons Pro: Improved cooling design on Founders Edition cards features dual fans and a vapor chamber for lower noise levels and better thermal management than previous generations. Pro: Power management technology automatically switches between 1 to 8 active power phases to guarantee optimal energy efficiency under varying workloads. Pro: Manual overclocking capability remains...

Video reviews

Best alternatives

ASUS TUF Radeon RX 6800 Gaming OC

Graphics cards

Acer Predator Bifrost ARC A770 OC

Graphics cards

ASRock ARC A770 Phantom Gaming OC

Graphics cards

ASRock Radeon RX 7700 XT Challenger OC

Graphics cards

GIGABYTE Radeon RX 9060 XT Gaming OC 16GB

Graphics cards

GIGABYTE Radeon RX 7700 XT Gaming OC

Graphics cards

Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB

Graphics cards

Sapphire Pure Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB

Graphics cards

Palit GeForce RTX 5060 Ti Dual OC 8GB

Graphics cards

ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 5060 Ti Twin Edge 16GB

Graphics cards

ASRock Radeon RX 9060 XT Challenger OC 16GB

Graphics cards

GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 2080 Gaming OC

Graphics cards

Compare NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Founders Edition with other products in the Graphics cards category

Compare