Nvidia RTX 30 vs RTX 20 vs GTX 10 series side-by-side

If you’ve got a 10-series or 20-series graphics card, we dive into whether you should be tempted into buying an Nvidia RTX 30-series GPU.

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Nathan Lawrence
Sep 03, 2020
Icon Time To Read5 min read

2020 is going to be one hell of an expensive year for multiplatform gamers seeking to eke the best fidelity out of their games. If it’s not a choice between the next-gen consoles – PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X – Nvidia has just announced its latest 30-series graphics cards for high-end PC gaming.

Let’s take a closer look at the essential details for Nvidia’s latest range of top-of-the-line graphics processing units (GPUs).

What graphics cards are in the Nvidia 30-series line-up?

Though time will doubtlessly prove that there are more 30-series cards waiting in the wings, for now, Nvidia has started its latest generation of graphics cards with three options: the most-affordable GeForce GTX 3070, mid-range GeForce RTX 3080, and the break-the-bank GeForce RTX 3090.

Nvidia is saying this line of GPUs offers double the performance and 1.9 times the power efficiency stacked next to the previous Turing-based (20-series) graphics cards. All three GPUs offer a second generation of Nvidia RTX, which is what powers ray tracing, and third-generation Tensor cores which, in practical terms, use AI to offer upscaled graphics (among other things).

The high-end hardware will be also be supported by software that includes Nvidia Reflex, which is targeted at competitive gamers; Omniverse Machinima for video-making storytellers; and Nvidia Broadcast, which rolls the very cool Nvidia RTX Voice (slayer of background noise) into a more fully-featured suite for those who want to stream games.

Usual third-party manufacturers including Asus, MSI, and PNY are also releasing 30-series graphics cards alongside Nvidia.

When does the Nvidia 3000 series release in Australia?

The NVIDIA RTX 3080 will be available from Thursday, the 17th of September here in Australia. The RTX 3090 arrives Thursday, the 24th of September, and the RTX 3070 arrives in October 2020.

Nvidia GeForce 3070 vs GeForce 3080 vs GeForce 3090

Outside of cost, the big differences between Nvidia’s 3070, 3080, and 3090 GPUs is an incrementally increasing number of CUDA cores, more memory (faster, too), and incrementally increasing memory interface width. Here’s how they look stacked next to each other.

Nvidia GeForce 30-series specs comparison

Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070
Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080
Nvidia GeForce RTX 3090

Launch price (RRP)

US$499

US$699

US$1,499

Nvidia architecture

Ampere

Ampere

Ampere

Nvidia CUDA cores

5,888

8,704

10,496

Boost clock

1.73GHz

1.71GHz

1.70GHz

Standard memory configuration

8GB GDDR6

10GB GDDR6X

24GB GDDR6X

Memory interface width

256-bit

320-bit

384-bit

Ray tracing cores

2nd generation

2nd generation

2nd generation

Tensor cores

3rd generation

3rd generation

3rd generation

SLI-ready

No

No

Yes

Dimensions (l/w/h)

242x112mm; 2-slot

285x112mm; 2-slot

313x138mm; 3-slot

Max GPU temperature

93°C

93°C

93°C

Graphics card power

220W

320W

350W

Recommended system power

650W

750W

750W

Supplementary power connectors

1xPCIe 8-pin

2xPCIe 8-pin

2xPCIe 8-pin

On top of this, all Nvidia GeForce 30-series graphics cards support the following technologies:

  • Microsoft DirectX 12 Ultimate
  • Nvidia DLSS
  • PCI Express Gen 4
  • Nvidia GeForce Experience
  • Nvidia Ansel
  • Nvidia FreeStyle
  • Nvidia ShadowPlay
  • Nvidia Highlights
  • Nvidia G-Sync
  • Game Ready Drivers
  • Nvidia Studio Drivers
  • Nvidia GPU Boost
  • Vulkan RT API, OpenGL 4.6
  • 7th generation Nvidia Encoder
  • 5th generation Nvidia Decoder
  • VR ready
  • 7680x4320 (8K) max digital resolution
  • 1x HDMI 2.1 connector and 3x DisplayPort 1.4a connectors
  • 4x monitors
  • HDCP 2.3
What's the deal with SLI?

SLI is short for scalable link interface, which is a fancy way of saying that you can link two or more Nvidia GPUs together. The idea is that two or more GPUs leads to better performance, but it depends on whether the game or app supports the technology to take full advantage of it. Otherwise, you might see performance improvements of around 50% with a second graphics card in SLI, but unless you’re playing at ultra-high resolutions with maxed-out settings, it’s tricky to justify the cost of two graphics cards outright. If this is of interest, it’s better to plan for a second graphics card down the track when the cost of a second one is noticeably cheaper.

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Nvidia GeForce 3070 vs GeForce 2070 vs GeForce 1070

Like smartphones, it makes sense to look at upgrading your graphics card every second GPU generation (budget allowing), which is why Nvidia 10-series owners are likely having a good look at the 30-series to see what bang they get for their upgrade buck. Similarly, enthusiast PC gamers who already have 20-series cards may also be tempted to have a peek at the new tech inside the 30-series cards.

Here’s a closer look at how the Nvidia GeForce 3070, 2070, and 1070 stack up next to each other.

Nvidia GeForce 3070 vs GeForce 2070 vs GeForce 1070 specs

Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070
Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070
Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070

Launch price (RRP)

US$379

US$599

US$499

Nvidia architecture

Pascal

Turing

Ampere

Nvidia CUDA cores

1,920

2,304

5,888

Boost clock

1.68GHz

1.62GHz

1.73GHz

Standard memory configuration

8GB GDDR5

8GB DDR6

8GB GDDR6

Memory interface width

256-bit

256-bit

256-bit

Ray tracing cores

No

1st generation

2nd generation

Tensor cores

No

1st generation

3rd generation

SLI-ready

Yes

No

No

Dimensions (l/w/h)

266x111mm; 2-slot

229x112mm; 2-slot

242x112mm; 2-slot

Max GPU temperature

94°C

89°C

93°C

Graphics card power

150W

185W

220W

Recommended system power

500W

550W

650W

Supplementary power connectors

1xPCIe 8-pin

1xPCIe 8-pin

1xPCIe 8-pin

Given that the GeForce RTX 2070 was flagged as a replacement for the GeForce GTX 1080, the jump from a 1070 to a 3070 will be very noticeable in terms of performance gains, not just in terms of frames but also in terms of access to ray tracing and DLSS-powered graphics upscaling (higher frames for better-looking games in supported titles). The main thing to check if you only plan on upgrading your GPU is that your power supply meets the recommended 650W.

For 2070 owners, it’s a case of evolution over revolution. You’ll still need to check your power supply meets the recommended 650W, otherwise you’re really looking at a jump from first-generation ray tracing cores to second-generation, and first-generation Tensor cores to third-generation. There’s also a bump in the boost clock, but the massive leap in CUDA cores – from 2,304 in the 2070 to 5,888 in the 3070 – makes for better parallel processing, which means better gains in the frames department when gaming.

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Nvidia GeForce 3080 vs GeForce 2080 vs GeForce 1080

This is where upgrade paths get a little trickier. On paper, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 is a monster of a card that’s built to have a noticeable edge over the 2080 Ti (which is itself a beast of a card). During its presentation, Nvidia used the GTX 980 as a base model for comparison. The 2080 Super (faster than a 2080) reportedly has just under three times the performance, but the 3080 boasts around 4.5 times the performance. To put that into context, the 2080 Ti was sitting below 3.5 times the performance of a 980 graphics card.

Let’s take a closer look at how the Nvidia GeForce 3080, 2080, and 1080 stack up next to each other.

Nvidia GeForce 3070 vs GeForce 2070 vs GeForce 1070 specs

Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080
Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080
Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080

Launch price (RRP)

US$599

US$699

US$699

Nvidia architecture

Pascal

Turing

Ampere

Nvidia CUDA cores

2,560

2,944

8,704

Boost clock

1.73GHz

1.71GHz

1.71GHz

Standard memory configuration

8GB GDDR5X

8GB DDR6

10GB GDDR6X

Memory interface width

256-bit

256-bit

320-bit

Ray tracing cores

No

1st generation

2nd generation

Tensor cores

No

1st generation

3rd generation

SLI-ready

Yes

Yes

No

Dimensions (l/w/h)

267x121mm; 2-slot

267x116mm; 2-slot

285x112mm; 2-slot

Max GPU temperature

94°C

88°C

93°C

Graphics card power

180W

215W

320W

Recommended system power

500W

650W

750W

Supplementary power connectors

1xPCIe 8-pin

1xPCIe 6-pin, 1xPCIe 8-pin

2xPCIe 8-pin

The tech leap between the 1080 and even 2080 to the 3080 means this will be a tempting purchase for owners of either of those older GPUs. With almost three times as many CUDA cores as the 2080, 10GB of the latest GDDR6X memory, and a 320-bit memory interface width, the 3080 is poised to offer some eye-candifying gains stacked next to the 1080 and 2080.

Returning to that Nvidia comparison to 980 as the base reference model, the 1080 offered close to double the performance of a 980. But the 3080 is poised to offer around 4.5 times the performance of a 980, with Nvidia noting that the 3080 also boats up to twice the performance of a 2080. Expect the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 to blow every consumer Nvidia GPU out of the water, except for the big-ticket 3090.

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Nvidia GeForce 3090 vs GeForce 2080 Ti vs GeForce 1080 Ti

It seems that Nvidia has put the ‘Ti’ moniker to bed with its latest line of 30-series GPUs. It makes sense, too, given that the 3080 is effectively a replacement for the Ti cards, which means that the 3090 is more of a replacement for the Titan series, albeit with a comparatively lower price. Still, even comparatively, a US$1,499 asking price for the 3090 is going to translate to the cost of a decent gaming desktop in Aussie dollars.

Here’s how the 3090 looks stacked next to the current reigning consumer GPU (the 2080 Ti), the older 1080 Ti, and the current best GPU: the Nvidia Titan RTX.

Nvidia GeForce 3070 vs GeForce 2070 vs GeForce 1070 specs

Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 Ti
Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Ti
Nvidia Titan RTX
Nvidia GeForce RTX 3090

Launch price (RRP)

US$699

US$899

US$2,499

US$1,499

Nvidia architecture

Pascal

Turing

Turing

Ampere

Nvidia CUDA cores

3,584

4,352

4,608

10,496

Boost clock

1.58GHz

1.54GHz

1.77GHz

1.70GHz

Standard memory configuration

11GB GDDR5X

11GB GDDR6

24GB GDDR6

24GB GDDR6X

Memory interface width

352-bit

352-bit

384-bit

384-bit

Ray tracing cores

No

1st generation

1st generation

2nd generation

Tensor cores

No

1st generation

1st generation

3rd generation

SLI-ready

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Dimensions (l/w/h)

267x111mm; 2-slot

267x116mm; 2-slot

267x116mm; 2-slot

313x138mm; 3-slot

Max GPU temperature

91°C

89°C

89°C

93°C

Graphics card power

250W

250W

280W

350W

Recommended system power

600W

650W

650W

750W

Supplementary power connectors

1xPCIe 6-pin, 1xPCIe 8-pin

2xPCIe 8-pin

2xPCIe 8-pin

2xPCIe 8-pin

In the past, hardcore gamers might have considered a Ti option as viable, but the US$1,499 asking price for the 3090 means it’s more meant for enthusiasts, overclockers, and businesses. Any gamer who’s considered the Ti path from previous generations should be happy with the impressive results of a 3080 GPU. Even those who’ve forked out for the Titan RTX should be impressed by more than double the CUDA cores and a US$1,000 drop in RRP.

The biggest consideration for any of the above card owners looking to jump to the 3090 is the power-supply requirements (750W) and the fact it takes up three slots rather than two. This is not a mini-case-friendly GPU, especially because it’s noticeably longer.

For those not deterred by the 3090’s RRP, expect the kind of performance gains that garner such a high asking price. On paper alone, the almost 2.5 times CUDA cores, faster boost clock, and superior memory interface width all tick the right boxes. More impressively, the 24GB of latest GDDR6X memory suggest this GPU is future-proofed in a way that will likely mean it’ll take a long time for a game to come close to humbling this graphics card.

Nathan Lawrence
Written by
Nathan Lawrence has been banging out passionate tech and gaming words for more than 11 years. These days, you can find his work on outlets like IGN, STACK, Fandom, Red Bull and AusGamers. Nathan adores PC gaming and the proof of his first-person-shooter prowess is at the top of a Battlefield V scoreboard.

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