Do you need to expensive big card, or will the value choice suit you?
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The Ada series have a good selection of cards, including some of the best GPUs, and there are some options for a variety of performance. So choosing between them we see how the RTX 4060 Ti vs RTX 4080 compare. There is going to be a clear difference between the top-range and low to mid-range graphics cards which make up the 40-series, but the actual value is an important thing to consider.
Now the RTX 4080 came out in November 2022, after some confusion with the release. The now-called RTX 4070 Ti was initially announced as the 4080 12GB but then recalled. But that hasn’t stopped Nvidia from doing the same again, with the RTX 4060 Ti releasing with two models, an 8GB first on the 24th of May, and the 16GB coming on the 18th of July.
Well done cooling solution capable of keeping the GPU under wraps and performing well
Overclocked model brings higher performance than the stnadard clocks
High quality and well built card to last
More expensive option than MSRP
Unhindered performance with a great cooling solution
Cutout cooler design allows unblocked airflow for optimal cooling
Overclocked card offers the best performance at this tier
One of the biggest cards to accomodate the cooling solution may not fit many cases
A popular card it is harder to find and usually more expensive than the other options
Now there isn’t too much difference between the two when it comes to what they are made of since they are of the same generation and architecture. We have the RTX 4080 with the AD103-300 variant made from TSMC’s 5nm process. Which gives it a 379mm² die size with 45.9 billion transistors. Whilst the 4060 Ti is the AD106-350/351 (8GB/16GB) which has a die size of 190mm² with 22.9 billion transistors on it. They both share the Ada Lovelace architecture which brings some stand-out features to the table.
First of all, DLSS 3.0 frame generation is a key aspect of these new GPUs, helping boost frame rates with AI in games that support it. This is supported by the new 4th-gen Tensor Cores. The Ada architecture is also much more efficient on the smaller process, and this is especially reflected in the mid-range cards. You can also expect better ray tracing support included for the latest generation of Nvidia GeForce RTX cards.
| RTX 4060 Ti | RTX 4080 | |
|---|---|---|
| GPU | AD106-350/351 | AD103-300 |
| GPU process | TSMC 5nm | TSMC 5nm |
| CUDA cores | 4,352 | 9,728 |
| Base clock | 2.31GHz | 2.205GHz |
| Boost clock | 2.54GHz | 2.505GHz |
| VRAM | 8/16GB GDDR6 | 16GB GDDR6X |
| Memory clock/bandwidth | 18Gbps / 288GB/s | 22.4Gbps / 716.8GB/s |
| Memory interface | 128-bit | 256-bit |
| TGP | 160/165W | 320W |
Looking at what makes up the two cards, we get a good look at what to expect and where the difference comes from. We have a look at what that means and the differences between the two models in terms of specifications.
The Total Graphics Power (TGP) of a card represents its electrical consumption, a factor crucial when choosing the best Power Supply Unit (PSU) for your system and calculating your energy costs. Selecting the 4060 Ti, the more budget-friendly model would provide a 160/155W energy-saving advantage over the 4080 option, potentially leading to cost savings in the long run.
The core count represents a major differentiating factor between these two models. Different GPU variants possess varying core counts, further distinguishing the models. The CUDA count, for example, differs between the two, with the 4080 housing an additional 5,376. This contributes to its superior performance and improved ray tracing capabilities with the additional cores for those as well.
Video RAM serves as the main facilitator of enhanced performance at higher resolution settings, functioning as a repository and buffer for pixels incorporated in-game graphics. As resolution increases, so does the pixel count, necessitating increased capacity and bandwidth to effectively harness it and deliver seamless gaming experiences at varying resolutions.
Comparing the RTX 4060 Ti and 4080, there’s a difference in the speed of the memory. To start, the Ti card possesses 8GB of GDDR6 with a memory bandwidth of 288GB/s. That also offers a 16GB capacity, albeit with identical speeds. Whilst the 4080 has 16GB of GDDR6X with a bandwidth of 716.8GB/s. Although it has a similar capacity, the performance is going to differ significantly in favor of the RTX 4080.
The frequency and core clock speeds dictate the pace at which the processor generates graphics. The lower-grade card possesses a superior base and boost clock, but only by less than 100Mhz. However, this isn’t the primary determinant of the performance difference between the two. Although overclocking GPUs might not substantially elevate performance, it can result in a small enhancement.
Now when it comes to price, the RTX 4080 has gone down in history as a big jump in price, and a lot of negativity from consumers. It launched with an MSRP of $1,199. This means the RTX 4060 Ti is $800/700 (8/16GB) cheaper than the 4080. So it is likely a lot more economical option to go for as long as the performance is there to match.
Since they are both newer GPUs, it’s harder to find them second-hand or discounted by a ton right now, so the RTX 4060 Ti is still the best option for those on more of a budget – especially based on the launch price. However, since the 4080 did receive some backlash based on its price, you can actually find some discounts here and there which may put it more within your reach. At the MSRP though, the RTX 4060 Ti will generally offer better value for money when looking at price vs performance.
Looking at TechSpot’s review, we get a look at how the RTX 4060 Ti and RTX 4080 compare to real-world performance. Benchmarks are an important part of comparing two graphics cards. And there we see quite the discrepancy, with the 1080p 15-game average showing the RTX 4080 getting around 225FPS, with the 4060 Ti at just 111. Then at 1440p, the 80 model gets 182 with the 60 Ti at 78. And at 4K, they average 107 and 38 FPS respectively. Although we still have to see what the 16GB offers in terms of performance as well.
As you can see, the RTX 4080 is the best card to go for between these two if you want great 4K performance. Even though upscaling is a good option with the 4060 Ti, thanks to DLSS 3.0, not all games support it just yet and it does have an effect on graphical fidelity or even input latency.
So the RTX 4080 has between double to nearly 3x the gaming performance ranging from 1080p to 4K. It is expected though as the card is 3x more expensive than the mid-range option. So if you don’t need 4K and a decent 1440p option the 60 Ti is a good choice for it. If you’re only going to be gaming at 1080p, the RTX 4080 is generally pretty overkill, so go for the 4060 Ti.
With performance similar to the 3060 Ti but with some improvements, the 4060 Ti is a good alternative to go for. It obviously doesn’t reach the levels of the 4080 but it doesn’t need to at the price. It does average over 60FPS at 1440p and so if that’s all you need it is the best option at that range.
Anyone building a gaming PC also has to consider the power consumption. If you want a low-power (therefore lower cost) system, the 4060 Ti is a fantastic choice – with just a TGP of 160/165W. That means that you can be more lenient on other hardware such as your power supply, case, or cooling. It’s also the better choice value-wise, but you will be missing out on the likes of 4K gaming.
Excellent cooling solution to keep temperatures down
Overclo cked option allows for top tier performance
A more premium choice of card that will cost more than the rest of the selection
Small form factor that can fit into small builds like mini-ITX
Low cooling capacity limits overclocking ability
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