If you are planning to build a high-end gaming PC in 2025, your short list would likely comprise two NVIDIA juggernauts: the GeForce RTX 4090 and the GeForce RTX 4080 Super. Both are AI-accelerated, 4K-capable behemoths with DLSS Frame Generation and incredible creator performance—but they are not equal. This is why you need to explore a comparison of RTX 4080 Super vs 4090 Gaming PC RTX 4090.
In this blog today, you will get to explore specs, real-world performance, power needs, and pricing, among other things. You will also get to know other aspects of these graphics cards, helping you to choose the best one. This blog also answers questions like ‘What Power Supply Do I Need for RTX 4080’.
What is the NVIDIA RTX 4080 Super?
The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Super is an updated version of the original RTX 4080, created to provide more performance and a more attractive price. The card sits on the same Ada Lovelace architecture as the other cards in the 40-series. It has 3rd Gen RT Cores and 4th Gen Tensor Cores to supply real-time ray tracing and AI-enhanced performance powered by DLSS 3.
One major change from the original 4080 and the Super version is the increase in core count. From the original card’s 9,728 CUDA cores, the 4080 Super features 10,240 CUDA cores. While some of that comes from a slightly higher boost clock, the increase in cores provides a noticeable performance bump from the original. The card also has 16GB of GDDR6X memory, with a 256-bit memory interface.
The RTX 4080 Super is a great option for anyone looking to push frame rates to their limits at 4K resolution. It handles graphically intensive titles with remarkable smoothness, completely utility ray tracing, and has DLSS aiding performance.
Performance: How Much Faster Is RTX 4090?
In regard to the RTX 4080 Super versus RTX 4090 Gaming PC RTX 4090, you must know about the performance of RTX 4090 first. In a wide 4K raster test suite, TechSpot found the RTX 4080 Super to be about 24% slower than the RTX 4090 on average. That’s fairly directly mapped to the differences in core counts, memory bus, and memory bandwidth you see on the data sheet. With ray tracing enabled — especially in titles that utilize path tracing — the performance disparity between 4080 Super and 4090 can be even more exaggerated because of more spare headroom and VRAM. If your goal is 4K/120 in the latest, fastest, most demanding ray-traced games, 4090 is the more consistent “set and forget” option.
While the 4080 Super drives 4K/60 – 100+ fps comfortably in most modern titles (using DLSS when desired), it performs the very best at 1440p high-refresh gaming with ample RT performance. It is also a noticeably better value option versus the original 4080 because of the $200 lower MSRP.
RTX 4080 Super vs 4090 Gaming PC RTX 4090: Specifications and Power Requirements
| Feature | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Super | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 |
| GPU Architecture | Ada Lovelace | Ada Lovelace |
| CUDA Cores | 10,240 | 16,384 |
| Memory | 16 GB GDDR6X | 24 GB GDDR6X |
| Memory Interface | 256-bit | 384-bit |
| Boost Clock | 2.55 GHz | 2.52 GHz |
| TGP (Total Graphic Power) | 320 W | 450 W |
| Suggested PSU | 750 W | 850 W |
Ray Tracing, DLSS & AI Features
Both GPUs support DLSS 3.x(Frame Generation), and Ray Reconstruction, as well as optical flow accelerations, which produce dramatic frame rate improvements with little hit to visual quality, especially at 1440p and 4K resolutions. The excess compute and VRAM of the 4090 means it is the smoother option for max-RT settings and heavier path-traced workloads; the 4080 Super is still sufficiently performant in RT workloads, which actually often outperformed AMD’s closest competition in RT workloads at similar price bands.
Creators & Prosumers: Which Is Better?
If you are using Blender, Octane, Unreal Engine, or heavy Stable Diffusion pipelines, the 4090’s 24GB VRAM starts to become a very useful practical advantage. Bigger scenes and models will fit into memory, as opposed to tiling or a penalty for navigating out-of-core. That said, the 4080 Super with its 16GB is still sufficient for most creator workloads and is often equal to or outperforms any current AMD competitor in most GPU compute workloads and RT-accelerated applications. For those busy 3D artists, VFX, and AI tinkerers, “Buy once, cry once” applies in the case of the 4090, while for mixed creator-gaming use, and on a budget, the 4080 Super is the more intelligent choice. This is essential to know about the RTX 4080 Super vs 4090 Gaming PC RTX 4090.
Power, Thermals & Power Supply Sizing
Board Power
You can expect to see ~320 W for the 4080 Super and ~450 W for the 4090 reference targets. AIB factory OC models can increase board power with per-card limit increases.
Recommended Power Supplies
The trusted vendor table (ASUS, Corsair) recommends the following:
RTX 4080 Super
750 W for mainstream i5/Ryzen 5 builds; 850 W for i7/Ryzen 7; and 1000 W for HEDT / Threadripper.
RTX 4090
850 W (i5/R5) to 1000 W (i7/R7/i9/R9) and 1200 W for HEDT/Threadripper. The PSU recommendations place some overhead for the rest of your system, plus the transient spikes.
Practical Tips
- Choose the PSU from the ATX 3.0 (or 3.1) spec. Preferably, one with a native 12VHPWR connector or 12V-2×6 connector, limiting the mess of the adapter.
- Use a quality, durable case with excellent airflow; both cards are large in physical size, and you want to maximize unobstructed intake area.
- Do not neglect cable management; push the 16-pin fully until it clicks.
Pricing & Availability Update
RTX 4080 Super
Our official starting price was $999, and the card has been available through broader retail since January 31, 2024. Real-world pricing has frequently matched the MSRP.
RTX 4090
Has an official launch price of $1,599 (October 2022). Actual street pricing has varied throughout the past year and is still fluctuating due to AI and compute demand. For planning purposes, assume the 4090 pricing around MSRP-plus and the 4080 Super near MSRP.
Which One Should You Invest in?
Opt for the RTX 4090 if You:
- Want the fastest performance for gaming and/or a top-of-the-line 4K/ray-traced performance for any single GPU.
- Need 24GB for some creative workloads, large texture loads, or AI experimentation.
- Have the budget, space in your case, and PSU to handle ~450W GPU consumption.
Opt for the RTX 4080 Super if You:
- Want a nearly-flagship performance for a much more reasonable amount of money.
- Play at 4K, but are okay with using DLSS or scaling back a setting or two to remain over the 60-100 fps range.
- Want a more sane power budget and PSU under 850W (750-850W for a typical gaming rig).
Value Comparison
You should also know about the value comparison of the RTX 4080 Super vs 4090 Gaming PC RTX 4090. TechSpot’s analysis shows the 4080 Super as ~24% slower than the 4090 in terms of 4K raster, but is much less expensive, positioned as a much better version of what the 4080 should have been. If you’re not pursuing a top-tier product for competitive or creation reasons, the 4080 Super is the smarter buy. If you are the 4090 still stands alone.
Conclusion
If you are lucky enough to have the full budget available and are seeking the absolute finest performance possible for 4K gaming, content creation, or professional workloads, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 is still the best option. It is simply the best card and will provide a performance that no consumer card will be able to replicate. But gather every necessary information on RTX 4080 Super vs 4090 Gaming PC RTX 4090 first.
However, for a lot of gamers and PC enthusiasts overall, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Super is the best value card. It has excellent enough performance for 4K gaming that will cover most of your cases, is more power-efficient than the higher performing cards, and is considerably less expensive. Essentially, it fills the “second-best” role for a PC, making it a logical and, in many cases, more sensible high-end gaming PC purchase.
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
What is the Difference in Power Supply for RTX 4080 Super vs 4090?
Ans: The RTX 4080 Super can run well with at least a 750W PSU, while the RTX 4090 has more of an appetite for power, so it is usually recommended not to go below 850W or higher for the RTX 4090.
What is a Better Value RTX 4080 Super or RTX 4090?
Ans: The RTX 4080 Super can do well for the performance with a cheaper price point, so it has better value for most gamers, while the RTX 4090 is best suited for enthusiasts only looking for performance period.
How Many CUDA Cores Do RTX 4080 Super vs RTX 4090 Have?
Ans: The RTX 4080 Super has 10,240 CUDA cores, and the RTX 4090 has 16,384 CUDA cores, giving a considerable performance advantage to the RTX 4090 for demanding workloads.
Can You Game with the RTX 4080 Super 4K Like You Can with RTX 4090?
Ans: Yes, you can game with the RTX 4080 Super and can play 4K gaming, but the RTX 4090 can give you higher FPS numbers with max settings, giving an overall smoother performance.
Is the RTX 4090 Worth it for Casual Gamer vs RTX 4080 Super?
Ans: For the casual gamer, the RTX 4080 Super should be more than enough. The RTX 4090 would mainly be worth it if you were an enthusiast, streamer, or heavy in 3D workloads.
How Many CUDA Cores in RTX 4080?
Ans: It comes with 9,728 CUDA cores to effectively handle all the processing tasks for computation and graphics.
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Sources and References
https://www.serverbasket.com/shop/nvidia-geforce-rtx-4090-graphics-card/
https://www.pcguide.com/gpu/rtx-4080-super-vs-rtx-4090/
https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/geforce-rtx-4080-super.c4182